The Genius Fighter Pilot Everyone Hated

The Story of John Boyd and Why We Need to Change How We View High Achievers

Sure, it’s a subjective thing to measure, but John Boyd was the greatest fighter pilot to ever live.

Not only was he an ace in the sky, he was also a genius on land.

He was abnormally cerebral and analytical about the art of flying and fighter pilot tactics.

He was able to articulate his thoughts in a way that would be impressive for an aeronautical engineer, but unheard of for an average pilot.

It would be like a top NASCAR driver understanding and writing at length about the thermodynamics of fuel combustion and how they can be optimized for winning more races.

In his 20s, he published a manual titled “Aerial Attack Study,” and changed the way fighter pilots operate.

It led to saving more American lives and taking more of the lives of their enemy combatants

It employed at least as much mathematics in the science of combat maneuvers as engineers would in the construction of an aircraft itself.

He was an asset for the Air Force in the highest degree.