Posted on 06/28/2014 7:42:48 AM PDT by markomalley
Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James became violently ill during a ride with the storied Thunderbirds aerial acrobatic team this week.
Commanders at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., thought it would be good PR to invite the relatively new secretary for a flight with its most famous squadron. Amid tight defense spending, there is pressure to demonstrate the worth of the Thunderbirds, which is back in the air show business after having been grounded last year when sequestration took hold.
But Tuesdays F-16 flight did not go as planned in the cockpit for Ms. James, a former House defense staffer, Pentagon official and defense industry executive.
Someone got the bright idea to invite her on the airplane, said a source familiar with the incident. She got violently ill.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
She’s a pro........ she needs to know her limitations
now she does
Considering this woman’s rep I wouldn’t be surprised if they gave her a nice big lunch before taking her up.
I have had some incredible rides on wheels and wings. The best ride ever was a Schwitser 2-32 sailplane.
Damned near everyone gets sick, the first time they do that sort of aerial maneuvers. Hell, most fighter pilots lose their lunch at least once, during training.
In other words, this isn’t news. Why is it a story?
I’ve seen Fox Folks on F-15s but not the Thunderbird aerobatics flights. I think most of us would lose our lunch on one of those. The idea of sending a civilian up in one of those was ill-conceived.
It was the g’s that did me in. That and turning my oxygen off instead of to 100%.
The upside down and rolls and loops were fun.
Or get them looking out the window at the bridge you’re doing a mock attack on and then yank the stick back.
I agree!
I get to watch F-16s almost every day.
Last day of the month, Wing Kings sometimes go up a violate a few rules.
I had my problems with Bush, but man, did he ever look great wearing that gear! What a hunk!
I’ve had it happen, and it ain’t pleasant, and a Cessna doesn’t have ejection seats.
I got queasy doing power-on stalls in a single-engine Beechcraft. I imagine I’d yak up my spleen on a T-bird flight.
I was watching the Tulsa air show back around the late 1980s or so. They were already flying F-16s if that helps date it.
The only person I could get to go with me was my daughter. After a long time we or more accurately, I got tired. We walked away from the crowd and sat down on some large pieces of concrete right close to a hot dog stand. We could still see the show just as well from there.
Anyway, while we were resting, several of the pilots drove up in a, yes, a Ford Thunderbird. To my surprise, they all ordered hot dogs and then drove out to where the F-16s were parked.
It really struck me that they could eat hot dogs just before flying.
If it hadn’t had been a coworker, they would’ve suffered facial compression when we got to the ramp....I did make her clean it up.
That smell on short final is very distracting.
shared it too. luv jets. Used to watch the A-10s fly over before iraq 1, but now base is closed.
He also probably pulled some Gs while in the ANG too.
That would be one expensive hole!
I’m thinking the same results could have happened in a Huey. Leave the side doors open and roll that baby on it’s side and see her slide off the seat that had ArmorAll (tm) on it.
LOL! Remember- righty tighty, lefty loosey on most valves.
I was actually belted into a Huey with a single canvas belt when it had to take an avoidance maneuver and go past 90 degrees over. It is an interesting view when the doors are off.
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