It sure was nice being supersonic again! I've missed it. The flight was great. I flew with a classmate of mine from the Academy. It was supposed to be 2 v 2 but our wingman broke before we took off...so it was us (F16) vs. F15C and F15E. The cockpit is tight. There's not much room to move around at all. We did our g warm-up exercises (180 degree turn with 4-6 g's then another 180 degree turn with 5-7 g's) and it all felt like I was pulling 9 g's! It takes a while to get into good flying shape. The acceleration of the Viper is impressive. Lots of thrust + low weight = quick. We did a lot of dogfighting and had a great time. I flew in formation on the way home for about 20 minutes. It's different having the sidestick of the 16 vs the 15. The Vipers controls are VERY touchy...just a little pressure on the stick and the jet responds. If I had a camera, I could have taken an award-winning shot of the two 15's against a Florida sunset...it was awesome. It will just have to live in my memory bank...like so many other flying experiences.
"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds---and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of---wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hovering there
I've chased the shouting wind along and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
Where never lark, or even eagle flew;
and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."
