The rule was 500 feet. A Navy SEAL was pinned down. Ryan “Max Afterburner” Bodenheimer had a decision to make.
Former F-15E combat pilot and F-16 Thunderbirds demonstration pilot Max Afterburner joins John Lovell to share the stories behind the cockpit—from a low-altitude rescue mission in Afghanistan to a close call in a Thunderbirds formation.
Ryan also opens up about losing his best friend during flight training, the “dark night of the soul” that tested his faith, and finding the strength to fly again. Along the way, he teaches John how pilots handle G-forces, explains how he earned the call sign “Neo,” and discusses AI, the future of fighter aviation, and leadership under pressure.
Get Ryan’s book, Take Command:
https://mysignedcopy.com/en-us/products/take-command
Watch Max Afterburner on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@MaxAfterburnerusa
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