318 - (My Flight with) The USAF Thunderbirds

omega tau science & engineering podcast

Guest: Jason Markzon, Jafet Ojeda Host: Markus Voelter
Shownoter: Bastian Hundt, Jochen Spalding

In June 2019 I had the pleasure and honor to fly in an F-16D with the USAF Thunderbirds. The episode covers the medical briefing about how to prevent motion sickness and how to deal with Gs, suiting up with flight suit, g-suit, harness, helmet and mask, the briefing with my pilot Maj. Jason Markzon, the flight itself with commentary, an interview about the Thunderbirds with Jason, as well as a reflection on what the flight meant to me, recorded together with Nora.

A small correction: I suspected wrong regarding the code word TIMBER SWEET. In fact, it means that the Link16 data link between the two F-16s works. It’s great to have competent listeners :-)

Videos and pictures are available at omegataupodcast.net/thunderbirds.

Introduction

00:00:20

Medical Briefing

00:03:45

United States Air Force Thunderbirds | Medical certifications for pilots | Flight Surgeon | Motion sickness | G-Force | G-Suit | Tunnel vision | G-force induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) | Ejection seat | General Dynamics F-16

Aircrew Flight Equipment

00:24:50

Flight suite | Nomex | G-Suit | Parachute | Survival pack | Flight Helmet | Foreign object damage

Flight Briefing

00:33:52

Afterburner | Formation flying | Aerobatic maneuvers | F-16 Cockpit | Side-stick | Throttle | Intercom | Ejection seat | Multi-function display | Side-stick | Coordinated flight

The Flight

01:51:00

General Dynamics F-16 | Hero shot of Markus | Aero surfaces | TACAN | ATIS | Clearance Delivery | Transponder Code | OmegaTau Episode about flying the F-16 | Military operations area | Aerobatic maneuver | Separation | Tanker | Glider | Final approach | Crew chief

Takeaways from the Flight

02:01:05

The Interview with Maj. Jason Markzon

02:08:40

Colored smoke (Smoke oil) | Thunderbirds Diamond Roll | Thunderbird Delta Roll | USAF Thunderbirds Website | U.S. Navy Blue Angels

Thanks and Reflections (with Nora)

03:09:45