Today I got what the Air Force call an "incentive flight." Basically, very few people get these in their careers and it means I got to fly in a two person F-15C (or Strike Eagle, if you will) with a fighter pilot. We did various manouvers, I got to actually fly the jet!!! (I took the stick and was allowed to do barrel-rolls!), we went to G-force 8 (8 times my body weight) and then something went wrong and we went to negative 3 Gs (the jet inverted and the pilot and I went up into the canopy!!), but normal flight was restored soon after. From what the pilot said, hardly any pilots go into negative Gs so I was quite fortunate to be able to (accidentally) experience it. I didn't throw up and I didn't black out (of which I was quite proud). Below are some pics from today. To see additional pics, click here.
Cate and I messing with some equipment...
Courtney, Cate and I about 10 mins before takeoff...
Me getting into the cockpit
4 comments:
Soooo jealous!
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How the heck did you get lucky enough to do that? Is it a random drawing or something!?!? I would totally love to do that. Wow. Awesome.
Well, I won the C&I award for Communications and Information Airman of the Year and the First Sergeant's Association Diamond Sharp 2006 Award. Also, remember that after I was picked to brief the SECAF on Lakenheath's Wing Mission, the Wing Commander, Gen Steel, personally asked for me to brief for the next 13 DV visits. In other words, I guess I'm well known by the right people. Usually, only the winners of the Wing Airman/NCO/SrNCO/CGO of the year get F-15 incentive flights. Also, I'm on the shortlist as one of 15 people from the base to represent the Wing at a state meeting with the Queen! Yes! HRH Qheen Elizabeth II! I should find out soon. Wish me luck!!
That's truly awesome. You do have some great charisma there buddy. Man, I bet flying was awesome. I'd probably throw up, but I wouldn't care. Good luck with the Queen thing. Hopefully you'll be knighted and I can call you Sir Carlos.
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