MY DAY WITH BERT

Story and photography by Chris Buff

April 4, 2009

I have daydreamed about flying with the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds since I was a child. In 1986 I earned my private pilot certificate and while that provided great personal satisfaction, I watched the years quickly tick by and wondered if my old dreams could ever come true.

Cut to April 4, 2009. Fellow World Airshow News contributor Jeff Green and I arrive at the Tuscaloosa Airport to photograph the 2009 Tuscaloosa Airshow. 120,000 people turned out for the first appearance by the Blue Angels in this part of Alabama in more than 20 years. As Jeff and I are exiting our cars, We notice one of the Blue Angels public affairs officers heading towards the flight line. Jeff had met the gentlemen last year at another show. The details of what happened next are still a little fuzzy but Jeff jokingly mentioned that if they had any room in #7 or Fat Albert, he would love to take a ride! The Blue’s PAO asked if Jeff had a business card and said he would call if in fact any room was available in Bert. We looked at each other and said “Oh sure, that'll happen” We headed out to the static display area to shoot photos before the crowd became too thick.

About an hour and a half later, Jeff informs me that he had a call from the PAO and that he is supposed to meet over at the Blues staging hangar. Suspecting that his Fat Albert Flight might actually happen, Jeff asked if I would come along and shoot photos of the preflight and boarding. I jumped at the chance since it would give us up close and personal access to the Blues and a very different vantage point to shoot from. We arrive at the staging hangar and Jeff is immediately offered a yellow “sign your life away card”. I am getting ready to shoot pictures of Jeff’s face and notice that the PAO was holding out a card for me as well! Temporarily stunned, I said something to the effect of “Well I am just here to shoot Jeff during the preflight activities” The Blues PAO then said, “The Blue Angels and Fat Albert Airlines would love for you to fly with us today.” I was stunned and actually had to think for a minute. After all, there would be some risk and I have a wife and three kids to think about. In addition, this meant that I would miss much of the show that I was assigned to shoot. After a few minutes of consideration, and imagining what my wife and kids would say if I was stupid enough to pass on the opportunity, I signed. And so began one of the most memorable days of my life!

I won’t try to recap the entire days activities but one of the many highlights was when we were greeted by the Blue Angels C-130 pilot Major Brendan Burks. Major Burks emphasized to everyone invited to fly on Fat Albert Airlines that day that this would be like no other “airline” flight that they had experienced before. Major Burke then briefed us on how our flight would begin. “We will release brakes and accelerate to 135 knots at which time we will retract the gear and then continue to accelerate at 4 feet of altitude until we reach 200 knots. At that point I will pull up to commence a 45 degree climb to 1500 feet and then push over. When I push over you will experience approximately 5 seconds of weightlessness and ……. “

I must confess that after boarding and watching the ramp close, my nerves were really getting too me. Obviously I was excited and thrilled to be flying on “Bert” And yet there were doubts. Would I be able to keep my breakfast down during the weightlessness? It had been a decade since I had last pulled serious G’s and that particular event left me more than a little queasy. Would I remember to take photos while pulling 3G’s, all the while banking, climbing and diving over the Alabama countryside? What photos should I try to take?

The best way that I can describe the flight was that it was a precision roller coaster ride. The demonstration was flown exactly as briefed. The passengers and crew experienced nearly 3G's along with 60 degree bank turns, 45 degree climbs and periods of zero G. I got off of Bert sweaty and tired but elated. It is important that I try to convey the sense of pride and absolute professionalism and dedication that the entire Blue Angels team exhibits. Every passenger that rides Fat Albert is treated as if they were the most important passenger that the Blues had ever carried.

I must offer my sincere appreciation to the Major Burks, Capt Jorge, the US Navy, Marines and the entire Blue Angels team. Special thanks go to the PAO’s who made this dream come true. Now I guess I have to start working on a way to get into #7. I have attached a few photos that will help tell the rest of the story. By the way, at the conclusion of the flight, both my shirt...and shorts… were still clean!