The Afterburn Podcast

In this episode of The Afterburn Podcast, Mike “Flash” McVay sits down with Col (Ret) Derek "Woody" Oaks, a pilot who made the rare transition from flying C-130 to the A-10. Woody shares his experiences flying combat missions, the challenges of transitioning between vastly different airframes, and the leadership lessons he learned throughout his Air Force career. From his time at the Air...

🔺 Lowdown Newsletter Defense & Aviation - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺 This week on The Lowdown, we break down the biggest headlines in defense and aviation. The Marine Corps is shifting its F-35 fleet, cutting planned F-35B purchases in favor of more carrier-based F-35Cs. The Air Force has built a Frankenstein F-35—merging two damaged jets into one combat-ready aircraft. We also cov...

🔺 Grab our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geopolitics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter This week on The Lowdown, we break down the latest aviation and defense stories. An F-35 crashed in Alaska, but the pilot ejected safely. Meanwhile, Iran has secured a deal to purchase Su-35 fighters from Russia, adding to its aging fleet of F-14s and MiG-29s. We also discuss Swede...

In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, we dive into the mystery surrounding Malaysian Airlines Flight 370. The disappearance of MH370 remains a mystery. In this episode, former fighter pilot and current 777 pilot John 'Rain' Waters interviews aviation expert and author Jeff Wise on the mysterious disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370. Explore the detailed timeline, cyber vulnerabilit...

In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, Colonel G. Hall Sebren Jr., Deputy Commander of the Air Force Sustainment Center, discusses the critical role of aircraft maintenance in the U.S. Air Force. He shares insights on the challenges of maintaining fighter jets like the F-16, the importance of communication between operations and maintenance teams, and the complexities of keeping the nation's ai...

🔺 Grab our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geopolitics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter This week on The Lowdown, we cover some of the biggest stories in aviation and defense. The A-10 Warthogs that were stranded overseas are finally home. We take a look at the MiG-29 for our Threat of the Day. Meanwhile, the F-22 Raptor is getting a major enhancement with the new IRS...

Join host John 'Rain' Waters as he sits down with recently retired Lt. Gen. Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, former Associate Director for Military Affairs at the CIA and F-16 Fighter pilot. In this episode, Lt. Gen. Caine reflects on his incredible journey from flying F-16s in the Air National Guard to leading special operations missions and working at the highest levels of intelligence. Discover untold storie...

In this episode, Jeff "Vader" Brandon, Jeff "Bender" Page, and John "Rain" Waters rejoin for a fighter pilot "bro chat" to cover various military topics, including the humorous aspects of military life, the complexities of awards and recognition, the hiring and training processes for fighter pilots, the escalation of global conflicts, and the importance of h...

🔺 Grab our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geopolitics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺 In this week’s episode of The Lowdown, John 'Rain' Waters explores the integration of China’s HQ-22 surface-to-air missile system into Serbia’s air defense. Known as the 'Red Banner,' this advanced missile system is capable of targeting aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles with...

Watch Hollywood Gate at jolt.film/3N97E99 IG: @IbrahimNSHT IG: @joltfilm | https://www.facebook.com/joltspacefilm Documentary filmmaker Ibrahim Nash’at joins The Afterburn Podcast to share the extraordinary story behind Hollywood Gate, his harrowing year embedded with the Taliban during their rise to power in Afghanistan. Gain unparalleled insights into the human side of the Taliban, the challenge...

“Toad’s” Layman Geopolitics https://laymangeopolitics.substack.com/p/navigating-the-syrian-labyrinth 🔺 Grab our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geopolitics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter In this episode of the Afterburn podcast, the "Flash" McVay hosts "Toad" Williamson and "Zero" Fox.  Both "Toad" and "Zero" are int...

🔺 Lowdown Newsletter your insight into aviation, defense, and geopolitics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺 Join John 'Rain' Waters, former Air Force fighter pilot, on The Afterburn Podcast as he sits down with Captain (Ret) Chad "Vinny" Vincelette, a retired Navy F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 fighter pilot, to share his experiences during his time in the U.S. Navy. https://www.victory-s...

🔺 Grab our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geopolitics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter . In this week’s episode, we dive into the latest global defense and aviation updates: Turkey’s renewed push for F-35s and its shifting modernization plans, Russia’s experimental Oreshnik missile test, and a closer look at Iran’s Shahed drones fueling modern warfare. We’ll also exp...

In this episode 120 of the  @AfterburnPodcast  host John 'Rain' Waters as he sits down with Kyle Rempfer, a former Combat Controller in the U.S. Air Force and current Washington Post journalist. In this episode, Kyle shares his journey from special operations to the newsroom, recounting stories from the battlefield and insights from his journalism career. 🔺 Join our free newsletter for insights i...

🔺 Grab our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geopolitics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter . This conversation covers a range of significant military and geopolitical topics, including the enduring legacy of the B-52 bomber, the emergence of China's DF-26 missile as a strategic threat, the implications of recent espionage cases, the government's handling of unidentified...

Su-57 Mocked By Chinese Airshow Attendees: https://youtu.be/J_w2JttD944 Free Lowdown newsletter for insights into aviation and defense: https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter In this episode of The Lowdown, we dive into the latest military aviation and geopolitical developments. We discuss the Su-57 or rather the T-50 that made an appearance in China, the new Chinese J-35, a cargo fire on a 737 and mo...

Retired Navy fighter pilot Seamus "Flats" Flatley joins  @AfterburnPodcast  for an episode that dives deep into Naval Aviation. Join Mike "Flash" McVay as he discusses with "Flats" a wide range of topics from the F-14 Tomcat's evolution into an Air-to-Ground platform, his experiences as a Forward Air Controller (FAC-A) during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and his time at B...

Free Lowdown newsletter for insights into aviation and defense: https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🎙️ Sponsor Links🎙️ Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn 14-day free trial. 🇺🇸 Support Veterans in Their Time of Need or Apply for Help: http://gunsgarin.com/rain 🇺🇸 In this episode of The Lowdown, we dive into the latest military aviation and geopoliti...

In this episode of the Afterburn Podcast, John "Rain" Waters sits down with Jon "Muttley" Behuniak, a seasoned Army aviator. They dive into the intense realities of helicopter operations, sharing experiences from a recent mission in Asheville that demanded quick thinking and precision. They explore the roles within the Army National Guard, emphasizing the importance of teamwork...

Join John Waters as he hosts this episode of the Afterburn Podcast with his guest, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Alex "Malibu" Grandahl. In this episode, Alex "Malibu" Grandahl shares his journey from aspiring race car driver to Army aviator, detailing the challenges he faced along the way, including setbacks in his military recruitment process and the determination that fu...

Free Lowdown newsletter for insights into aviation and defense: https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🎙️ Sponsor Links🎙️ Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn 14-day free trial. 🇺🇸 Support Veterans in Their Time of Need or Apply for Help: http://gunsgarin.com/rain 🇺🇸 In this episode of The Lowdown, we dive into the latest military aviation and geopoliti...

Free Lowdown newsletter for insights into aviation and defense: https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🎙️ Sponsor Links🎙️ Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn 14-day free trial. 🇺🇸 Support Veterans in Their Time of Need or Apply for Help: http://gunsgarin.com/rain 🇺🇸   In this episode of The Lowdown, we dive into the latest military aviation and geopoli...

Free Lowdown newsletter for insights into aviation and defense: https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🎙️ Sponsor Links🎙️ Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn 14-day free trial. 🇺🇸 Support Veterans in Their Time of Need or Apply for Help: http://gunsgarin.com/rain 🇺🇸 Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman....

This is part three of a multi-series episode recorded on-site at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, TN. In this episode, Kevin Shipp, a seasoned expert with 16 years of experience at the Y-12 National Security Complex, discusses the critical role of Y-12 in the United States' nuclear deterrence strategy. From disassembling Cold War-era weapons to modernizing the nuclear triad, Kevin...

Free Lowdown newsletter for insights into aviation and defense: https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🎙️ Sponsor Links🎙️ Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn 14-day free trial. 🇺🇸 Support Veterans in Their Time of Need or Apply for Help: http://gunsgarin.com/rain 🇺🇸 In this week's lowdown, we discuss various topics, Air Force Pilot shortage, China's fi...