ENID, OK – It’s officially official! I’m flying with the Thunderbirds. I received an email from the Thunderbirds congratulating me on being selected for this flight of a lifetime. I now have my marching orders and I’m ready to go.
The first thing I am reminded of is their disclaimer: Please understand that unforeseen circumstances may cause this flight to be delayed and/or canceled. Everything looks fine for that day, but all fliers should approach the day with a little mental flexibility.
I will need to be in place and ready for my first brief no later than 1:00pm on Thursday, July 21. Fliers are asked to wear or bring a cotton t-shirt (any color), cotton underwear, and a pair of cotton athletic socks (preferably ones that come up to the middle of the calves).
The Thunderbirds will provide me with the flight suit, harness, helmet, G-suit and all other gear necessary to make my flight as comfortable as possible. All I will wear under my flight suit is socks, t-shirt and underwear.
My first briefing will be with the flight equipment specialist. They will get my gear prepared and fitted especially for me. After that, I will brief with Maj. (Dr.) Christopher Scheibler, the flight surgeon. He will teach me how to deal with the effects of G forces and discuss breathing techniques. I will then spend an hour with my pilot, Thunderbird #7 – Kevin Walsh.
Walsh will talk me through all of the maneuvers that we will be experiencing during our flight. I can ask questions whenever I want – and they encourage me to become as comfortable with my pilot as possible during my brief.
The email was a reminder that this flight is for the flier and while we’re in the air, I’m encouraged to communicate with my pilot frequently. If there’s anything I particularly enjoy, I can ask to do it again. On the other hand, if there is something that I do not enjoy, I can also tell my pilot.
My scheduled take off time is at 4:15pm., and my flight should last about an hour. We will not be flying over Enid but will fly in the airspace used to train the Vance pilots. Walsh will take me through all of the maneuvers that the Thunderbirds will be performing.
Fliers are allowed to bring guests, including media members. Guests can stay with me for all of the pre- and post-flight activities/briefings. Jack Quirk and Renee Settlemires from KJ Filmworks will accompany me and film the entire experience.
The Thunderbirds will have a still photographer on hand who will take several photos of my day, and they provide me with all of the digital photos. Also, if all works out as it’s supposed to, the entire flight will be captured digitally with their in-cockpit, mounted HD GoPro camera. Once I provide them with a thumb drive, they’ll be able to get the photos and video into my hands right away.
They then addressed the BIG concern that most people are worried about — getting airsick. The email stated that it doesn’t happen as often as I might think, and there are a few things I will be able to do to minimize the possibility: Hydrate, sleep and eat.
They suggested I start hydrating right away, even though the ride was a week away. I am supposed to drink more water than I normally do…then I’m supposed to drink some more. Hydration combats motion sickness, so this step is key. I was told to drink extra water up until the evening before to avoid the need to use the restroom every few hours during the night, as sleep is important as well. Fliers should get a good night’s rest — at least 7 hours if possible.
The day of the flight, a flier should have food in their stomach, but nothing greasy and nothing spicy. Fruit, bread, bagels, oatmeal, light sandwiches, or peanut butter and banana toast are recommended. Some kind of light snack is allowed in case the flight is delayed.
The day of the flight, I will minimize caffeine and carbonation. Both are diuretics and will counteract my hydration efforts. One of goals is to not get airsick. I’ve never gotten sick on an amusement ride, an airplane flight or a deep sea fishing trip.
#7 Maj. Kevin Walsh – Operations Officer
Major Kevin Walsh is the Operations Officer for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, flying the No. 7 jet. He entered the Air Force in 2002 as a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. Throughout high school and college he played ice hockey, lacrosse and ran cross country. Before joining the team, Major Walsh was an instructor at the European F-16 Weapons School, Leeuwarden AB, Netherlands. He is a graduate of the USAF Weapons School and has logged over 2,000 hours of flight time with more than 500 hours of combat pilot experience. Major Walsh is in his first season with the team and hails from Long Island, NY.
Read about the day of my flight! Flying With The Thunderbirds Part III.
