Originally posted by HomeDepotNSX:
Cool...F16 Fighting Falcons...one of the most nimble dog-fighting planes around...not the fastest, nor does it carry the most fomidable armaments...but like the NSX, it's an overall excellent "package".
I hadn't thought of it, but you're right! I'm lusting after a car that is a street version of what I fly.....do you suppose I'm manifesting my desire to fly an F-16 in the car I want....or is it the opposite? Is there a shrink on this site who can help me?
Either way, what a dilemma!
If some rich billionaire can buy a trip in the Space Shuttle...how much does a joy ride in an F-16 cost for a civilian? Give me a price, and I'll start saving...
You could just give me your NSX and we'll talk....just joking.
Well, I'll stay off the soapbox as much as I can, but we give rides all of the time to "important" people and local celebrities who do little more than show their faces on TV. Personally, I think that if we give rides out to one facet of society, then we should give rides out to all facets of society. Unfortunately, the powers that be that make these decisions always look at getting positive press for flying a particular person. Every taxpayer deserves an equal chance to experience something their tax dollars pay for. O.K., I'm back off of the soapbox now.
If you really want a ride, it can be easy to do depending on who you are. I'm assuming that many of the members here are upstanding members of their community. If you're involved in local/national politics, community service, or the media (especially a TV station owner/manager/director) then it's a piece of cake. Find the nearest Air National Guard unit (hopefully it's a fighter unit with at least one two-seat jet) and contact their Public Affairs office. Or, get to know a couple of the pilots and they can pull a few strings. It's hard, but I've seen it happen before. It all depends on the Squadron. It won't cost you a penny if you go this route. Tradition states, however, that you buy the pilot a bottle of his/her favorite liquor afterwards.
Or, you could shell out some dough and go fly Migs in Russia. You'll get to do a lot over there that is hard for us to legally do here with a civilian on board, like go supersonic. However, in the case of the Mig-29, your flight will be a half-hour at best because of it's crappy fuel economy.
Chuck