Flying with the Blue Angels - John Dunn

FOX 17 News – By: John Dunn

They are some of the U.S. military’s best pilots.

The Navy’s Blue Angels are preparing to amaze Middle Tennessee audiences at this weekend’s air show in Smyrna.

On Wednesday, they gave FOX 17’s John Dunn the ride of a lifetime in the cockpit of a fighter jet.

We're here at the Smyrna airport where today I'm going to fly with the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels. I can tell you I'm really excited, but also a little bit nervous...so wish me luck.

If I had any doubts about flying with the Blue Angels they started when crew chief Austin Armstrong began talking about fighting G-forces with something called the hick maneuver.

"Ready hit it... Hick...Hick," says Armstrong.

I’ve been promised the F/A-18 Hornet will make a rollercoaster ride seem like “Driving Miss Daisy.”

This is serious stuff.

I do have a secret weapon with me. I brought along motion sickness pills. I'm no dummy, a couple of these and I'm ready to go.

Let’s just say the best laid plans have a way of getting upside down.

My pilot today is Lt. Frank Weisser, a Naval Academy graduate and combat veteran.

It’s not long before things gets moving. It’s time to take off.

On board I get put through my paces, first right side up…and then upside down.

It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before. Lt Weisser performs vertical rolls and loopty loops.

With more than seven G’s (7.3 to be exact) pressing down on my body, that hick maneuver came in handy.

After about 45 minutes of white knuckled flying, I had tested my own limits.

Thankfully I never got sick, and we landed in one piece.

Never mind the fact that all the color had gone out of my face, that was truly an amazing ride.

"You were a monster up there...you did awesome. It's too bad, you're in broadcasting or we could make you into a pretty good fighter pilot." We're here at the Smyrna airport where today I'm going to fly with the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels. I can tell you I'm really excited, but also a little bit nervous...so wish me luck," says Lt. Weisser.

The full team of Blue Angels will arrive in Middle Tennessee on Thursday morning.

You can catch their full show on Saturday and Sunday at the Great Tennessee Air Show in Smyrna.