The Afterburn Podcast

From flying F-16s over Iraq to testing Virgin Galactic’s spaceplanes, Keith “Coma” Colmer has lived one of the most diverse and impactful careers in modern aviation. Raised near John Wayne’s ranch in rural Arizona, he rose from an Air Force ROTC cadet at MIT to a combat and test pilot shaping the future of flight. In this episode, Coma shares untold stories from flying GPS satellites during Desert Storm, developing the Litening and Sniper pods, pioneering electronic warfare systems like the ALQ-213, and leading Virgin Galactic’s early spaceflight test team. He also opens up about leadership...

In this episode of  @AfterburnPodcast  host John “Rain” Waters sits down with Bob “Bags” Simeone, a former Navy F/A-18 Hornet pilot who flew combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. From low-level strikes over Iraq to night tanking in icing conditions, Bags shares a raw, often hilarious, and deeply personal account of what it was like to be part of America’s return to high-end warfare after Vietnam. They dive into what deployment looked like aboard the USS America in the early ‘90s, the challenges of navigating pre-GPS cockpits, and the chaos of coordinating missions in a pre–Link 16 wor...

🎯 Lowdown Newsletter: https://www.lowdownnews.us/ 🔺 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/theafterburnpodcast Welcome to The Lowdown, your weekly briefing on global aviation and defense. In this episode, we cover the latest on the F-35 Block 4 program and its delays, downgrades, and the TR-3 foundation for future upgrades. We also dive into the next-generation “doomsday plane,” the E-4C Nightwatch, set to replace the Cold War–era E-4B, and explore how Sierra Nevada Corporation is driving the future of airborne command and control. We break down massive U.S. Army missile contracts, from Patriot PA...

🎯 Lowdown Newsletter: https://www.lowdownnews.us/ 🔺 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/theafterburnpodcast Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off🛫 Become a Fighter/Bomber/Cargo/Tanker/RPA Pilot 🎯 : http://bogidope.com/?bd=tappodcast 🛫🔺 Aviation & Defense Newsletter - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺Become a Patron, Support the Show, & Gain Exclusive Benefits: https://www.patreon.com/c/theafterburnpodcast🥷 Scrub Your Info from Data Brokers & Protect Yourself | https://aura.com/afterburn 14-day free trial  Hosted by Simplecast, an...

In July 2012, F-16 pilot Scott “Fester” Fredrick found himself in a fight for survival over the frigid North Pacific. What began as a routine movement flight from Misawa to Eielson turned into a catastrophic engine failure, forcing him to eject over open ocean and spend more than six hours in 55-degree water before rescue.In this episode, we dive into Fester’s incredible career — from chasing the B-2 Spirit during flight test, to combat over Iraq, to his harrowing ejection and rescue. We talk pilot training lessons, split-second decision making, survival training that saved his life, and how pers...

This week on The Lowdown military aviation news: Hungarian MiG-29 theft – Thieves broke into Kecskemét Air Base and stole radar components from retired MiG-29 fighters. Was it an inside job inside NATO territory? F-15 accidental ejection – At Barnes Air National Guard Base a passenger unexpectedly ejected from an F-15D during taxi. We break down how this could happen. MQ-9 Reaper crash – A $13 million Reaper drone was lost in the Mediterranean Sea after a propeller failure. Singapore cancels Guam F-15 training plan – Why Singapore and the United States decided not to move forward with this fighter detachment. B-2 bomber Al...

In this episode of the Bro Chat, "Flash" "Bender" and "Rain" are joined by Kevin "Konan" Parkhurst to discuss flying the F-35 in the reserves, how to get hired by a reserve or guard unit and more.Check out Authentic Media - Six months Free - Just use code 62F6D at Patreon.com/AuthenticMedia/redeem/62F6D.     Air Force Officer Qualifying Test (AFOQT) Prep with AFOQT Wingman https://afoqtwingman.com/Code: AFTERBURN for 10% off🛫 Become a Fighter/Bomber/Cargo/Tanker/RPA Pilot 🎯 : http://bogidope.com/?bd=tappodcast...

📧 Want the full newsletter? https://www.lowdownnews.us6 months free with Authentic Media: Just use code 62F6D at Patreon.com/AuthenticMedia/redeem/62F6D. This week on The Lowdown, we break down the biggest stories in airpower and national defense: 🔺 NORAD intercepts Russian Tu-95 bombers and Su-35 fighters near Alaska 🔺 U.S. pauses full F-35 procurement until Lockheed fixes TR-3 & Block 4 delays 🔺 Spotlight on the AGM-158 JASSM—stealthy, long-range, and lethal 🔺 China’s new J-35 stealth fighter joins the PLA Navy 🔺 Space Age heist: Engineer pleads guilty to st...

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 psychological toll that followed. We trace his journey from growing up in North Pole, Alaska, to becoming one of the most respected A-10 instructors in the U.S. Air Force. Lorenzo...

🔹 Check out my sponsor https://aura.com/afterburn to get a 14-day free trial and see if your personal information has been compromised🔹🔺 Grab our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geopolitics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺 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 deployment in Japan — a key shift in Indo-Pacific airpower. 🛩️ The B-21 Raider stealth bomber is on track for combat configuration and flight t...

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 🔺 Grab our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geopolitics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺 🇺🇸 Support Veterans in Their Time of Need or Apply fo...

🔹 Check out my sponsor https://aura.com/afterburn to get a 14-day free trial and see if your personal information has been compromised🔹 🔺 Grab our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geopolitics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺 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...

🔺 Grab our free newsletter for insights into aviation, defense, and geopolitics - https://bit.ly/AfterburnNewsletter 🔺 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...

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 Waym...

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. JJell-O recounts intense moments from deployments aboard the USS Ge...

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 lea...

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.ComListen to Dos...

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’...

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 Dani...

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 miss...