[CharlieChan]

This story is in error. It probably came from an AP report that was also wrong. I taped Kerry's speech and went back and checked. Kerry said the Israel "ACE" took the plane off and offered Kerry the controls when it was about five feet off the ground.
This could be sloppy reporting, or the AP's attempt to make Kerry look better--while giving Kerry the opportunity to criticize the critics for wrong info.
I think Kerry is lying about this. An easy way to prove one way or the other is for Kerry to name the ACE PILOT.
There are very few Israel aces from 1967. For this amazing once in a life experience, how could Kerry forget his name? Then the first thing to do would be to check if the guy was still alive in 1991. It's a bit unusual for a fighter pilot still flying military jets 24-25 years later.

[Fresh Wind]

Kerry said the Israel "ACE" took the plane off and offered Kerry the controls when it was about five feet off the ground.

I'm not a pilot, but this doesn't make any sense at all. Five feet off the ground is hardly a safe altitude to change pilots. Kerry is lying, for sure.

[N. Theknow]

I think Kerry is lying about this. An easy way to prove one way or the other is for Kerry to name the ACE PILOT. There are very few Israel aces from 1967. For this amazing once in a life experience, how could Kerry forget his name? Then the first thing to do would be to check if the guy was still alive in 1991. It's a bit unusual for a fighter pilot still flying military jets 24-25 years later.

Chaim Lindbergh?

[TankerKC]

I taped Kerry's speech and went back and checked. Kerry said the Israel "ACE" took the plane off and offered Kerry the controls when it was about five feet off the ground.

I specifically recall him saying just that. He mentioned taking the controls at 5 feet. But, I think he also said "I took off" at some point. Either way, no pilot is going to let him do this. I took a ride in a T-38 once. The instructor pilot was seated in the back and he did not let me take the controls until we were at altitude and in an approved training area. Even then, he had the throttles and I'm sure his hand was lightly on the stick.

On a side note, several folks have said that flying a "military jet" is much harder that flying a small prop. That's isn't my opinion. I first soloed in a T-46 (Cessna 172). It was so light and has so little power that I found it quite a challenge (on take off, in flight, and landing). After that I flew and soloed in the T-37 (jet trainer). I thought take off and in-flight (including aerobatics) was much easier. Landing at a higher speed and gross weight had different challenges than the 172, but It was no more difficult.

Of course, I washed out of pilot training, so what does my opinion mean? ;)

[Sloth]

Kerry said the Israel "ACE" took the plane off and offered Kerry the controls when it was about five feet off the ground.

FIVE FEET?! That's even less believable than Kerry taking off by himself.

[Rebelbase]

If the Col. was an Ace, then he is on this list:

Israeli Aces

Next thing to do is to find out which one of these guys was ever a Col. in the Israeli Air Force.

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

'Senator, you'd better turn faster, you're going over Egypt.'"

Were this true we'd have heard about it, a minor international incident at the least, more likely charred wreckage in the Sinai and a vacancy in the Senate.

[rmlew]

There were a few more Israeli aces from the Lebanon capmaign. The Syrian airforce took on Israel over the Bekaa valley in 1983. I believe the final tally was 85 flamed Syrians to no Israeli fighters shot down.

[stocksthatgoup]

You can meet ACE pilots anywhere. You could be at restaurant and an ACE pilot might come up to you and say want to take a ride? Would you please beat George Bush? You just gotta win.