How do you get a ride in a Fighter Jet?

Matt13C

Matt13C

Well-Known Member
I am just curious what would be involved in getting a ride in a Blue Angel or Thunderbird.

I saw a local DJ, from Philadelphia, got a ride with a Blue Angel last year and Bill Engvall went up with a Thunderbird. I am assuming they did not have to pay a dime but was done as "publicity". Is it possible for a regular person who has no claim to fame to get a ride or is this treat reserved for pseudo VIP's?

I am sure it is next to impossible. I am just wondering since the Thunderbirds will be at McGuire next weekend. It would be awesome to be able to go up for a flight and take an F-16 out over the ocean and see how many G's I could stand, I want to know if I could stay awake in a 7g min radius turn ha ha.

Thanks

Matt
 
mhcasey said:
Join the Air Force or be someone very important. Otherwise - No chance.
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Yeah, tried that. I have a crushed pinky and was told I would never fly in the Military. One recruiter told me it could keep me from being commissioned as an Officer. A part of me still regrets not trying to get in, I think I would really enjoy it, flying or not.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Meet some very wealthy people that might own them.
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L-39's are surprisingly not THAT expensive. Look for guys with the cheap jets. Tell them you are really interested in flying, and how you would love to ride in a jet, and you've saved up $400 to do so.

$400 bucks is a half a tank of gas for them to go screw around for 20 minutes... but you're gunna need more money with the price of gas now.
 
Or instruct a bunch of military guys for their civilian ATP. Granted, nothing I got a ride in (a tweet and a T38) had guns, but it sure was fun.

From what I was told, ANG units have a lot easier time getting people up to do ride alongs. Of course, you've got to find something that's got two seats in it. I have a standing invite from an F16 unit, but they very rarely have two seaters, not to mention I'm just about on the other side of the country from them so the last minute stuff doesn't work too well.
 
You jump the fence. . .run into BaseOps, find a squadron, then run to that squadron, steal the keys. . .then hop into a jet, and off you go!

Have fun!
 
Well you can pay to get a L-39 Rating here http://www.prideaircraft.com/index.htm



but only after these prerequisites:
Trainee is assumed to be an active, current pilot with no serious flying-skill deficiencies.

  • <LI class=normal> <LI class=normal>Trainee is assumed to be an active, current pilot with no serious flying-skill deficiencies. <LI class=normal>Private Pilot Land Rating. <LI class=normal>Instrument Rating (required for the Experimental Aircraft Authorization checkride and rating.) <LI class=normal>1,000 hours total flight time. <LI class=normal>500 hours Pilot-In-Command time. <LI class=normal>Current FAA Medical (3rd Class minimum). <LI class=normal>Flight Review within previous 24 months per FAR 61.56. <LI class=normal>Prior Aerobatic Training (Preferred). Aerobatic training is not a mandatory requirement for a rating in the L-39; however, this aircraft is a high-performance jet fighter trainer and, as such, is capable of high roll- and pitch-rates, high G-levels and G-onset rates, and disorienting attitudes. All trainees, regardless of their training track, will receive unusual attitude training and G-awareness training in order to fly the aircraft safely.
    [*]Trainees must provide and use appropriate personal gear: helmet, boom microphone, Nomex™ flight suit and gloves, oxygen mask (optional), and knee board(s).
    [*]
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sorry, looks kinda weird, you can see it better on their page in the Training section.
 
If your part of the media your chances increase a tad. I know a guy who was a radio DJ in Vegas who went up with the Thunderbirds. They had a show they were performing that weekend and were also advertising on that particular radio station. They did a media exchange. The USAF got a great deal on radio ads and the DJ got a ride along and reported live from the event. He tapped out over 5 times during the flight. :)
 
An L-39 is not a fighter.

For the original poster, the Thunderbird and Blue Angel rides are PR events -- either they take up local newspeople at airshows they go to, or takeup public figures/celebrities while they are at home station to get the news exposure. So, unless you're one of those folks, it's not gonna happen, sorry.

Rides at active duty fighter units are also highly coveted, especially by the maintenance folks who work on those aircraft. Chances of walking in off the street -- even at an ANG or Reserve unit -- and obtaining a ride are slim.

If you want to know what it's like to go fast, those MiG buy-a-ride outfits are probably the best.

If your budget can't handle that, there are several guys with jet trainers like L-39s, Jet Provosts, T-33s, etc who might give you a ride depending on the circumstances.

Personally, as someone who is lucky enough to be able to fly these things on a somewhat regular basis, I wish that I had some say in who got to get rides, but I don't. I love sharing the experience with people and would love to take you for a ride....but obviously can't.
 
N826AW said:
Get a degree, become an officer, go to flight school, excel, hope you get a fighter slot and voila! Just add water!
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Have a degree. Talked to a recruiter to become an officer. Was told I did not attend the right school and did not attain the right degree. Applied to Embry Riddle at the suggestion of the recruiter. Was accepted. Talked to a second recruiter, was told my crushed pinky was an immediate disqualifier. Talked to a third recruiter told the pinky was not only a disqualifier from a flight slot but also an officer slot. No longer trust any recruiter.

Started flight training at a local FBO, could not be happier. Still would love to go mach 1 and feel 6+ g's as a civilian since I can't do it while defending my country.
 
Hacker15e said:
An L-39 is not a fighter.

For the original poster, the Thunderbird and Blue Angel rides are PR events -- either they take up local newspeople at airshows they go to, or takeup public figures/celebrities while they are at home station to get the news exposure. So, unless you're one of those folks, it's not gonna happen, sorry.

Rides at active duty fighter units are also highly coveted, especially by the maintenance folks who work on those aircraft. Chances of walking in off the street -- even at an ANG or Reserve unit -- and obtaining a ride are slim.

If you want to know what it's like to go fast, those MiG buy-a-ride outfits are probably the best.

If your budget can't handle that, there are several guys with jet trainers like L-39s, Jet Provosts, T-33s, etc who might give you a ride depending on the circumstances.

Personally, as someone who is lucky enough to be able to fly these things on a somewhat regular basis, I wish that I had some say in who got to get rides, but I don't. I love sharing the experience with people and would love to take you for a ride....but obviously can't.
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Thats what I figured. Was just wondering if anyone knew any back channel way of getting a ride along. Did not really expect anything to come of it, but never hurts to ask right.

I guess I will have to work on becoming a celebrity or earn a few million in disposable income and buy a ride. :rawk:
 
BobDDuck said:
Or instruct a bunch of military guys for their civilian ATP. Granted, nothing I got a ride in (a tweet and a T38) had guns, but it sure was fun.
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You got rides in a Tweet and a '38? How the heck did you pull that off?? I can't even see how that'd be legal!
 
Matt13C said:
Have a degree. Talked to a recruiter to become an officer. Was told I did not attend the right school and did not attain the right degree.
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Complete bull crap. It DOES NOT MATTER what your degree is in. For some reason recruiters never give folks the straight talk on pilot slots.

Don't know about the pinky issue, but what the hell does a recruiter know about medical conditions/waivers? Talk to a flight doc if you can find one. Or perhaps do your own research on USAF medical standards.

http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AETCI48-102.pdf
http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI48-123v1.pdf
http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI48-123v2.pdf
http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/AFI48-123v3.pdf
 
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