Fighter Pilot Breaks the Rules to Save a Navy SEAL | Max Afterburner

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 Subscribe to The John Lovell Show for more conversations about courage, faith, leadership, and becoming a better protector. Get the Vehicle Squire: https://www.warriorpoetsupplyco.com/products/the-squire Warrior Poet WEBSITE - https://warriorpoetsociety.com TRAIN with us - https://warriorpoetsupplyco.com/train1/ Books by John Lovell - https://www.warriorpoetsupplyco.com/pages/read GET the WarPoet app! | Original shows, training, and much more. iPhone, Android, Amazon, Apple TV etc. https://www.watchwpsn.com Watch the Rally Point Show on the Warrior Poet app FOLLOW US: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/warriorpoetsociety Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/warriorpoetsociety/ X | https://x.com/johnlovell275 Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6O2q4F2tbmoddeSTo9jKNM?si=qzbO0G6xRs-rs51BZuP31Q (DISCLAIMER: This post may contain paid advertisements or affiliate links. What is an affiliate link? It means that if you click on one of the product links, Warrior Poet Society will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the channel and allows awesome future content. Thank you for the support!). Chapters: 00:00 Episode Preview 02:06 Meet Max Afterburner 06:13 Why Ryan Became a Fighter Pilot 09:00 Creativity, Intuition & the Warrior Mindset 13:21 Sponsor: Squire 15:04 What Fighter Pilot Training Demands 18:00 The Training Crash That Changed Everything 21:20 A Dark Night of the Soul 25:14 Leading Through Loss 28:55 Overcoming Fear & Getting Back in the Cockpit 31:59 Inside the Thunderbirds 34:32 A Formation Flight Goes Wrong 36:33 How Pilots Handle 9 Gs 38:01 John Tries the Anti-G Technique 39:28 How Ryan Earned the Call Sign “Neo” 43:00 Take Command: Preparing Your Mind Under Pressure 47:36 Will AI Replace Fighter Pilots? 54:06 Combat Close Calls & Flying at Night 55:49 Scrambling to Help a Pinned-Down Navy SEAL 58:44 The 500-Foot Rule 01:05:00 Why Flying Low Matters to Troops on the Ground 01:07:34 Max’s Channel & Global Conflict 01:12:29 Inside Military Contingency Planning 01:16:00 Diplomacy, Deterrence & Knowing Your Enemy 01:22:54 Ryan’s Everyday Carry 01:24:59 Taking Command: A Combat Leadership Lesson 01:30:40 Closing Thoughts