Jessica Dean's Blue Angels Flight Report
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: September 7, 2012
Flying with the Blue Angels is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
For 45 minutes, I was there, white knuckled at times, breathing deeply at others.
When else will you nearly break the sound barrier or endure nearly seven times the normal gravitational force?
On Wednesday, I did it.
"We have the most precise jet demo team in the world," Blue Angel Pilot Lt. Mark Tedrow says during the flight.
There I was. Strapped in a 12-point harness, helmet on my head, rockets on my side.
I'd practiced my "hick manuever," which involves tightening your legs and abdomen to keep blood in your brain while enduring G-forces.
"I have no idea what to expect. I'm open to anything," I tell Lt. Tedrow, a Naval academy graduate and Blue Angel number 7.
Thankfully he's encouraging.
"So far I'm doing good," I tell him from the seat behind him as we taxi down the runway. "Ha yeah, you're killing it, you're killing it," he tells me.
Then he says, "Ready to go, full after burner. Squeeze those legs."
"Oh wow! That is amazing," is my response after the first thrust upward from the runway.
6.2 g's and seconds later we're in the clouds.
A g-warmup helps our bodies adjust to the intense gravitational force we'll feel during the maneuevers. Now's the time for that hick breathing.
"Squeeze your legs, okay, 3g, 4g, 5g's," Lt. Tedrow says.
The G's feel like an elephant sitting on you. It was impossible for me to move my body against them.
"You were working hard back there," Lt. Tedrow tells me. "I was working hard," I tell him.
Now it's time to sit back and enjoy this dance in the sky.
"Wow, that's crazy the ground is above my head," I say when we flip upside down. "This is what it's like to be an astronaut."
When we start doing barrel rolls, is the point when exhilaration has kicked in. I'm holding my own, no G-suit needed.
"You ready for some vertical flight," he asks me. "I believe so," I say.
Ehhh..I should have said I should check myself before I wreck myself. And that's when I passed out. It was only for a few seconds, so no worries.
"Are you with me," Lt. Tedrow says. "Yeah, I think I lost you for a second, I took a little nap," I tell him.
As we fly, so does the time.
Soon we're headed back with one more maneuver, what's known as the carrier break.
"We made it! Welcome back!" he says when we land.
Tedrow and his crew chief, Sergeant Kyle Storm are humble, they are precise, they are some of the best at what they do.
The whole experience makes you proud to be an American.
You can see the Blue Angels for yourself at the Little Rock Air Force Base Air Show this Saturday and Sunday.
The gates open at 8:30 a.m. and the show begins at 10.
Tickets and parking are free and I promise you this, it is something to behold.
For 45 minutes, I was there, white knuckled at times, breathing deeply at others.
When else will you nearly break the sound barrier or endure nearly seven times the normal gravitational force?
On Wednesday, I did it.
"We have the most precise jet demo team in the world," Blue Angel Pilot Lt. Mark Tedrow says during the flight.
There I was. Strapped in a 12-point harness, helmet on my head, rockets on my side.
I'd practiced my "hick manuever," which involves tightening your legs and abdomen to keep blood in your brain while enduring G-forces.
"I have no idea what to expect. I'm open to anything," I tell Lt. Tedrow, a Naval academy graduate and Blue Angel number 7.
Thankfully he's encouraging.
"So far I'm doing good," I tell him from the seat behind him as we taxi down the runway. "Ha yeah, you're killing it, you're killing it," he tells me.
Then he says, "Ready to go, full after burner. Squeeze those legs."
"Oh wow! That is amazing," is my response after the first thrust upward from the runway.
6.2 g's and seconds later we're in the clouds.
A g-warmup helps our bodies adjust to the intense gravitational force we'll feel during the maneuevers. Now's the time for that hick breathing.
"Squeeze your legs, okay, 3g, 4g, 5g's," Lt. Tedrow says.
The G's feel like an elephant sitting on you. It was impossible for me to move my body against them.
"You were working hard back there," Lt. Tedrow tells me. "I was working hard," I tell him.
Now it's time to sit back and enjoy this dance in the sky.
"Wow, that's crazy the ground is above my head," I say when we flip upside down. "This is what it's like to be an astronaut."
When we start doing barrel rolls, is the point when exhilaration has kicked in. I'm holding my own, no G-suit needed.
"You ready for some vertical flight," he asks me. "I believe so," I say.
Ehhh..I should have said I should check myself before I wreck myself. And that's when I passed out. It was only for a few seconds, so no worries.
"Are you with me," Lt. Tedrow says. "Yeah, I think I lost you for a second, I took a little nap," I tell him.
As we fly, so does the time.
Soon we're headed back with one more maneuver, what's known as the carrier break.
"We made it! Welcome back!" he says when we land.
Tedrow and his crew chief, Sergeant Kyle Storm are humble, they are precise, they are some of the best at what they do.
The whole experience makes you proud to be an American.
You can see the Blue Angels for yourself at the Little Rock Air Force Base Air Show this Saturday and Sunday.
The gates open at 8:30 a.m. and the show begins at 10.
Tickets and parking are free and I promise you this, it is something to behold.
