In 2009, Navy pilot and TOPGUN instructor Vincent Aiello was diagnosed with a prolapsed mitral valve. It was causing his heart to swell up bigger than normal in order to pump the blood his body needed.
Aiello was told that if he waited any longer to fix it, he would’ve needed a heart transplant or worse, could’ve died. He had been flying for 12 years at this point. He was 39 years old.
Three years after an open heart surgery, in 2013, he was finally able to fly again.
During the ordeal, Aiello said he was “shaking his fist at the heavens” because he didn’t understand why this happened to him.
But, over time, he realized this was just one more opportunity to prove that his whole life story was about persistence.
The Coronado resident flew Navy fighter jets – F/A-18 Hornets and F-16 Fighting Falcons for a quarter of a century, deploying several times overseas on aircraft carriers. He retired after 25 years in 2017.
In 2000, Aiello was asked to be a “TOPGUN” instructor at the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School, where he taught for three years.
He now hosts an online show, “Fighter Pilot Podcast,” where he interviews expert guests on topics such as air combat, weapons systems and aircraft.
This year, he also released a book, “Through the Yellow Visor,” based on his experiences in naval aviation.
Although Aiello completed a long and successful career as a pilot and TOPGUN instructor, he never felt like he was destined to have this reputation.
He said he actually endured imposter syndrome as he advanced, but decided that even if he didn’t attain it, he was always going to try.
Where there were dead ends, he said, he just found a “way around or through or under or over” – whatever it took to achieve that goal.
I think I was just a persistent person … I feel like it’s my vector in life, and so somehow I always just kind of made it, even though I wasn’t necessarily sure that I could.
Vincent Aiello
“I think I was just a persistent person,” Aiello said. “I feel like it’s my vector in life, and so somehow I always just kind of made it, even though I wasn’t necessarily sure that I could.”
He attributed his passion for aviation to his stepdad who asked him the right questions and helped him find the fire he needed.
“I just decided, ‘I’m just going to keep trying until the answer is absolutely 100% no,” he explained.
“I don’t know where to find (persistence) within you, but if you want something badly enough, you’ve got to reach in there and look around for it because it should be there.”
In his 25 years of flying, Aiello said, he only dropped weapons once during combat.
On his second mission ever, Iraqi air defense guns fired on his flight.
And when Aiello noticed they were shooting at him, it became an opportunity to test out what he had been practicing for – and whether they were good enough to fight back.
He dropped bombs on the air defense guns and later found out they were successful, but never knew whether or not there were casualties.
“In that moment, you come to grips with, ‘Okay, this is what I’m here to do.’ And now there’s some trepidation, but you fall back on your training and you fall back on your wingman and the team,” Aiello explained.
On that second mission, Aiello happened to look at the clock while flying back to his carrier and saw that it was 4:30 p.m., and he remembered it was Thanksgiving Day. In that moment, he recalled his prior Thanksgivings and how, at around this time, he would have a full belly surrounded by family and friends enjoying his comfort and freedom.
On that day, he realized the depth of military service.
“I thought, ‘I’m the one right now that’s providing that – not just the only one – but I’m taking my turn to provide that,’” Aiello said. “Ever since that day … I’ll generally just give a little silent prayer to those who are out doing what I once did, and thank God for them.”
Aiello flew three more years after his heart surgery before he retired at the beginning of 2017.
It’s a rewarding career. Many people think they want to do it because the flying will be amazing – and it is. What they don’t realize is, so are the people … the people you serve with will be what keeps you there … and I miss it.
Vincent Aiello
“It’s a rewarding career. Many people think they want to do it because the flying will be amazing – and it is. What they don’t realize is, so are the people,” Aiello said. “The people you serve with will be what keeps you there … and I miss it.”
A year later, Aiello started the podcast.
And now his autobiography lets listeners know the story behind the host.
“The book was my way of not only sharing my experiences and telling my podcast listeners more about my life, but bringing hope to people that you can overcome your obstacles.
“You can persist, if you want something badly enough,” Aiello said.
