I got the Thunderbirds ride! Unbelievable! Didn’t want to get too excited because anything can happen from a schedule change to a malfunction at the hold-short line. But it happened!
And get this . . . I have 1.0 hours dual received in the logbook! In the F-16D. If it gets any better than this, I’m not sure I can handle it.
Airspeed Podcast: Thunderbirds Flight - The Ride and Thoughts from the Ramp
:: Mild mannered lawyer by day, CAP Officer when called, and aviation podcaster Steve Tupper got the ride of a lifetime on July 4th.
Tupper hosts the excellent Airspeed podcast, where he talks to all sorts of folks from around aviation, and takes his recorder along so the rest of us can virtually ride along in the cockpit.
This is the first time that an military demo team has chosen to fly a podcaster in their media ride program. It's a neat validation for podcasting as a medium. Great to see the Thunderbirds connecting with new media.
In addition to blogging, Tupper tweeted his way though the experience. You can follow him on Twitter @StephenForce.
Turning the tables, Steve asked me to get on the phone and debrief the experience together in what ended up being a 90 minute hanger flying session. What a fun way to spend a summer evening.
Tupper will be impossible to live with at Oshkosh I'm sure.
Well done Captain.
Rod Rakic is a private pilot and geek based in Chicago. (MDW)
