The Afterburn Podcast
John "Rain" Waters
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, and the missions.
For Advertising Opportunities or more information visit: https://theafterburnpodcast.com/
For Advertising Opportunities or more information visit: https://theafterburnpodcast.com/
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 12, 2026 • 9min
Nuclear Bomber Base Just Got Overflown by Unknown Drones
In March 2026, somewhere between 12 and 15 drones overflew the flight line at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana — home to the B-52 bomber fleet, Global Strike Command, and the nuclear command and control communications systems that link the President to America's nuclear arsenal. These weren't hobbyist drones. According to reports they flew in close formation, spread out and conducted various maneuvers, and appeared to be jam resistant. Nobody stopped them.
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Apr 11, 2026 • 12min
China & Pakistan ink J-35 Stealth Fighter Deal
The J-35 is China's latest 5th generation fighter jets, and this video discusses its accelerated delivery timeline to Pakistan. We explore the implications of this advanced china fighter jet for military aircraft and the china air force.
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Apr 10, 2026 • 2h 3min
Maj. Gen. John "Trapper" Winters on 40 Years of Fighter Aviation
Maj. Gen. John "Trapper" Winters joins the Afterburn Podcast for a two-hour conversation covering one of the most unconventional paths to two stars in Air Force history — starting as an F-4 Electronic Warfare Officer and navigator, then beating 6% odds to earn a slot in pilot training, flying F-16s in the Aggressor program, commanding a fighter squadron, and ultimately rising to Mobilization Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations at the Pentagon.
In this episode, we cover it all. Trapper talks about growing up in a military family, knowing since age three that he wanted to fly fast jets, and what it actually took to make that happen — including working his way through B-52 EWO school, flying with Vietnam veterans who defined squadron culture through "fear, ridicule and sarcasm," and earning a pilot training slot when almost nobody believed it was coming.
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Apr 4, 2026 • 9min
US Airman Still on the Ground in Iran - What the U.S. is Doing to Rescue Them
Live Stream with Ward: https://www.youtube.com/live/5QSiJmqS6AQ?si=nT-Q09vbwpf3Wuow
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Apr 3, 2026 • 58min
F-35 Test Pilot Breaks Down China's J-36, CCA, & AI in the Cockpit | Tucker "Cinco" Hamilton
Cinco's book: Unlocking the Last 20%: Rising to Greatness Through Discipline, Balance, and Resiliency https://amzn.to/48cisOP
Tucker "Cinco" Hamilton is an Air Force Colonel, experimental test pilot, and the inaugural Chief of AI Test and Operations for the Department of the Air Force. He flew 30+ aircraft, including all three variants of the F-35, logged 82 combat missions, commanded the largest flight test organization in modern aviation, and was in the cockpit the first time an AI agent took control of a high-performance drone in flight.
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Apr 2, 2026 • 10min
Ceasefire? Iran & U.S. Appear to Escalate | Bunker Busters Hit Isfahan & Chechnya Threatens
President Trump's recent comments on a potential Iran ceasefire have sparked much discussion, as we explore the ongoing strikes in the region and the evolving iran war. This video also covers reports of Chechen units preparing for a possible US ground invasion and Iran's reveal of a new underground base for fighter jets, all contributing to the complex middle east conflict. Stay informed on this critical iran update and the latest developments shaping the us iran war.
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Apr 2, 2026 • 10min
Col Bud Anderson Laid to Rest at Arlington National Cemetery
On March 30th, 2026, Arlington National Cemetery honored Colonel Clarence "Bud" Anderson, a storied combat veteran and test pilot, with a moving ceremony. This tribute to his military service included flyovers featuring F-35s and iconic P-51 Mustangs, some bearing his famous "Old Crow" name. It was a poignant moment of military aviation history, showcasing the legacy of a true American veteran who served in WWII.
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Mar 28, 2026 • 14min
War Over in 2-4 Weeks? A-10 Gun Runs Against Iranian Proxies, F-18 Near Miss
Episode on YT: https://youtu.be/YMZk0NI0rFc
After the upload, news broke last evening that an additional attack against Prince Sultan Air Base injured numerous troops. https://www.airandspaceforces.com/us-forces-saudi-arabia-iran-attack/
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Mar 23, 2026 • 8min
Air Canada Flight 8646: Runway Disaster at LaGuardia
Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2JnUysRvRvs
On the evening of Sunday, March 22nd, Air Canada Flight 8646 — operated by Jazz Aviation — collided with an airport firefighting and rescue vehicle that had been cleared to cross Runway 4 at LaGuardia Airport. The captain and first officer were both killed. 41 of the 72 passengers and 4 crew members were transported to the hospital, with 9 remaining hospitalized as of Monday morning.
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Mar 23, 2026 • 10min
FAT Targets: The Hidden Cost of Iran War — US Bases in the Middle East
Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/2KKwJTeSEA8
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/LowdownNews
Website: https://bit.ly/Afterburn_Website
Merch: https://bit.ly/AfterburnMerch
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/theafterburnpodcast
The United States operates roughly 19 military sites across the Middle East — 8 of them permanent. For decades that presence was the strategy. Deterrence through presence. If you can see us, you won't mess with us.That calculus may be changing.In this video I break down the US basing problem in the Middle East — what it looked like going into the Iran war, what's happened since Operation Epic Fury began, and the uncomfortable question nobody wants to answer: are these bases now a liability?Five US Air Force refueling aircraft were damaged at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Al Udeid — the crown jewel of US air operations in the region and home to the Combined Air Operations Center — has been a consistent Iranian target. Iran sent a direct message to Jordan warning its population to pressure their government to remove US forces. And Gulf states hosting US bases have absorbed billions in economic damage specifically because they allowed the US to operate from their soi
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