Call me "Goose"

[JoshMcMadMac]

Some of you know that I'm an engineer for the Department of Defense. I do test and evaluation with ordnance on the F-18. One of the perks of the job, aside from the givens that come from government employment, is the select passenger program. I had the chance to go through Aviation Survival Training. Lots of cool stuff went on there, although there was some "testing" of us to become qualified. I could go on and on about that, but I'll save that for another time. The end result of completing the training is that I become qualified to fly. Yesterday I received my first flight. It was awesome, as there were a lot of things to do on the flight. I'll try to shoot some video on my next run.

 

[pepperman]

Very cool Josh thanks for sharing.

 

[ford nut]

That is COOL !
Enjoy !

 

[Calabrio]

On the plus side, you get to have sex with Meg Ryan.
On the down side, you crash into the canopy and die.

In all seriousness, very cool experience.

 

[chicken]

hmmmmmmmm, i got a buddy that is a aviation engineer (or something along the lines), and he lives in maryland................and i was told that he recently did this, and then it was back to flying the desk, do you happen to know pat schuette?

 

[ONEBADMK8]

Lucky SOB!! Thats SICK!! My dream.

 

[JoshMcMadMac]

hmmmmmmmm, i got a buddy that is a aviation engineer (or something along the lines), and he lives in maryland................and i was told that he recently did this, and then it was back to flying the desk, do you happen to know pat schuette?

There is a Patrick J. Schuett that works on base here somewhere, according to my Outlook address book. I have no idea who he is, but it's probably the same guy.

 

[mespock]

Hey look out for the ejection seat.. Goose....

Damn that looked fun...

 

[chicken]

There is a Patrick J. Schuett that works on base here somewhere, according to my Outlook address book. I have no idea who he is, but it's probably the same guy.

LOLOL small world, thats most likely him, he said while he was up flying around he was going through all the top gun one liners "permission to buzz the tower"

 

[JoshMcMadMac]

I took me awhile, but I finally got my pictures of my last flight up. This time I had the pleasure of going up in a T-45. It's much smaller than the F/A-18, weighing about 25% as much and sporting just one engine. We flew three sorties, starting at 07:45, running down to Knoxville, then over to Savannah, grabbed some lunch, and then home! It's easier to just link the pictures:
http://tinyurl.com/2otsbn

And if you don't/can't watch it as a slide show, here is the direct link to the album:
http://s48.photobucket.com/albums/f232/JoshMcMadMac/T-45/

 

[glanga]

Another unfortunate is that you have to be cradled in the arms of Tom Cruise.

That's really awesome though. Did you have to wear the G-Suit?

 

[JoshMcMadMac]

That's really awesome though. Did you have to wear the G-Suit?

Most definitely.

 

[n8bachelor]

WoW! That is amazing. I would love to have that opportunity.