Marty Stone Flies in the F-15E 'Strike Eagle'

[KILO]

Most of you have already read about this on other sites like BASS, Wired2Fish, BassZone and others.  I'll post the straight scoop here.  The footage will be aired sometime during the Classic.  I'll try to make it; got a personal invite from ESPN to attend and do a live, interview about how all this came to be.

After about 2 yrs of working different avenues to get Marty a flight in a fighter-type aircraft, it finally paid off for him.  My buds at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC came through and agreed that Marty qualified as one of the select few civilians to fly in the Strike Eagle pit.  Most of the hard work took place over the last 8 months or so, but it was worthwhile.  Upon arrival at the base, we were met by the base Public Affairs personnel who immediately got Marty checked into his DV suite to unload any luggage & chill for a few.  After 30 minutes or so Marty hopped into a DV bus for a base & flight line tour.  The PA personnel stated they wanted the LuckyCraft truck in that tour, so they asked if I could drive the truck & follow the bus around.  Marty tossed the keys and said to drive it like I stole it.


On that tour Marty got to see pretty much everything on the flight line, as well as some of weapons we carry on the Strike Eagle.  However, the best weapons weren't on display (for obvious reasons).


Once complete with the weapons briefings & display, we went to the 4th Fighter Wing Life Support aircrew training shop so Marty could accomplish the egress/ejection seat training, just in case something went bad inflight.......this way he would know how to get out of the jet, whether it be on the ground or inflight.  He passed with flying colors. 

When he was finished the egress/ejection training, he made a stop by the 333rd Fighter Squadron -- the Lancers (my old squadron) to get fitted for his flight suit, helmet, mask, harness and G-suit.  He said he felt like he was being arrested & searched when 3 life support troops had him lean against the wall, spread his arms & legs while they adjusted & fitted his equipment on his body.

Next, Marty paid a visit to the flight doctor for a short flight physical.  Doc reviewed w/ Marty, how to accomplish the correct "anti-G" straining maneuever for inflight use.  I think Marty paid perfect attention on this part because he did very well during the flight.  He says that he never got tunnel vision, nor did he gray (or black) out inflight!  After he completed his flight physical, the flight doc blessed him to go up the next morning, with a clean bill of health!  By the time we got done at the hospital, it was late on Tuesday afternoon. 

Early on Wednesday morning, the bus picked up Marty and his wife from the DV suite and took them to breakfast.  Of course, I followed in the LuckyCraft truck (as requested).  Next stop was at the 333rd Fighter Squadron for the flight briefing. 

Ends up the Wing Commander was leading the 2-ship that day, w/ Marty & his pilot in the #2 position.  Marty's pilot goes by the name "Twister"......but I won't reveal how that name came about on here. 




The Wing King had a surprise in the briefing when he announced that they would be hitting a tanker inflight (aerial refueling).  I think this ended up being the most memorable part of the flight for Marty.  He says the view of the tanker being that close to them, was definitely an eye-opener for sure! He lucked out & they were able to perform 2 aerial refueling hookups, since the boomer on the tanker requested more hookups for his training benefit.  So Marty got to see 2 hookups instead of just the one.  I think they took on about 4,000 lbs of gas in those hookups. 

Backing up a bit........they performed a 'Max Perfromance' takeoff in which they accelerated in full afterburners to takeoff speed, climbed up to about 50-100 ft, leveled off, accelerated to about 400mph, still in full afterburners.....and abruptly jacked the nose to the vertical position and climbed to 10,000ft in less than 15 seconds.  All this was filmed inner-cockpit. 

After levelling off at 10,000 ft, they proceeded to the tanker.  Once they hit the tanker, they joined up w/ the flight lead & did some comm-out aerial maneuvering as a 2-ship formation.  Once that was accomplished, they went into what we call the 'fighting wing' formation and began to chase the Wing King around the sky.  Marty liked that part alot.

Once they separated from flight lead, they were able to do a couple of loops & barrell rools.  Marty knew he had the G's licked after they pulled their 2nd set of G's. He did get to feel what 6 G's felt like, but declined the offer by the front-seater to pull 9 Gs.  Marty said that 6 G's was enough for him, he didn't want to feel what 9 felt like!  The front-seater said, "Whaaaaat?"


Once he calmed down & stopped worrying about getting sick or passing out, he was able to enjoy the loops, & if I'm not mistaken, he actually performed a loop himself.  He says he didn't really care for the barrell rolls as it made his internal gyros tumble a bit, and made him feel a bit queasy.  The front-seater gave up the controls to Marty for a while as he flew around, did a couple maneuvers and turns, then asked the pilot how he was doing.....which he replied that Marty was doing great, had he not been driving it straight towards the dirt.   So the front-seater took over control of the jet.  Here's a pic of Marty and his front-seater, after the flight, as well as a pic of me and Marty.



When it was time to return to base, they joined back in formation w/ the Wing King, performed a battle damage check on each other, then tightened into a fingertip formation (about 36" apart) and performed a 2-ship formation to a low approach climbout.  The boss landed first and Marty and his pilot ended up performing 3 approaches to a full stop landing.  Marty was able to climb out of the jet under his own power -- he required no assistance whatsoever! 
But, when all was said & done -- Marty said that he didn't think he could do that for a living.  I think it may have put a slight whoopin on him.
Here's a pic of everyone in the formation flight with Marty that day.


There was a small ceremony afterwards in the squadron bar where the Commander (Wing King) and Marty's pilot both presented Marty with a few momentos to help him remember the flight.  He was awarded a couple certificates, along with a 333rd Fighter Squadron coin & a 4th Fighter Wing coin (or as we call it: RMO- Round Metal Object).  Many pictures were taken that day, and momentos were presented both to and from Marty afterwards.




Needless to say, Marty talked about the flight pretty much all the way back to the house.  And yes -  I did get to finally drive the LuckyCraft truck, like I stole it (on the way back to Fayetteville).

To return the favor, Marty & I coordinated a plan w/ the base PA personnel, where the top 5 performers at SJAFB will get a chance to fish w/ a pro for a day on Smith Mountain Lake next year, as well as get the chance to go back-stage to see how the weigh-ins are conducted, and chat w/ all the pros, etc.

I got the chance to hang out w/ Marty pretty much all that week, & I picked his brain alot on fishing techniques, thought processes, game plans & strategies, etc.  Oh, & before I left, Marty made me up a very nice starter kit of LuckyCraft baits.  And I'm talking a "very nice" kit..........along w/ some quality rods to complement the baits!

[T1A]

Starter kit hell..Thats a whole store right there!!!!!  Good to see you again bud.  Hopefully next time I'm not running right of town. 

[Ron Fogelson]

Dang thanks for posting this and all the photos.

[Swede]

Great photos - thanks for all the work on your part in getting Marty up in the jet - I can't imagine the hours of work to make it all come together. 

Let's go fishin some time!!

[KILO]

Starter kit hell..Thats a whole store right there!!!!!  Good to see you again bud.  Hopefully next time I'm not running right of town. 

Rich, you gonna be in tomorrow?  I gotta call and order a few things.  How'd the show go?

[KILO]

Starter kit hell..Thats a whole store right there!!!!!  Good to see you again bud.  Hopefully next time I'm not running right of town. 

Yeah, it was.   

[KILO]

Great photos - thanks for all the work on your part in getting Marty up in the jet - I can't imagine the hours of work to make it all come together. 

Let's go fishin some time!!

Hey bro -- I wanted to look you up when I got back, but things got pretty busy at the office.  Since then, they've tried to deploy me again -- twice!!!!  I jinked successfully on both occasions.  Now it's time to get all my retirement crap in line.  I'll be retired come mid-December.  I'll holler at you one day at Hurby Fld. 

[OCBassman]

Thanx for the Post very Cool 

[Allen Shadd]

Cool post Kilo, and a cool thing to do.

[spetro]

I have so say that was the best post I have ever read.....on ANY forum...THANKS!!!!

[Tritonbmc]

Kilo, great post, and thanks for giving me a ring while you still had Marty in the truck   Get up here to East Tennessee anytime and you have a room for as long as you want.

[shawnrd81]

Man That had to be one of the best days ever. Cool pics

[Jarhead]

Outstanding photos and thanks for sharing.

[Jdaddy]

Great post, great read, awesome pictures.
Thanks for sharing.

[bass1cpr]

   Wow fantastic post and thanks for putting it here on UB. Bet Marty feels like it was a priceless experience. Very Cool.

[Mike Cork]

I was hoping you were going to get to take him up Kilo  Then he wouldn't have gotten away with denying that 9 G's 

Great post 

[-Shawn-]

Great Read Kilo!!!!!!!!!!!  I am glad to have you back posting again!!

[Team KaRu]

Nice story.  I did notice the name of the Captain on the Fighter Jet... Michael Albrecht.
No not my son Mike, but it looks cool!

[Swede]

Hey bro -- I wanted to look you up when I got back, but things got pretty busy at the office.  Since then, they've tried to deploy me again -- twice!!!!  I jinked successfully on both occasions.  Now it's time to get all my retirement crap in line.  I'll be retired come mid-December.  I'll holler at you one day at Hurby Fld. 

Retiring in May myself - you staying local?

[Siebert Outdoors]

awsome pictures.

[Bassgrl81]

Great pics Kilo! It was a pleasure having you stay with us on your way home and hearing about your experience with Marty!

[silversalmon]

That is just awesome, great pics and great story 

[KILO]

Great pics Kilo! It was a pleasure having you stay with us on your way home and hearing about your experience with Marty!

Thank you guys for having me over.  It was good to see you guys again; it's been 2 long years.
Also, I had a blast with my 2 lil buddies too!
Thanks for everything.

[KILO]

Retiring in May myself - you staying local?

Yeah......my last workday in the USAF will be 18 December; I start my new job over at the 623rd AOC on 22 December.  I lucked out and got a GS-13 job there as an SDO.  So yep, I'll be here for a while.