Founded by two freedom loving and aviation addicted college students, Burner Brands brings humor, style, and recognition to aviation merchandise. Have you ever been to an airshow in the smoldering hear and realized, "Wow, this merch STINKS". Yeah, us too.
These merchandise companies, although profitable, are dated at best. Sometimes the aircraft are misidentified and the designs are as cheesy as the movie Independence Day (it's a good movie, but only because of the Legacy Hornet). If you're going to market to aviation enthusiasts, aircrew, fuelers, student pilots, and your local FBO receptionist, don't you think they deserve more?
What started as a hobby, has turned into an aviation merchandise juggernaut. Burner Brands has set out on a mission to provide high quality products to those that interact with or admire aviation.
How It All Started
An inspired partnership between Kam and Joe was formed when working at a local flight school. On the weekends, both would explore New England's airports not only to time build, but to find the best airport breakfast place around. Sadly, they both met their match at Dillant-Hopkins Regional Airport in Keene, NH, when they blew a tire on landing. After being stranded for hours, the chief flight instructor flew over in a Cessna 172 with a new tire and they flew back home to Portsmouth International Airport at Pease humbled by the days events.
Kam came up with the idea to create a patch for the flight school's instructors called the Team Six Patch. Due to the popularity amongst staff, It occured to both Kam and Joe that this "niche" type of merchandise could be profitable. They both brainstormed designs and pumped them out weekly. Joe made the Burner Brands Instagram and the rest is history. Squadrons, flight departments, and aviation enthusiasts around the world have ordered thousands of items, all in the Burner Brands name.
Founders
Joseph Palmer: My aviation journey started like many, when I watched Top Gun for the first time. I was inspired by my fathers service in the Navy and my goal to follow that service got me involved in aviation. I started flying once I went to college and have been fortunate to find myself in a unique community of pilots, photographers, engineers, and much more. Burner Brands has changed my life and it's humbling to see the support over the past year.
Kameron Virkaitis: My first flight through Civil Air Patrol launched my pursuit of an aviation career. After completing Air Force basic training, I began regularly flying and working towards a degree in aeronautical engineering, connecting with some great pilots and engineers alike. What started as an inside joke among friends has quickly grown into an aviation enthusiast's dream and I am incredibly thankful to everyone who has supported us to make this all possible.