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.to/453Rgj9

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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 warning on quantum sensing threatening F-35 and B-21 stealth, Chinese espionage arrests targeting the U.S. Navy, a grounded British F-35B in India, NATO F-35s guarding Ukraine-bound supplies, and a KC-46 tanker mishap. Plus, Rheinmetall’s new F-35A plant in Germany, retired generals pushing for more F-35As and E-7 Wedgetails, and our Threat of the Day: China’s Chengdu J-10. Stay ahead with breaking military aviation news!

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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 involved, this was no ordinary mission. We also dive into two major budget updates hitting the U.S. Air Force: The E-7 WEDGETAIL, the much-anticipated AWACS replacement, may now be on the chopping block. The F-35 Lightning II program faces significant cuts in the 2026 defense budget proposal. This is your no-BS, fast-hitting update on the biggest stories in defense and aviation. Whether you're a pilot, a defense pro, or just a military aviation nerd — you're in the right place.'

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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 Thunderbird doc (what happened with “Primo’s” rejoin ). Also: Iranian strikes, the death of the F-35 order, AI drones that headshot mannequins, and why Waymo might trigger Skynet. Come for the jet talk. Stay for the tuna sandwich fight story.

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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 grit required to survive flight school, the evolution of airmanship and training, and the life-changing experience of attending Top Gun. J

Jell-O recounts intense moments from deployments aboard the USS George Washington and John F. Kennedy, reflects on the emotional toll of military service, and gives insight into his time flying as an adversary pilot in the F-16. He also opens up about his book, Through the Yellow Visor, and how storytelling plays a crucial role in honoring those who serve. This episode is rich with wisdom on perseverance, mentorship, and what it truly means to be a fighter pilot. 

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

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

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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-sensitive strikes in complex environments. Snapper also shares how personal events—including his brother’s career-ending accident and a high-casualty strike on a high-value target—shaped his approach to combat and leadership. The discussion covers training, weapons employment, A-10 capabilities, and the operational realities of supporting ground forces across multiple conflicts.

Snapper YT: https://www.youtube.com/@snapperland

Snapper IG: https://www.instagram.com/snapperland

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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 Museum. They'll reflect on the wild ride that made their music legendary in ready rooms across the globe.

The Event: DosGringosDenver.Com
Listen to Dos Gringos on Spotify: Spotify Link
FlyteCo Brewing Tennyson: Flyteco Tower
Trip’s Spirits: Winglore Spirits
Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025 | 5:00–8:00 PM
Location: FlyteCo Tower Brewery, 3120 Uinta St, Denver, CO 80238 (Note: Event is at an offsite location)

What's going down:
Dos Gringos, the iconic Fighter Pilot Band, is storming FlyteCo Tower to rock out and fuel a mission that’s as high-octane as their music: hauling a Thunderbirds F-16—painted in that classic red-white-and-blue—across state lines to land at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. This isn’t just a concert—it’s a full-throttle push to ship a 30,000-pound jet from Texas to Denver.

Tickets:
• $100 GA: Rock with Dos Gringos & help get the F-16 on its way. Open seating.
• $250 VIP: Tower-top tour** + band meet-up + VIP seating overlooking the action + premium Winglore Spirits tasting.

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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 failure during a combat exercise forced him to make the ultimate call—pulling the ejection handle. Teddy reflects on what went wrong, how his training kicked in, and what it’s like to come back from an ejection both physically and mentally. 

Rain and Teddy also discuss the realities of Total Force Integration, life in a Guard unit, and the camaraderie forged through the crucible of flying fighters. Plus, hear how Teddy founded 4th Gen Hunting Co. and how the outdoors became part of his recovery journey. This is more than a story of survival—it’s a deep dive into resilience, pilot culture, and the unforgiving nature of modern air combat. 4th GenHuntingCo: 

https://www.4thgenhuntingco.com/

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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 insights into tactical flying, military leadership, and the future of fighter aviation. He and Rain discuss the cultural and structural contrasts between the U.S. and Danish Air Forces, and how Denmark’s 37-hour workweek model may be the secret to long-term pilot retention. 

TEO also unpacks the evolution of the Danish demo jet—including the iconic “Dannebrog” paint scheme honoring the world’s oldest national flag and the F-16’s 50th anniversary. Whether he’s intercepting Russian aircraft or wowing crowds at international airshows, Captain TEO exemplifies the mindset and mission of the fighter pilot brotherhood. Subscribe for more veteran stories, tactical airpower insight, and global combat aviation perspectives.

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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 face of modern air defense threats. From Cold War-era training to post-9/11 combat deployments, this episode explores how A-10 pilots adapted to evolving SAM and AAA threats while maintaining their mission to protect ground forces. Kelso’s perspective offers a unique look at the intersection of close air support and SEAD, highlighting the courage and coordination required in every mission.

Stay tuned and subscribe for more frontline stories and tactical lessons from the world of combat aviation and special operations.

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