Celebrity Backseaters

We are flying 2 members form the group 3 Doors Down tomorrow.

What did they do to deserve a ride?

They are very big supporters of the military, and have help spread a positive image of the military by giving free concerts for the troops and stuff like that.

I met the guys, they are real nice guys and they had a blast

NASCAR driver Brent Sherman (#58 Dodge Charger) will take to the skies on Wednesday, March 9, for a special celebrity orientation flight in the F-16D Fighting Falcon with the Thunderbirds at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Before starting his career in the NASCAR Busch Series, Sherman was enlisted in the United States Air Force for six years. He qualified for Combat Control training in the Special Forces before receiving his USAF Wings and being assigned to the 963rd AWACS Squadron. Stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, Sherman flew on radar jets tracking Air Force aircraft. He also logged 3,000 hours among combat, surveillance, and instructing missions all over the world.

Other sports superstars who have enjoyed an orientation flight with the Thunderbirds are: Tony Hawk, Terrell Davis, Joe Montana, and (as mentioned earlier in this thread) Tiger Woods

Vince and Rick from OCC and the show American Chopper. the show is on right now on discovery tune in now.

OK, at MacDill, summer of 1984, Arnold Palmer flew in 80-0623, a "B" model, my jet, and the same summer, Crystal Gayle? Is that how you spell her last name? Flew in 80-0632, my roomate's jet, later that summer that aircraft's pilot G'loc into the Gulf of Mexico during an ACM mission, the biggest piece recovered from the wreckage in 50' of water was the LPC shaft, about 1 foot long.

Vince and Rick from OCC and the show American Chopper. the show is on right now on discovery tune in now.

Ya beat me to it! Why I oughta... Later people.

....and the same summer, Crystal Gayle? Is that how you spell her last name? Flew in 80-0632, my roomate's jet....

Wow!....musta needed an extra large helmet to accomodate what musta been a HUGE bun of hair!

Team owner and former IndyCar driver Chip Ganassi got a ride in a Luke Air Force Base F-16 on March 15th 2005.

The pilot was Col. Pat Shay, a former winner of the Air Force's Top Gun award.

Harrison Ford flew with the Thunderbirds a few years ago. . .

Harrison Ford flew with the Thunderbirds a few years ago. . .

Hope they didn't have a snake in plane!

From Indiana Jones I: "There's a big snake in the plane, Jaques! I hate snakes, Jaques! I hate 'em!!"

In case some viewers were wondering about Crystal Gayle's ride in <a href="f-16_fighting_falcon_airframe-771.html">80-0632</a>, some women NCO's took real good care of her, they brushed her hair downward so it would fit inside her flight suit. Apparently, she had a good time, the pilot was a relative of hers. Everyone had strawberries and champagne after the flight on the line.

Now that sounds like a wonderful way to spend a morning ! Strawberries and champagne after a leisurely (yeah, right ) hop in an F-16, what more could one want? Thanks for the info on what they did with her hair - that had me confused!

Now that sounds like a wonderful way to spend a morning ! Strawberries and champagne after a leisurely (yeah, right ) hop in an F-16, what more could one want?

How 'bout a valet crew chief meetin' her at the parking spot with a stretch "Follow Me" truck ready to whisk her away to a soothing dip in the O-club jacuzzi followed by a relaxing massage by a hunky mechanic type called "Knuckles"?

Bein' a celebrity backseater can be sooooooooo exhausting!

Ryan Newman Nascar driver got a ride out of Luke AFB , July 2004.

On an episode of Crocodile Hunter I saw a while ago, Steve Irwin (the Crocodile Hunter) got a ride in an F-16D at Luke AFB. He managed to stay conscious until almost 9g's.

I don't know if any of you guys watch the History Channel, but the ol' R. Lee "gunny" Ermey got a ride in an F-15 in one of his Mail Call shows.