My trip in an F-16 with the USAF Thunderbirds..pics too

[RutRoe]

So Monday morning, I had the unreal opportunity to go up in an F-16 Fighter Jet with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds. If by some chance you haven't heard of them, they're a similar group to the Blue Angels, in that they do air shows and tours such as the one that I took part in, and generally are the best of the best.

It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and although I was a little scared, I knew I had to do it. I went to the Daytona Beach Airport at 8:00am where my training and suiting up began.

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I have a huge head, so I was a little nervous about fitting my gigantic melon in there.

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Then we went over the mask and how it worked...

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Then Bob, aka Big Country, squashed my face.

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Two thumbs up if your face hurts

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I know. I'm a total badass and you had no idea.

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Then my pilot, Lt. Col. Rob Skelton went over some moves with me.

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He likes them big...

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Here's about where in the state you should be losing your lunch

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And last, the mysterious "High Five" Manuvre

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More pics and story coming... I just don't know how many pics I can load in one post.

[Scotsman]

good sh!t so far

[Magnus213]

Can't say I'm not jealous. DAMN that's an experience.

[ahmonrah]

that sir.......looked PAINFUL!!!! LIRL!!!
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e257/Rutroe/DSC_9364_1.jpg
it's all good.....like you, i also have a NOOGET!
good deal on the experience!

[RutRoe]

So after we go over what we're going to do and I had an extensive meeting with the Pre-Flight Surgeon, we being to head out to the plane. It's hard to put into words all the things that went through my head as we walked outside, but I'll do my best to share them.

We stopped in front of the plane for a photo opp...

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It was about this point when reality started to sink in that I was about to go 500+ miles per hour in a $200 Million dollar aircraft. The team of guys that keep this thing running are outstanding. Not only are they super nice and smart, they really love what they do for a living and it shows.

They had my name on the side of the plane also... which, to be honest, was super cool for me. Albeit, it's my first name, that's my damn name on the side of this badass plane.

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So they get me seated and start going over some of the things in the cockpit. I wish I had a picture of what it looked like, but I wasn't allowed to bring a small camera. I had full throttle control back there, the sweet controller that had missles and guns and all those other cool buttons on it...plus I had all sorts of gauges that read all kinds of stuff I don't understand. They also read G's.

I was told the goal of our flight was to let me experience 9 G's. That's 9 times the force of gravity on my body... which is a lot.

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Then the canopy closed and reality sunk in. Holy ****. I'm about to do this....I can't back out now. Thumbs up if you're scared as hell

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So the pilot is coaching me the whole time. He says when to breathe and how to do stuff. The plan was to take off, and at the end of the runway, he'd bank it hard up and we'd fly to 10,000feet in a few seconds. It was raw insane power...like I hadn't felt before.

I thought we were still on the runway but pics and videos show we got airborn super fast, then cruised over the rest of the 1.5 mile runway about 40 or 50 feet off the ground.

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Then, up we went and fast... check the afterburner... nuts

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We hit 5.3 G's on the take off and I totally thought I was going to pass out....it felt like a long time, and I defintely felt my vision tunnel slightly as it was happening.

We then hauled ass down to Cape Canaveral into restricted airspace and did some crazy stuff over NASA. We did Barrel Rolls, Arion Rolls, we did a gigantic loop, we did tons of stuff.

I never got sick, but I defintely felt out of it a bunch. It's like going from sober to drunk in a matter of seconds... we fly upside down for a while and that was crazy. One of the coolest things was being up there and seeing all the launch pads for NASA and how many they don't use any more. I saw the building where they assemble the space shuttle, and the airstrip where it lands. It was nuts.

The payoff though was when he went down to 500 feet. We slowed down to just a couple hundred miles an hour, and then full throttle and afterburners. We hit 500mph in just a few seconds... then straight up.....FAST... to 15,000 feet.

As soon as we got up there, he said "Take a deep breath! We're going for 9 G's" He then banked the plane to the left and rolled it and towards the ground we went. I don't know how exactly to explain what that felt like, but it was just nuts. Just ****ing nuts. We only hit it for a few seconds and then he shook the plane left to right to wake me up incase I had passed out. I hadn't, I laughed, and then my body was feeling wierd.

That was what we built up to and then we headed back. I got to see an amazing view of NASA in this sick plane, got to see Daytona International Speedway in a whole new light, and for the first time experienced SPEED and precision like nothing I had ever known before.

We taped this to make a piece for Thursday afternoon's NASCAR Raceday at 1pm just before the Gatorade Duels. Hopefully someone will load it into youtube after that and I can link everyone. They also gave me this super cool lithograph with my name on it and stuff, plus I have an official 9 G pin that is badass.

I can't say thanks enough times for this opportunity, nor can I believe this is my job. It was truly unreal. I hope you enjoyed my story and thanks for reading.

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[RutRoe]

P.S. That plane can be converted to Combat ready in under 72 hours. They did it once in 27 hours without paint just to see if they could.

USAF Rules.

[Alan®]

very cool man reps

[JITB]

wow.. u got any video?

[matthewAPM]

gangsta

[EJ25RUN]

soooooooooooooo jealous... congrats on the flight!

My only aircraft experience is a flying a little Cessna :(

[Tracy]

Holy chit.

P.S.
Love the highlights! S0o0o0o0oo Hollywood! :P b00bs

[Evil Goat]

badass man, thats one of my dreams

[HeLLo iM iZzY]

What a fawking experience man.

Reps for you.

[RutRoe]

wow.. u got any video?

It will all be on the show tomorrow on SPEED. Set your Tivo biatches...

They were three cameras in the cockpit, with audio, and I can't wait to see them.

At one point I was feeling totally wasted and not sure if I was going to puke. After a few minutes, I finally stated "I don't know wether I want to puke or **** my pants."

He laughed and said "Yeah.. people say that sometimes"

[GuessWho]

I would of cried if that was me... i can handle plane rides but not JET rides...

Looked fun tho...

[LQQKITZME]

Very cool Rut...

[Blitanicle99]

Dude! Thats awesome! If thats your job, I want your job. How did you manage to do all this?

[tony]

cool doesn't explain it, man you just fullfilled a lifelong dream of mine and I really appreciate you sharing the story and pictures. Very VERY cool!

[On_Her_Face]

that is really awesome man, and i am totally jealous, but i believe i have seen you on speed before you posted about you having this job. correct me if i am wrong?

[BKgen®]

b*tchin', man. I've seen them a million times (most recently at Reno in '06), but never had the opportunity to go up in one. i'm jealous. reps!

[AnthonyF]

WOW BRO!!!!!!!!!! i would KILLLLLLLL for that oppotunity!!!!!!!!! that is sooo frigin bad ass!!!!

[The Yousef]

i said it once...and i'll say it again...

you're my hero.

btw:

you should have stuck an IA decal on the side of that Falcon... :lmfao:

[NewGen33]

awesome, you lived one of my dreams

[Spektrewing386]

That is my dream.

You are a little large for the aircraft.... jk

smaller you are the better you can take the G's


I wish i had done AFROTC, but i plan to go OTS now.

If you dont get as lucky as this guy, then theres a program where you go to Russia and get a couple flights in a MiG-29 (they even let you take the controls)

[Tech5]

that is like a dream come true man, I would loved to be in your shoes. where do I sign up?

[RutRoe]

Psychosquirl.. you're right about my size. I had plenty of room in there, but it was certainly tight in places.

My foot actually hit the rudder pedals when we took off and he had to override it so we didn't turn crazy.

I"m so glad you guys liked the story. I know the video will be better but I just thought a lot of people on here would understand why I wanted to share it. I still can't believe I did that.

[RutRoe]

that is really awesome man, and i am totally jealous, but i believe i have seen you on speed before you posted about you having this job. correct me if i am wrong?

No sir... you are correct. I'm SPEED's resident fun NASCAR guy. My on-air monacre is "Fan of the People" instead of "man of the people" since I love people so much, that I'm actually a huge fan of them. Hence the title.

I love my job. I get payed to talk to people... it's wild.

I really love SPEED and all the great people that are a part of it, and hopefully I can keep working hard so we can have our own fun show one day... or at least I can. That's my plan. Playa.

So thanks. I'm pumped you guys like this stuff so much.

[thepolecat]

I though my 200 MPH ride in a NASCAR was hot ****- you just got cool points from me!

[amberghini]

I hate you. Next time, take me with you, you lucky mofo. :D

*storms away uber jealous*

[ShooterMcGavin]

wow, i'm incredibly jealous, i loved seeing the thunderbirds as a kid.

[_Christian_]

It has always been my dream to be a fighter pilot. I'm so jealous.

[On_Her_Face]

No sir... you are correct. I'm SPEED's resident fun NASCAR guy. My on-air monacre is "Fan of the People" instead of "man of the people" since I love people so much, that I'm actually a huge fan of them. Hence the title.

I love my job. I get payed to talk to people... it's wild.

I really love SPEED and all the great people that are a part of it, and hopefully I can keep working hard so we can have our own fun show one day... or at least I can. That's my plan. Playa.

So thanks. I'm pumped you guys like this stuff so much.

I will only make this offer once, I will trade you my corvette and my half sister for your job(she'll be a great house wife)

[IndianStig]

cool beans man. i would love to experience something like that in this life.

[NevrNufTorq]

ty for posting it all up!! i look forward to seeing it on speed tomorrow before the duels! i bet that is gonna be one of the highlights of your life!! i know it would be for me! :bump:

on another note, how's bush-butt's eye? :lmfao:

maybe i'll run into you sometime at the pepsi400. been goin down there almost every year since 95 for it!! stay at the ramada across the road. :D

[G35Cam]

that must of been the best expierance ever!

[BobbyFresco]

Good job and reps for posting up.....

I for one am not afraid to admit that I wouldn't be able to go through
with it...I think I'd defecate on myself.:yes:

[GIXXERDK]

Nice, wish I had the chance

[The Ren]

Aww look our little Rut has become a supastar!

[DaX]

That's really cool. I want to fly in a jet some day. I missed out on a P-51D flight last year - I didn't win the raffle. I'll settle for +3G in my airplane - 9G's - even with a G-suit - is nuts!

["B"]

RutRoe is a badass. I would have passed out or threw up everywhere. I don't even like roller coasters.

On a side note, I can't wait for the Duels and I loved the Bud Shootout. I should have gone againt his year.

[DieselNuts]

Lucky guy. I've always wanted to do something like that.

[Leadfoot_mf]

man that is awesome. keep us posted.

[UpSideDownDesi]

i was thiiiiiiiiiiiiis close going in training as a fighter pilot.....**** happened...had to back out.....life sucks. How did you get in......how much did it cost you?

[Elbow]

AWESOME STUFF!!!!!!

[RutRoe]

It didn't cost me a dime...technically I was on the clock. Life's really funny like that.

But please know, I still can't believe I got to do this and as they flew over the track this afternoon practicing for Sunday's flyover, I totally got goose bumps. What an unreal display of precision and power.

I love my job.

[Got Milk?]

You lucky bastard. I want to expereince that.

[RutRoe]

TO make this story a little bit better, I was at the awesome steakhouse in our hotel and Jimmie Johnson and his wife Chandra came in and said hello to us... and then a couple minutes later, their dinner guest, DARIO FRANCHITTI (of F-1 fame-now Team Gnassi in NASCAR) walked up to say hi and then preceeded to tell me he couldn't believe that I got to go up with the Thunderbirds and asked me all about it.

Yup. Dario Franchitti who told me wrecked and they figured out the force was close to 100G's told me how cool he thought the segment was.

And somehow, that uppped the cool points for me even more. Still can't believe I did this.

[GSRteg®]

Bet it was a crazy feeling.