My ride in an F-16 with the USAF Thunderbirds

[cam21fr]

how hard is it not to throw up? because I've done almost everything that yo can do that pulls the most g forces other than this and I've never thrown up.

[Goodspeed56]

Do you remember who your pilot was in this video? By chance was his last name Mulhare?

[ruger2275]

Great vid but whoever strapped this guy in did a real shitty job.

[krisvalk]

Thunderbird #8

[GibsonRocks12]

What jet were you in?



[bullseatpizza]

Does that man on the other end of that radio ever shut up?

[bmx406]

@bullseatpizza for safety reasons, no.

[bullseatpizza]

@bmx406

Fair.

[AmiMLGorPro]

if you dont eat before you ride in a jet do you still throw up?

[krisvalk]

@AmiMLGorPro

Can't say, I never got sick. They jokingly tell you to eat bananas because they taste the same going down and coming up. If you got nauseous but didn't throw up, I imagine you'd still feel pretty bad...

[Goodspeed56]

@krisvalk It's actually worse if you don't eat anything. You most likely get nauseous and still throw up

[SuperMike82]

I hope they let you keep some of the stuff you wore! That's the ultimate souvenier there dude!

[deejayzak]

Hey Chris, you can die now lol, Mate you are so lucky, Ive always wondered how quiet it is in one of those, the plane sounds really quiet, is there much noise?

[krisvalk]

@deejayzak - Other than on takeoff, I don't think I even noticed the engine noise. Too busy trying to keep my lunch down! And yes, now I can die happy...

[krisvalk]

@marble97c

Yes, I'm an airline pilot, but I also used to work for a newspaper. I went up as a journalist and wrote a story for my hometown newspaper. Lately, they've started a "Hometown Hero" program where they give a ride to a local war veteran, schoolteacher or some other citizen who's been nominated.

[krisvalk]

@marble97c

Yes, I'm an airline pilot, but I also used to work for a newspaper. I went up as a journalist and wrote a story for my hometown newspaper. Lately, they've started a "Hometown Hero" program where they give a ride to a local war veteran, schoolteacher or some other citizen who's been nominated.

[samuel2009]

So how did you get to fly in a thunderbird?

My friend's dad use to fly Fat Albert for the Blue Angels back in the late 90's.

[steefke007]

beautifull.... nice ride...

[mattbiker78]

only got 1 thing to say Kris, you jammy bugger! i've flown in a harrier t4 and an L39 albatros and they were fantastic but have always dreamed of a ride in a falcon. thanks for sharing buddy

[krisvalk]

You bet! It was great fun, but it hurt pulling Gs. How was the Harrier?

[mattbiker78]

@krisvalk harrier was awsome but will admitt i did feel weird when we went into a hover as balancing a plane on 4 little columns of exhaust gasses makes for a twitchy ride, the Gs in the harrier didn't seem too bad but my g trousers did get rather tight.

[arxidamos13]

@krisvalk dude!! seriously you are lucky!! this is my dream!! to fly with an F-16! But it's not gonna happen :/

[sgttaco1]

@arxidamos13 Don't say that! It can still happen! =D

[roadrunner304]

he says 9 GS.. no body can handle 9 GS..max 5 GS can boy handle.....

[oke139]

I believe maximum a person can handle without G suit is 7G-s and with the suit 9G-s, when your flying with f-16 your always wearing G-suit. The F-16 could perform more than 9G but FLCS stops it from happening (Bad for plane and for you). Sometimes you can get more than 9G-s but only for limited time (like 9.3G-s or so), then FLCS comes in action and aligns it back to exactly 9.0G-s.

[reindenaab]

not really.............. lol red-bull airrace pilots take over 12 G's.. so dont lie if you dont believe it... google it or watch 12g youtube vids

[oke139]

Yup but their 12G for a 0.5-3sec max. Fighter pilots has to stain an 6-9G turns in dogfight for quite some time, and they need to do it continuously.

[reindenaab]

yep true, the max g for that would be around 9.4g

[FlickerCityPro]

the healthy human body with some practice at pulling g, could withstand only a few seconds at more than 10 g before passing out from lack of blood flow to the brain. Or, more aptly, the lack of oxygen to feed the brain that only blood flow could provide. The heart can only beat against so much pressure before it losses the battle.

[imthinkinarbyz1]

@roadrunner304 the human body can not sustain more than 12 Gs for longer periods of time. however, the body can survive much higher numbers if it is only for a brief second

[roadrunner304]

a body can only handle 5 GS and a few more GS whit suite and thats the max.. in 12 GS your body would been ripping apart and explode.... and same your aircraft....

[krisvalk]

Roadrunner - check out Sean Tucker. He trains like crazy to withstand the 10+ Gs he pulls during a performance. Most fighters can withstand far more Gs than their pilots can.

[bOjAnGlEdShEnAnIgAns]

I swear that is Major Mulhare, 606th squadron before thunder i believe.

hooah!

-ps you are one lucky civilian!

[krisvalk]

You're right, I got to fly with Tony. Great guy and an unforgettable ride!

[weeleybin]

@krisvalk Lucky buger ;) x

[MickeyCBR1100XX]

Lucky fucker!!!

looked awesome

[edwardj377]

You are so lucky man, I want to bet a pilot when I get older!

[Darkwrath2009]

Dude thats so awsome. i would do thing's to ride with the thunderbird's... bad thing's....

[JayRabzEnjoi]

i would do anything to be able to fly with them, your so lucky.

[gunsnironmetallica]

im 12 and im getting free flying lessons in a two- seater soon. i cant wait!

[krisvalk]

Did you go flying yet?

[tot173]

man they are haulin when they are flyin low over the runway

[rudyeilabouni]

How did you manage to take the high G force over there???????

[krisvalk]

G suit helped, a few breathing techniques, but basically you SQUEEZE until your head wants to pop off when you're pulling Gs.

[rudyeilabouni]

Nice man!

I hope I can ride the F-16 soon, even fly it not only ride!

[blakeblake321]

how much would it cost to get a ride around 10'000? and yes i know you can't exactly walk up to them and say that but if you had to put a price on it

[gw1789]

This is awesome! Good Job man! That is sweet that you actually got to take the controls of a Falcon.

It was neat listening to the commercial traffic too. I heard 'American', which I'm assuming means American Airlines.

[PTPLauthor]

Not only did you get to fly IN an F-16, you got to FLY an F-16. D@mn, I'm so freaking jealous.

Did he let you do the controls b/c you're a rated pilot too?

This vid makes me want to become a reporter.

[MrMatto91]

do a barrel roll

[krisvalk]

they didn't charge me, but hey, I pay my taxes.

[brandokelly]

how much was it? 5*

[batterbee2000]

WOW that looks so fun. what was it like?

[btownkid27]

So how did you get to fly with them? Are you in the U.S. Airforce? Or do you just have good connections because I've always wanted to fly but I never could.

[krisvalk]

I went up as a reporter, writing a story about the ride for the local paper. I'd been an editor at the paper years ago, before I went after aviation full time....

[Thevirus1234]

Did you fly supersonic fore some time?

If you did how did it feel man?

[krisvalk]

No, never went supersonic. They generally don't do that over populated areas. Would've been fun, though!

[PAINTBALLER7876]

When I tell people I want to be a fighter pilot they just say thats nerdy go do somthing kool like moto X but I think thats a bit better then motocross obviously lol

[LeonoraRN2000]

Awesome! I want to ride one of those soooo bad! You are so lucky!

[SkullakaAce]

Damn it! I want to ride! Love how they talk on their channels. haha I have seen them in person got this year's crew's signatures. Best demo. squadron team. You did pretty well from what I saw and many other videos. Damn I you are lucky indeed. In what year do he take you up? Cheers!

[krisvalk]

Thanks, although I was about 2 seconds away from passing out on the 9-G pull. I went up at the 2008 Sun 'n Fun Fly-In in Lakeland, Fl.

[SkullakaAce]

9-g is awesome! Bet you felt the rush. haha

[bowser515]

You Lucky man ;)

[sytyoklahoma]

Which pilot took you up?

[krisvalk]

Maj. Tony Mulhare, Thunderbird #8

[sytyoklahoma]

Awesome! Why can't my Southwest flights be that fun?!?

[sytyoklahoma]

Scott and Kirby are the coolest BTW...

[Terantious]

9.1G's...you rock man!!!!

[roblesvic]

Hope you had your diaper on tight!!!

[spookyNorbert]

Sweeeeeeeeeet !!!

[Klusmooth]

Amazing vid!!!! You did a great job out there...pulling more then 9G's! Respect m8.