Celebrities riding in the backseat of an F-16

tbarlow · by **tbarlow** » 30 Oct 2015, 08:27

SAN ANTONIO - Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon got the ride of a lifetime Thursday night when she climbed on board an F-16 Fighting Falcon.

"The flight was obviously amazing," Hammon said.

The famous Air Force Thunderbirds are in San Antonio preparing for an air show over the weekend at Joint Base San Antonio, Randolph. Hammon was given the opportunity to ride with fellow South Dakotan Maj.Scott Petz.

"It's a small state so it is really cool we can go out and do different things and eventually meet up where i am giving her a ride in a U.S. Air Force Thunderbird jet and she is an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs," Maj. Scott Petz said.

That ride Hammon got lasted about an hour, Petz put her through the paces with rolls and loops, flying upside-down and on the 'edge'. Hammon made it through all of it and at one point even wanted more.

"I said 'oh you pulled 8.7 g's you want to pull anymore?' 'OK once more' and I said 'all right' so we pulled 9.4 so that was pretty impressive," Petz said.

[...]

Source: http://www.ksat.com/news/spurs-assistan ... f-her-life

Jon · by **Jon** » 30 Mar 2016, 23:11

Movie actor Gerard Butler March 5, 2016. Actually a pretty neat video. Most interesting is they show a lot of the briefing.

smitty14 · by **smitty14** » 01 Apr 2016, 15:36

Indycar racer Graham Rahal just took a ride with the Thunderbirds yesterday at Luke.

Gamera · by **Gamera** » 02 Apr 2016, 15:01

Hugh Jackman, Australian actor, singer, and producer.

Watch Hollywood Star Hugh “Wolverine” Jackman enjoy a flight in a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon
2016/03/09

Filmed on Feb. 19, 2016, the following video shows the actor Hugh Jackman flying in a U.S. Air Force F-16D Fighting Falcon belonging to the 301st Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base.

Jackman, who was visiting the base as part of a promotional tour for the movie “Eddie The Eagle,” was flown by Lt. Col. David Efferson, 457th Fighter Squadron commander.

Source: http://theaviationist.com/2016/03/09/wa ... ng-falcon/

Lieven · by **Lieven** » 17 Apr 2016, 14:05

Josh Duhamel, American actor and former fashion model. #Transformers

Jon · by **Jon** » 21 Aug 2016, 19:03

Sage Kimzey, championship bull rider with the Thunderbirds on July 25, 2016:
https://www.dvidshub.net/image/2745908/ ... bulls-f-16

tbarlow · by **tbarlow** » 06 May 2017, 01:55

Some old F-4 pilot got to ride with the Thunderbirds today! :salute:

How many of you would have loved to sit in on that safety briefing!

Boman · by **Boman** » 06 May 2017, 14:52

Captain 'Sully' revels in chance to fly F-16 fighter jet at event in California

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/05/05/ca ... ornia.html

Lieven · by **Lieven** » 11 Dec 2024, 22:31

Not really a celebrity but - as I posted on Bluesky - to help document the 50th anniversary of the Viper, Forbes reporter Jim Clash took a supersonic ride in one during a training sortie and wrote a few articles about it.

Here's part 1 in a series about the F-16 and Eglin AFB: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimclash/2 ... g-mission/

: Awesome picture of the F-16 returning from a test sortie at Eglin AFB, Florida on December 9, 2024.
Photo credit: Art Harman

At the controls was Col. Alec "Bulldog" Spencer.

: Pilot Col. Alec “Bulldog” Spencer (right) and Forbes writer Jim Clash after their Mach 1.6 test flight in an F-16, Eglin AFB, December 9, 2024. Photo credit: Art Harman

Update: also see https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimclash/2 ... e-calling/

Lieven · by **Lieven** » 15 Oct 2025, 15:56

Not in the backseat but at the flight controls in the front seat

Crown Prince says his dream came true after F-16 flight
October 13, 2025

Just two days before turning 20, Prince Christian of Denmark has lived out a childhood dream, flying a fighter jet.

[...]

Accompanied by an experienced pilot, Prince Christian took off from Skrydstrup Air Base in Jutland on Monday. The flight, which covered the southern region of the peninsula, was part of his ongoing training as a lieutenant, which began in August. Upon landing, he spoke with the press, visibly glowing with excitement.

[...]

Source: https://www.hola.com/us/royals/20251013 ... lying-f16/

: Copyright the Danish royal house

: Copyright the Danish royal house

Bjorn · by **Bjorn** » 15 Oct 2025, 21:46

With #ET-615 already painted in Argentina colors with serial #1004 and codes and flags covered with Danish stickers.

Greets,

Lieven · by **Lieven** » 12 Nov 2025, 11:50

YouTuber Sam Eckholm, a former U.S. Air Force public affairs officer, was invited to fly with the F-16 Viper Demonstration Team led by Major Taylor “FEMA” Hiester for a high-intensity airshow routine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AijLWQBuZrQ