"Pako" started his military career in the Marine Corps as a door gunner in the CH-46 & CH-53.  He ultimately crossed over into the Air Force as a Weapon System Officer (WSO) in the F-15E. He has five combat deployments under his belt. Pako has completed fellowships at DARPA, Congress, and in Silicon Valley.  The Merge Newsletter: https://themerge.co/ https://www.theafterburnpodcast.com/

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-afterburn-podcast/exclusive-content

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

TAP #40 Mike "Pako" Benitez - F-15EX, F-15E, F-18F, CH-46, CH-53

Strap in the cockpit as we dive into the stories of the men and women who defend the freedoms we love. From the cockpit of military jets to boots on the ground. The Afterburn Podcast dives into their stories, the planes they fly, and the missions they fight. 

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Aviation

Games & Hobbies

Leisure

Mike "Flash" McVay hosts episode 99 of  @AfterburnPodcast  for a "Hawg" Bro Chat. "Flash" is joined by fellow A-10 pilots (although "Flash" has since abandoned them and moved onto the F-16 and now F-35). He is joined by Dan "Satan" Levy, Dan “Duffle” Lusardi, and Ridge “Kelso” Flick.  They share their unique perspectives on the A-10 community, the culture, and the mindset of A-10 pilots. They discuss the importance of preserving the Hawg driver mentality and the need for experienced pilots to pass on their knowledge. They also touch on the changing landscape of warfare and the challenges faced by the next generation of pilots.  
 

#99 Bro Chat - Hawg Edition | Hosted by Mike "Flash" McVay

Jack "Farely" Stewart returns to the podcast to share his experience as a US Navy Adversary Pilot and their roles and responsibilities. His second book, Outlaw, is now available.  

#98 Jack "Farley" Stewart | F/A-18 Top Gun Graduate | Adversary Pilot | Author

Ep 97 with Greg "B.A" Anders. B.A." is a former fighter pilot who now wears many hats. He is the founder of https://firecornpopcorn.com/, which has skillfully brought the lifeblood of the fighter squadron, jalapeño popcorn, to your door. 
 "B.A" has over 4,500 flight hours to his name. After graduating from the US Air Force Academy in 1985, he served 15 years on active duty, followed by six years with the Idaho Air National Guard as part of the 190th Fighter Squadron in Boise. During the spring of 2003, Greg was deployed to Kuwait and Iraq for four months as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He participated in major combat operations, flying 27 sorties in the A-10, and conducted numerous additional combat sorties during the operation's build-up phase. Greg is mission-qualified and has served as an instructor pilot for the F-15E and the B-52. His piloting experience includes flying the F-16 B & D, F-15 B & D, F-18, T-38, AT-38, and T-37. 
 He is the Vice President and Executive Director of the Heritage Flight Museum. https://heritageflight.org/. He is also a member of the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation. 
 

#97 Greg "B.A." Anders | Fighter Pilot | Founder FireCorn Popcorn

Dive deep into the high-risk world of a Cold War fighter pilot as Rob "Z-Man" Zettel shares his incredible journey from flying the F-4 Phantom to flying in America's Top Secret Soviet MiG Squadron, the 4477th Red Eagles. Discover the secretive Red Eagles squadron, where elite pilots like Z-Man trained in Soviet jets to prepare American Fighter Pilots for combat. Experience firsthand accounts of dogfights, secret missions, and the sheer adrenaline of flying some of the most controversial jets in aviation history. Whether you're an aviation enthusiast or a history buff, this video offers a rare glimpse into a classified chapter of aerial warfare. ✈️ Join our free weekly newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geo-politics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 
 

#96 Rob "Z-Man" Zettel | America's TOP SECRET Cold War MiG Fighter Pilots

"Peachez" is a former F/A-18 turned F-16 fighter pilot. "Peachez" shares his journey of overcoming several hurdles to becoming a fighter pilot in the Navy and eventually an F-16 pilot in the Air National Guard. "Peachez" is a Top Gun Graduate and former instructor at the US Navy's West Coast Weapons school. Guns Garin Memorial Foundation - Support Military Families in Times of Hardship - gunsgarin.com/rain 
 

TAP #40 Mike "Pako" Benitez - F-15EX, F-15E, F-18F, CH-46, CH-53

Download our free app to listen on your phone