OH MY GAD!

[Anna]

I had a backseat ride in an F-15 about 15 years ago. It was the best time I've ever had with two pairs of pants on!! I even got to fly it in the pattern a little bit (stick and rudders anyway). Damn, that was fun!

 

 

 

HOLY SHNIKEES! THAT'S AWESOME!

[Eastsider]

Bingo. Spent 8+ years in as a scope dope on AWACS and other interesting things. Only left because we vanquished the evil empire, peace broke out all over and Bush I didn't need a 40 wing Air Force.

 

The backseat ride was down at Holloman AFB. Almost got an F-16 ride at Luke, but I had to work that day (controlling the planes I would have gotten a ride in). Like I said, it was a real blast; I'd have signed up at half-pay after that ride.

[gregm]

high on the list of cool experiences i have had was getting a joyride in a kiawa scout chopper 20 feet over the karst korean landscape. the pilot went down in deep gorges only to let updrafts whip the aircraft up the gorge at rollercoaster speed. the abilities of the video/thermal cameras mounted above the main rotor are amazing, as i got to see riding in the left seat.

 

 

disclaimer: people dying sucks

[Scott_J]

A buddy and I were out in Johnson Hills hunting caribou a few years ago. We had two all cut up and bagged ready for the big hike to the beach for pick up from a Beaver. Rick decides he needs to relieve himself of a few pounds of scat, so he goes over a tundra bench and drops his pants. Somehow a Army helicopter saw his white flash and did the silent creep on the deck two more benches below us. When they were directly below him they popped right up on him and did the hover with the door gunner hanging out laughing his ass off at Rick. Everyone was laughing except Rick, until after the fact then he saw the humor in it, too. Great trip, good meat and a great adventure.

[Thinker]

Helicppters: reminds me of a experience back home. When I was living in the midwest I was watching my ole man's livestock for him one summer weekend when he and the wife were off travelling. I had a cute young lady out to 'the farm' for a romantic early dinner and a stroll in the countryside. As luck would have it, we were amourously compelled while walking and chose to capitalize on the opporutnity. At the most possibly intense moment (for me) two helicopters from the nearby ANG base flew over at about 200 feet, did a quick circle, and went on their way. I'll bet they still fly by there on training sorties and tell that story.

[A7U]

Eastsider said:

I had a backseat ride in an F-15 about 15 years ago. It was the best time I've ever had with two pairs of pants on!! I even got to fly it in the pattern a little bit (stick and rudders anyway). Damn, that was fun!

 

You may've been allowed some aileron & elevator inputs but no way would a jet jock have allowed you to touch the rudder pedals.

[johnny_destiny]

These are all man made thrills. You should have the thrill of the Spriit of the Lord shoot through your body in church. Why you just go a twitching and slapping around and it is soooo wounderful afterward. You feel clean and fresh.

[Eastsider]

A7U said:

Eastsider said:

I had a backseat ride in an F-15 about 15 years ago. It was the best time I've ever had with two pairs of pants on!! I even got to fly it in the pattern a little bit (stick and rudders anyway). Damn, that was fun!

 

You may've been allowed some aileron & elevator inputs but no way would a jet jock have allowed you to touch the rudder pedals.

 

Yep, rudders too. That doesn't mean he didn't have to apply some correction at times. Throttle aside, it really wasn't any more difficult to control (under pattern conditions) than a 172.