So, yesterday I got a ride in an F-16

[Guest XLR8TNC5]

Here you go everyone. This is also in the OFF TOPIC and Southwest Section of the Corvette Forum.

It all started on Wednesday. Hubby came home and insisted I must take Friday off of work. He had signed me up to get a ride in an F-16 Fighter Jet. Obviously, I was not going to miss this chance, I took Friday off.

I showed up on base for Egress training and other information and briefings at 0845hrs. This took until around 1030hrs. I then had time to go play until 1400hrs. I got back to the base at 1400hrs. Got fitted for a flight suit, harness, helmet and mask. (With gloves and patches of course.) Got to have a one on one sit down with my pilot and went over a few things. IE: Talking to the control tower, how to control the jet on Taxiway, etc...THEN, I WAS OFF AND RUNNING, FEELING EXACTLY WHAT AFTERBURNER FEELS LIKE!

This was a day I will never forget as long as I live. A HUGE thank you to the hubby (YOU ARE THE BEST BABE!)for thinking about me and to "BEVO" my pilot for not being afraid to "give it all she's got." I did not get to fly in the air, but the flight was called a High Speed Taxi. We did 100knots (115mph) in a little less than 4 secs and a rotate (Brought the nose off the ground) and it was phenomenol. I spoke to the ATC and I got to have control of the jet to and from the taxiway and up until we hit the afterburners. We pulled approximately 1.3G's! I experienced 25,600pounds of thrust on this ride! It was absolutely one of the biggest rushes I have ever had. AMAZING! Not to mention I was in a 32million dollar jet.

The jet was a F-16 Block 40. Here are the specs:

Primary Function Multirole fighter

Builder Lockheed Martin Corp.

Power Plant F-16C/D:one Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-200/220/229 orone General Electric F110-GE-100/129

Thrust F-16C/D, 27,000 pounds(12,150 kilograms)

Length 49 feet, 5 inches (14.8 meters)

Height 16 feet (4.8 meters)

Wingspan 32 feet, 8 inches (9.8 meters)

Speed 1,500 mph (Mach 2 at altitude)

Ceiling Above 50,000 feet (15 kilometers)

Maximum Takeoff Weight 37,500 pounds (16,875 kilograms)

Enjoy the pics!

Tanya

Aka ?FalconGirl?

[Desertdawg]

WOW!!! :

Now that is cool, I bet it tops just about any thrill ride you have ever been on....Congrats to you, and a big thumbs up to Mark... :

I flew with my Dad lots of times in pipers and cessna's while I was growing up. As a hobby he became a CFI. and me and my older brother were his guinea pigs... We had lot's of fun being students...Then last year my boss got me an hour in a harrier simulator in Yuma, but it's still not like being strapped in and feeling that wonderful sensation of flight...

[Guest Kens06]

Very COOL, Falcongirl!!

You two give each other some very gifts!!

Garage floors and high speed taxi's sure beat the heck out of clothes and flowers : :

Makes those : runs in the Vette seem tame now doesn't it!! :

I figure the next big news will be tickets to Denver so you can do the altitude chamber at Lowery, AB. That would qualify you to go airborne!!

Ken

[Guest XLR8TNC5]

Indeed, it was a moment of my life that I had dreamt of for years. Being the ultimate wannabe speed queen and adrenaline junkie that I am....hehehe!

I am very thankful to Mark for thinking of me when this came around. I got a keeper thats for sure.

Guys (and gals) I can't tell you how it could have been any better. Well, other than getting to actually take off the ground all the way. But I did everything except that and I got to experience FULL afterburner. Damn, it was a moment I will never forget. I GOT TO RIDE IN AN F-16!!!! I still can't beleive it. I thought I had a permagrin when I got the Vette, but holy shnikeys, my cheeks are killing me from smiling so much!

WOW WOW WOW!

Thank you all for letting me share my experience. I was dying to show and tell and I made sure to put the ACE sign up to let you all know I was thinking about ya during the event.

Tanya

[BSeery]