| The Thunderbirds, and My Little Gold PinKKTV Blog Listing | ||||
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I am proud to say I am the owner of an item that only a few will ever have. It is small, about the size of the tip of my little finger. It has an oval face with a tiny depiction of an Air Force Jet on the front. Beneath the jet are the characters I X G. The meaning is: 9 G, taken from the Roman Numeral IX (9), and G, representing the force of Gravity. Everyone who successfully makes it through a 9G pull gets one. To pull 9 G's, I had the once in a lifetime opportunity to fly with the USAF Thunderbirds. In a word: Incredible. For the uninitiated, the Thunderbirds are an elite group of pilots and the F-16 jets they fly. From their home in Nevada, the Thunderbirds travel the nation to demonstrate exactly what the F-16 can do. The jet can be equipped with the most high tech weaponry in the United States Air Force. You could find, for example, the kinds of laser guided missles used in the ongoing War on Terror attached to the wing of an F-16, known to level an enemy target from a position hundreds to thousands of feet above the battle ground. The jet can also perform the most difficult and exciting aerobatic maneuvers at speeds topping 500 miles per hour. The Thunderbirds are well known for this, as they demonstrate every year for the graduating class of Air Force Academy Cadets. The graduates throw their caps into the air as Second Lieutenants as the Thunderbirds roar overhead... Quite a welcome to the real world of service in the Air Force. I was lucky enough to get a small taste of what the Thunderbirds can do on Memorial Day this year.
On a misty, murky Monday, I met with the team, who loaned me a green flight suit and put me through the paces of boarding an F-16. They placed patches on my uniform, making me a part of the team, if only for a few hours. I was told how it would feel when we would hit 9 G' s. We would be flying fast enough to feel nine times the force of gravity on our bodies. In other words, it would be like nine of me sitting on my chest. Believe me, that is heavy. I was taught how to breathe(short exchanges of O2 and Co2), in order to best get through the maneuver. It was not until we got there, that I knew exactly why.
The pilot was Major Tony Mulhare. During our takeoff from Peterson Air Force Base, Major Mulhare switched on the afterburner. With a slight rumble and a hum that meant business, the engine kicked in and we were gone, as if in a roller coaster dive& only we were climbing. Up into the clouds we rocketed, eventually leveling off. Major Mulhare toured the skies of southern Colorado, dipping below the clouds to give me an unrivaled view of our city. It was as silky as sitting on a cumulous cloud. Make that, a cumulous cloud with teeth. When he wanted to, Major Mulhare could push the jet to the edge of the envelope to simulate combat operations, or perform some of the aerobatic stunts typical of Thunderbird fashion.
The ride got even more interesting when I heard the Major ask, "Are you ready for the 9G pull?"
"Yes," I said, with as much bravery as I could muster.
"We' ll go on three. Follow my breathing. One, two, three."
The horizon went to the left, as Major Mulhare dipped his wing and put us into a tight semi-circle flight path. The air in the cockpit seemed to get heavier and heavier as my flight suit began squeezing my body under the force of the speed and arc of the maneuver. I had time to copy about four short bursts of breath, when the Major brought the wing back to level, and we came out of the pull. Breathing became easier, and our wings were flat with the horizon.
"You just pulled Nine G's! How'd that feel?" I heard Major Mulhare ask.
I think I replied, "Not too bad."
It was unreal. A dream come true. I don't know many people out there who wouldn't want to try something like that after watching their favorite movie featuring dog-fighting military aircraft in air-to-air combat. (Insert Film Title Here)
It was the closest I'll come to being a part of a combat mission aboard an F-16. I cannot fully express how impressed I am that we have pilots who do it every day. They truly are the best of the best, and we are fortunate enough to have the Thunderbirds stateside to drive that fact home. For a few minutes, I was part of the team, which amazed another crowd gathered to cheer on a new class of Air Force Academy graduates.
Some fans say they won't wash their hand after shaking the hand of their favorite celebrity.
Likewise, you will not see me without my little gold Thunderbirds pin.
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Posted by: sally Location: Col Sprngs, Col
that was a wonderfulsdtory about flying with the thunderbirds.. I get a lump in my throat every year when it gets time for the flyover because I am fortunate to get to see them fly over my house.. I have never been to a graduation yet but the thrill of seeing them fly over the house is exciting enough.. thanks sally former WAC... Posted by: Celina Location: Dener CO. What an honor to fly with the Thunderbirds. I felt like I was in the seat with your awesome description of the flight. God bless our military. |
