Speechless...

Ed — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:27:05 +0000

Speechless...

posted by Ed on September 5, 2009 in Flying, Snowbirds, Video

Dumbfounded. Grateful. Lucky. Insane. I don't even know how to describe how I feel about the day I had yesterday. I was fortunate enough to be invited to join The Snowbirds (The Canadian Forces Demonstration Team) for a ride in a CT-114 Tutor. The ride I was offered was their early morning "Media Ride". It's a chance for the local TV and radio folks to ride along, and get some great footage to promote the Toronto Air Show. It is a formation ride for about an hour around the city of Toronto. To fly in tight formation at 300 NM/h around some beautiful scenery (Niagara Falls, and the Toronto skyline etc) was breathtaking. The precision of the team was stunning. My pilot, Capt. Christian Dallamore ("Dilly") is one of the "solos" in the show. Which means he does all the really crazy stuff. He knew I'd been in a CF-18 Hornet, and had a pretty insane ride, so he was apologetic that he couldn't really show me what the plane could do during the media flight. I kept stressing that the formation flying was astounding to me, and that I was just thrilled to be flying with the best of the best pilots in Canada.

In case you're wondering, these aren't stock shots of the Snowbirds, these were snapped YESTERDAY by Ken Lin from the chase plane!!! That's me in the number 9 plane riding left seat!!

Eventually, I got tired of hearing Dilly apologize for a ride that I was TOTALLY thrilled about... So, when the lead pilot (Maj. Chris Bard) asked me (In front of Dilly) what I thought of the ride, I said, "I thought you guys were a high performance team, not the Anne Murray song!?!??" Well, that crack, and a small performance for the team got me on the teams "Practice" flight. Which is the entire air show routine flown the day before the show!!!

I can't describe what it was like to be in that plane for that flight. Thrilling, frightening, exhilarating... and VERY strenuous. It took all of my energy to simply remain conscious, and not black out during the high G maneuvers. We pulled 6 Gs A LOT, and negative 2.5 Gs too!! It was simply the craziest flying I've ever experienced. I did my best to film a bunch of it from the cockpit, but I was being slammed around pretty good in there. The Hornet has Speed Jeans (inflatable bladder pants that assist your body in keeping the blood in your head, so you don't blackout), but the Tutor is strictly old-school. You just have to cowboy up, do your anti-G straining maneuver, and work your ass off. Dilly was amazing, and gave me good warning before every high G maneuver. The entire team seemed shocked that I didn't pass out or puke during the routine. Please don't tell them I'm still tired today!!

One of the highlights for me were the high speed crosses with Mark LaVerdiere ("Happy"). Flying straight at each other at a closing speed of about 1200 km/h, and crossing within 20 feet of another plane is a little beyond unnerving (Let alone the mixture of measurement units!!... sorry, but that's how I think. Child of the 70s in Canada. My ruler had both units!).

I can't thank the Snowbirds enough for a day I never dreamed would come. I've had so many dreams come true now... it's gettin' to be ri-goddam-diculous! I feel like I'm stealing other peoples dreams now too!! As excited as I am about my day yesterday, I feel profoundly guilty that I couldn't have brought along my flight instructors, and all my aviation buddies, who would give anything to have been in that seat. Sorry guys. I suck... I know.

Another thrill was getting the chance to talk to Canadian Astronaut, Col. Chris Hadfield again. The Colonel gave BnL a fantastic tour of mission control in Houston years ago, and has attended a few BnL shows over the years (Plus he plays our music on the International Space Station!!!). Chris was along for the practice flight as well, and had nothing but great things to say about the team post flight. He started his short eloquent speech with, "Guys, I've flow really high, and really fast". How high folks? TRY OUTER FRIGGIN SPACE AT 28,000 KM/H!!!!!

So, thank you Snowbirds. You just made my already fantastic life! I am keenly aware that I have been a very fortunate guy, and days like yesterday exceed my ability to make sense of my incredible life.

September 2009

Speechless...