Political Crossfire Forums

[sublime]

A brave reporter goes up with the AF Thunderbirds. These guys are great!

There ought to be SOME perks for a guy working for one of the worst big city newspaper in the world!

Houston is a world-class city with a third-rate daily newspaper..............



"Oct. 21, 2006, 1:18AM

WINGS OVER HOUSTON

Air Force Thunderbirds take Chronicle for a ride
Reporter sees life upside down, sideways and at 9-Gs in an F-16


By DAVID ELLISON
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

A seat behind Maj. Tad Clark perhaps isn't the best spot to watch the Wings Over Houston Airshow, especially for the weak at heart.

One second you're zooming down an Ellington Field runway in an F-16 fighter jet. The next thing you know, you're climbing vertically to 14,000 feet — all in about 30 seconds.

In that time, the entire airfield becomes a dot on the landscape.

Those who watch the airshow today and Sunday at Ellington — from the ground, of course — won't have such an opportunity. Clark, however, will be airborne with other members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, which will perform choreographed flying formations both days.

"The Thunderbirds are the crackerjack military aerial demonstration team," said Ralph Royce, the air boss for the airshow. "They are not only a great group of pilots, but a great group of Americans."

And indeed they displayed every bit of that during the flight for reporters.

This wasn't just an occasion when a reporter arrives at the airfield and climbs into the jet. We were there four hours before the flight for training.

First, I met with flight surgeon, Maj. Dan Mirski, the Thunderbirds' flight surgeon. He gave me a brief exam, including listening to my lungs and heart, to ensure that I was physically able to fly that day.

Most importantly, he instructed me how to flex my body, from my toes to my head, so I could handle the G-force. He talked about possibility of blacking out and throwing up.

"Do you have any questions," he asked.

"Can you go over that G-force routine again?" I immediately responded, thinking that I didn't mind barfing but I certainly didn't want to black out.

From there, Sgt. Joanne Hale gave me a green jumpsuit and black boots. She explained how to put on as well as operate the harness, helmet and G-suit, which is basically a tight-fitting outfit from the waist down that zips up over your legs.

"When you pull a G, what happens is all the blood rushes down to your feet because all that gravity is pulling," she explained.

A statement like that definitely makes a civilian curious, but I didn't want to call it off. Then, one-on-one, she explained what to do in the unlikely event that I had to be ejected from the plane.

Moments later, Clark came into the room.

Clark asked me about and my family in an obvious effort to put me at ease. He said he and other crew members enjoy taking part in air shows because it gives the public an opportunity to see the work of the men and women who are dedicated to keeping our country safe.

Then, with a model of an

F-16, he demonstrated every maneuver he would be doing on our one-hour flight. There would be loops and turns with 9-Gs. Also, we would be flying sideways and upside down.

Now, the talk was over. It was showtime.

After a brief van ride to the jet, I climbed into the tight quarters of the aircraft's back seat. Initially, a little apprehension set in, but that was quickly outweighed by an anxious desire to fly in this magnificent machine.

When we straightened out after that max-climb takeoff, I knew I was in for a thrill of a lifetime that no amusement park ride could provide. We experienced about 4 Gs that felt like tremendous pressure on my lower legs, which caused my mind to wonder when the plane was going to straighten out.

But I held my breath for a few seconds and flexed my body as previously instructed.

In about 10 minutes, we traveled from Ellington to Galveston. Then it was over the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, where Clark performed his moves. He told me in advance about each maneuver, especially when it was necessary to flex for the G-force.

"You're doing great," Clark constantly said after each routine.

But it was his flying experience and his way of making me feel at ease that helped me through it all. And that included no blackouts or vomiting.

However, I was reminded on the ground that it wasn't just Clark. It was the Thunderbirds' crew.

Once we were on ground, each of the 60-member crew shook my hand and thanked me for flying with them.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/4277173.html

[johnflesh]

I live 7 miles from Ellington Field, love the yearly air show.

I'd just like to understand something about the opinion you laid out before the story.

How did a story like the one above prompt such an opinion about the newspaper itself? What makes Chronicle 3rd rate?

[00timh]

I would so love to do something like that.

[lilwolf]

About one month ago now ( my knees still shake at this) a good friend of mine that lives here has an older mig21 that he bought and recondishioned and all back to its original paint and symbols and all very accurate.

I had been after him for a long time to take me for a ride. He did....boy did he.

I had never been so thrilled and wound up as i was during that ride. I had also never been so sick as i got by the time I was back on the ground.

All in all I am going to learn how not to get sick (did not puke though) like I was.

There are several companies around that for a fee will take a person up in a fighter jet. Just look them up on line and you will find lots of them all over the US.


I really want to do this again and maybe in the spring I will get to again.

[Thrilla]

00timh wrote: I would so love to do something like that. I had a fam-flight in a F/A 18 D hornet... lasted about 4 minutes... 4 minutes of my guts wanting to exit either my ass or the top of my skull...I think Ill fly coach from now on ... thats stuff is too much for me :lol:

[Limey Boosk]

Damn it, I was expecting a story about those kids who fly about in the pheonix. Tiny, Jason and Princess. Trans-mute.

Brut-toot-toot

[Snake]

johnflesh wrote:
How did a story like the one above prompt such an opinion about the newspaper itself? What makes Chronicle 3rd rate? It's not the story, it's the truth. The Chronicle really isn't that good.

[Alizard]

johnflesh wrote: I live 7 miles from Ellington Field, love the yearly air show.

I'd just like to understand something about the opinion you laid out before the story.

How did a story like the one above prompt such an opinion about the newspaper itself? What makes Chronicle 3rd rate?

I'll wager the mortgage it has something to do with their editorial staff declining to swear allegiance to the emporer.... :lol: