As many of you saw on my previous Tuscaloosa Airshow post, I had the honor and privilege of flying with the US Navy Blue Angels on Fat Albert. To put this in perspective, I have daydreamed about flying with the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds since I was a child. In 1986 I earned my private pilot, single engine land certificate and while that provided great personal satisfaction, I watched the years quickly tick by and wondered if my old dreams could ever come true.

Cut to April 4, 2009. Fellow World Airshow News contributor Jeff Green and I arrive at the Tuscaloosa Airport to photograph the 2009 Tuscaloosa Airshow. 120,000 people turned out for the first appearance by the Blue Angels in this part of Alabama in more than 20 years.

As Jeff and I are exiting our cars, We notice one of the Blue Angels public affairs officers heading towards the flightline. Jeff had met the gentlemen last year at another show. The details of what happened next are still a little fuzzy but Jeff jokingly mentioned that if they had any room in #7 or Fat Albert, he would love to take a ride! The Blue’s PAO asked if Jeff had a business card and said he would call us if in fact any room was available in Bert. We looked at each other and said “Oh sure, that’l happen”

We headed out to the static display area to shoot photos before the crowd became too thick. About an hour and a half later, Jeff informs me that he had a call from the PAO and that he is supposed to meet over at the Blues staging hangar. Suspecting that his Fat Albert Flight might actually happen, I asked Jeff if I would come along and shoot photos of the preflight and boarding. He jumped at the chance since it would give us up close and personal access to the Blues and a very different vantage point to shoot from.

We arrive at the staging hangar and Jeff is immediately offered a yellow “sign your life away card”. I am getting ready to shoot pictures of Jeff’s face and notice that the PAO was holding out a card for me as well!

Temporarily stunned, I said something to the effect of “Well I am just here to shoot Jeff during the preflight activities” The Blues PAO then said, “The Blue Angels and Fat Albert Airlines would love for you to fly with us today.” Needless to say, the card was quickly signed.

And so began one of the most memorable days of my life! I won’t try to recap the entire days activities but one of the many highlights was when we were greeted by Blue Angels C-130 pilot Major Brendan Burks. Major Burks emphasized to everyone invited to fly on Fat Albert Airlines that day that this would be like no other “airline” flight that they had experienced before.

Major Burks then briefed us on how our flight would begin. “We will release brakes and accelerate to 135 knots at which time we will retract the gear and then continue to accelerate at 4 feet of altitude until we reach 200 knots. At that point I will pull up to commence a 45 degree climb to 1500 feet and then push over. When I push over you will experience approximately 5 seconds of weightlessness and ……. “

I must confess that after boarding and watching the ramp close, my nerves were really getting too me. Obviously I was excited and thrilled to be flying on “Bert”

And yet there were doubts. Would I be able to keep my breakfast down during the weightlessness? It had been a decade since I had last pulled serious G’s and that particular event left me more than a little queasy. Would I remember to take photos while pulling 3 G’s, all the while banking, climbing and diving over the Alabama countryside? Exactly what photos should I try to take?

The best way that I can describe the flight was that it was a precision roller coaster ride. The demonstration was flown exactly as briefed. The passengers and crew experienced 3 G's, 60 degree bank turns, 45 degree climbs and periods of zero G.

I got off of Bert sweaty and tired, but elated.

It is important that I try to convey the sense of pride and absolute professionalism and dedication that the entire Blue Angels team exhibits. Every passenger that rode Fat Albert was treated as if they were the most special passenger that the Blues had ever flown.

I must offer my sincere appreciation to Major Burks, Capt Jorge, the US Navy, Marines and the entire Blue Angels team. Special thanks go to the PAO’s who made this dream come true. Now I guess I have to start working on a way to get into #7.

I have attached a few photos that will help tell the rest of the story. By the way, at the conclusion of the flight, both my shirt...and shorts… were still clean!

Chris


BERT

The Briefing





Fellow World Airshow News Contributor Jeff Green

One G

Zero G!



Gee, which person doesn't belong here? Yep, thats me, bad hat and all.

You lucky SOB lol. I have flown on hercs twice with the Canadian air force, but never did anything like that!

That is AWESOME!

that had to be so cool, something you'll never forget!

Very, very cool - congrats!

Thanks for the great images, avaitionbuff!

& good photos

last time that I flew in a Herc I fell asleep!

What a ride that must have been. I still have to know, what was it like when the JATO's kicked in? Vibration? Sound? Boot in the butt acceleration?

Buff, I don't think you'd have fallen asleep on this ride!

Thanks Chris and congrats. You'll remember this always.

Im guessing they did the Jato takeoff right?

In my defence it was returning to the UK after a 2 week field exercise in BAOR.

NOE in a chopper is I guess a similar thrill & pretty fun.