The Afterburn Podcast

In this episode, deeply personal conversation, A-10 Weapons Officer Lorenzo Harris opens up with Mike "Flash" McVay about the mission that changed his life, and the battle he rarely talks about. From earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for a harrowing 8-hour firefight in Afghanistan to silently struggling with guilt, identity, and loss, Lorenzo recounts how he navigated one of the most intense missions of his career and the psyc...

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 This week on The Lowdown, we break down the biggest moves in military aviation and defense: 

✈️ F-16s depart Misawa Air Base as the U.S. Air Force prepares for a major F-35 deplo...

David Bellavia earned the Medal of Honor for his actions on November 10, 2004, during Operation Phantom Fury in Fallujah, Iraq—one of the most intense urban battles in U.S. military history. In this re-release of The Afterburn Podcast, Bellavia shares raw, unfiltered reflections on leadership in combat, the trauma of modern warfare, and the deep bonds of brotherhood forged in battle.

David's book - Remember the Ramrods: https://amzn...

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 Welcome to this week’s Lowdown with The Afterburn Podcast! 🚀 Dive into the latest defense and aerospace news, including China’s new J-20S twin-seat stealth fighter, DARPA’s wa...

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In this episode of The Lowdown, we’re breaking down one of the biggest military aviation operations in recent memory — Operation Midnight Hammer, a massive coordinated strike targeting Iranian nuclear infrastructure. With over 125+ aircraft, B-2 stealth bombers, Tomahawk missiles, and full-spectrum cyber warfare ...

Three time zones. One car seat. Two hotel WiFi connections held together by hope. In this Bro Chat, “Rain”, “Vader”, and “Bender” catch up on everything from flying jets to why flyovers are a lose-lose game. Vader’s knee-deep in the IPUG grind, Bender’s dodging work at a chill TDY, and Rain’s flying big ole fat planes around the world. We break down F-35 vs Viper radar logic, relive the Indy 500 flyover chaos, and the Netflix Thund...

In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, host John “Rain” Waters sits down with Vincent “Jell-O” Aiello, former Navy fighter pilot and host of the  @FighterPilotPodcast  for a deep dive into the highs and hardships of naval aviation. From his first spark of inspiration at an airshow to flying over 700 successful carrier landings, Jell-O shares a candid and compelling journey through the world of military flight. They discuss the g...

In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, John “Rain” Waters is joined by Vince “Snapper” Sherer, a veteran A-10 pilot with 4,500 flight hours and 299 combat missions. Snapper breaks down his path from the Air Force Academy to deployments across Afghanistan flying the A-10A and A-10C, including time in the MC-12. He details the evolution of close air support, the integration of targeting pods, and the challenges of executing time-s...

Before Netflix made their documentary, Dos Gringos captured the true spirit of the USAF Thunderbirds. Born in the trenches of a fighter squadron and fueled by the finest Jeremiah Weed, Dos Gringos turned the fighter pilot life into a soundtrack—raw, irreverent, and unapologetically real. On June 7th, "Trip" and "Snooze" reunite for a one-night-only gig that’ll rock your socks off in support of the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space...

In Episode 133, John “Rain” Waters sits down with F-16 pilot Trent “Teddy” Meisel for a gripping and emotional conversation. Teddy walks us through his journey from small-town Oklahoma to the cockpit of the Viper, including a traumatic ejection over South Korea that nearly cost him his life. "Teddy" is also the founder of  @4th_GenHuntingCo 

This episode dives into the moment-by-moment chaos of that day in May 2023, when a systems f...

In this episode, Captain Troels “TEO” Vang joins The Afterburn Podcast host, John “Rain” Waters. As one of the most experienced F-16 pilots in the Royal Danish Air Force, TEO offers an in-depth look into the life of a European Viper driver with more than two decades of combat aviation experience. 

From missions over Libya, Iraq, Syria, and the Baltics to leading Denmark’s F-16 solo display team across Europe, TEO shares powerful ins...

In Part V of the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) series, host Mike “Flash” McVay sits down once again with A-10 pilot Ridge "Kelso" Flick to dive deep into the critical role the Warthog plays in SEAD and close air support operations. Drawing from his extensive experience flying the A-10 in hostile environments, Kelso shares insights into how low-level tactics, survivability, and precision targeting come together in the fac...

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In this packed episode of The Lowdown, host John “Rain” Waters breaks down a wide range of developments in global military aviation and defense strategy. From General Kane’s anticipated confirmation as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the strategic forward positioning of B-2 bombers on Diego Garcia, the episode delivers an insider’s perspective on rapidly evolvin...

Mike “Flash” McVay welcomes seasoned fighter pilot Sham “Vandal” Mann to break down the evolution of the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses mission in the Viper community. From crafting airplanes out of bobby pins as a toddler to executing real-world SEAD missions over Baghdad, this guest’s career spans decades of pivotal moments in combat aviation. Listeners will hear how a single incentive flight in an F-16 transformed a lifelong ...

Through the Yellow Visor: https://amzn.to/4jaAfc6

Get a signed copy: https://www.fighterpilotpodcast.com/product-page/through-the-yellow-visor

In this short promo episode, host John “Rain” Waters highlights an exciting new release from fellow aviator and podcast host Vincent “Jell-O” Aiello, founder of the Fighter Pilot Podcast. Jell-O’s new book offers a rare, first-person look into the making of a real fighter pilot—from his early ...

In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, we continue our Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) series hosted by Mike “Flash” McVay.

Our guest, Sonny “Blink” Blinkinsop, brings decades of Wild Weasel experience to the table — from Vietnam-era air combat tactics to F-16 SEAD missions during Operation Allied Force. Blink dives into the mindset shift required when flying into heavily defended airspace, the evolution of SEAD tactics,...

In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, host Mike "Flash" McVay continues the exploration of the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) in Part II of the series. Joined by Pat “Curly” Pence, they delve into the evolution of the Wild Weasel mission during Operation Desert Storm.

 Curly recounts his progression from pilot training to becoming a Wild Weasel, sharing insights into the challenges and tactics of air combat against sur...

In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, Mike “Flash” McVay hosts Leonard “Lucky” Ekman and Jim “Gringo” Webster, two original Wild Weasel fighter pilots from Vietnam, as they share firsthand experiences and insights from their military careers. This is Part I of the five-part Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) Series. 

The discussion follows their journeys from joining the military to their roles in some of the most dangerous...

The Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) mission has evolved alongside the development of Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) systems. In this episode of The Lowdown, host Mike "Flash" McVay takes a deep dive into the history and advancements of SAM technology, from its early origins to today’s modern, highly integrated air defense networks.

🛡️ How did SAMs start? The first concepts of surface-to-air guided weapons were developed in W...