The Blue Angels is one of the most famous flying formations in the world. But did you know there is one seat available at each display ? It is indeed possible to fly with the Blue Angels, in the plane number 7. This is an extraordinary flying experience as you get to fly in the F-18 Hornet, but also with some of the best pilots in the world. The Blue Angels is the oldest flying squad in the world. It started in 1946 and is today one of the most active flying squadron, with 70 displays each year in the USA. The purpose of the Blue Angels has not changed as it is set-up to attract and recruit youngsters into the US Navy.
Here is a nice video the Blue Angels in training:
It is possible to get a backseat ride in Blue Angel number 7. The downside is that this seat is usually booked for people of the local media so they can report and spread the good word. Who would not after such a jet fighter ride in a F-18 Hornet? The Blue Angels also organize VIP fighter jet rides during the year, for famous people in the media, sports, cinema, television who will positively impact the image of the Blue Angels, and also spread the good word. So if you are already famous, call the Blue Angels to fly with them. For the others, we can still enjoy the show.
We love jet fighters, their power, their speed, and their agility. When we were kids, what impressed us most at jet-fighter-rides.com was and still is the sonic boom. Although when flying at or over the speed of sound one does not feel anything, the boom the aircraft produces is very impressive. It feels like engineering vs forces of nature, and this is also why we like it so much. For once, man has been able to understand and dominate nature on this one.
So here is a little word about the sonic boom.
The sonic boom is a sound associated with the shockwave created by the supersonic flight of an aircraft. The boom generates tremendous amounts of energy, sounding much like an explosion, hence the “boom”. When an object – like a jet fighter - passes through the air, it creates a series of pressure waves in front of it and behind it. These waves travel at the speed of sound, and as the speed of the object increases, the waves are forced together, or compressed, because they cannot “get out of the way” of each other, eventually merging into a single shock wave at the speed of sound. This critical speed is known as Mach 1 and is approximately 1,225 kilometers per hour (761 mph) at sea level at room temperature. In smooth flight, the shock wave starts at the nose of the aircraft and ends at the tail. Because directions around the aircraft’s direction of travel are equivalent, the shock forms a Mach cone with the aircraft at its tip.
The power, or volume, of the shock wave is dependent on the quantity of air that is being accelerated, and thus the size and shape of the aircraft. As the aircraft increases speed the shocks grow “tighter” around the craft and do not become much “louder”. At very high speeds and altitudes the Mach cone does not intersect the ground and no boom is heard. The “length” of the boom from front to back is dependent on the length of the aircraft to a factor of 3:2. Longer aircraft therefore “spread out” their booms more than smaller ones, which leads to a less powerful boom which has a less “spread out” boom. The sound of the boom also depends on the distance between the aircraft and the observer.
sonic boom
A sonic boom is usually heard as a deep double “boom” as the aircraft is usually some distance away. Depending on the aircraft’s altitude, sonic booms reach the ground two to 60 seconds after flyover. However, not all booms are heard at ground level. The speed of sound at any altitude is a function of air temperature. A decrease or increase in temperature results in a corresponding decrease or increase in sound speed. Therefore, the more a plane flies high, the less you are likely to here the boom.
Can the sonic boom destroy buildings and other things on the ground ? Not really, but chances are it will annoy many people on the ground. The sonic boom creates pressure, measurable in pounds per square foot. A fighter jet flying at high altitude will generate less pressure on the ground as the shock wave’s intensity reduces through the air before reaching the ground. If flying at low altitude, the pressure is greater. To give you an example, SR71 flying at 80,000 feet at Mach 3 generates only 0.9 pounds per square foot. Concorde when flying – sic – at 52,000ft at Mach 2 was generating 1.94 pounds per square foot. The main reason Concorde was not authorized to fly at supersonic speed was not because of fear it would break all the windows, but primarily because of the noise.
Is it possible to find jet fighter rides going at Mach speed ? YES my friends. As of today you can fly the Mig 29 Fulcrum in Russia to the edge of space, reaching Mach 2 as you near an altitude of 65,000ft. You can also try out the supersonic and aerobatic Mig 29 flight which will get you at Mach 1.1 and then enjoy some aerobatics. The Electric Lightning in Cape Town can do that as well but it is currently undergoing maintenance. The Starfighter in Florida will also get you to the speed of sound.
You can find additional information on the sonic boom on Wikipedia.
For those of you who are lucky – rich – enough to have booked a suborbital flight in the Lynx, Virgin Galagtic or any other spaceship, here is a flying experience to get you in the mood. Our Russian fighter pilots have designed a program specifically tailor made to experience suborbital flying. The Mig 29 will fly the different phases of a suborbital flight, such as vertical take off, acceleration to supersonic speed, flying in the stratosphere, enjoying zero gravity during parabolas and rapid descent. Find more information on this Suborbital preflight training in the Mig 29 on Tematis.
The vertical take off is simulated by a vertical climb to 9000m in a few seconds. Accelerations are done thanks to the two huge engines of the Mig 29 and the fighter jet quickly breaks the sound barrier and continues its ascent to 23km of altitude, more than twice as high as a commercial airliner. Basically, you would be in the stratosphere, admiring the curvature of the earth and the blackness of space above your head. To simulate zero gravity, the Mig 29 will do a few parabolas and then start its descent like a rocket. Be prepared to experience G force.
After reaching a “normal” altitude, the lucky passenger will experience the agility and power of the Mig 29 doing aerobatics, such as loops, barrels, hammerhead, inverted flying… to simulate G force. This full program is really designed to experience what the suborbital flight will feel like. An ideal training for the people who have booked a tour with the stars, or for thos less fortunate, but still rich enough to live a unique dream. Find more details on Tematis.
One of the most modern fighter jets available for civilian jet fighter rides is the Mirage III. You can actually enjoy a backseat ride in this incredible jet fighter in Switzerland, making it a double whammy as you fly on a modern jet fighter, in the amazing setting of the Alps. The Mirage III is a supersonic jet fighter designed by the French Dassault aviation company during the late 1950s. It was a successful fighter aircraft, being sold to many air forces around the world and remaining in production for over a decade. Some of the world’s smaller air forces still fly Mirage IIIs or variants as front-line equipment today.
The Mirage III family grew out of French government studies begun in 1952 that led in early 1953 to a specification for a lightweight, all-weather interceptor capable of climbing to 18,000 m (59,040 ft) in six minutes and able to reach Mach 1.3 in level flight. This led to the development of prototypes with delta wings, which became the trademark of the Mirage. However a plane without tail does not fly as easily as traditional jet fighters. The lack of horizontal stabilizers meant no flaps could be used. The jet fighter also required long runways for take offs at high speed. The delta wing configuration also meant the jet plane limits its maneuverability and was unstable at low altitude. However, the delta wing design remained simple and meant the plane was fast, robust with tons of room for fuel.
The first flight of the Mirage III was on November 1956 and the fighter jet attained the speed of 1.52 Mach. With the full of its engine, the Mirage III was capable of reaching 2.2 Mach. The jet fighter was also capable of reaching 60,000ft in less than 9 seconds, which was quite good at the time. Overall 1400 Mirage III were built, many exported to Israel, Switzerland, Australia, and many countries in South America and the Middle East.
IT IS POSSIBLE TO FLY THE MIRAGE III. There is just one place in the world where one can fly the Mirage III, and this is Switzerland. It is costly, around 16,000 euros, and there are just a few days available during the year, but it is an incredible experience. Check out Fly the Mirage fighter jet for additional information on booking and price.
Check out this TV report - in French - about the first flight early 2009:
Mirage III General characteristics
Crew: 1 (trainers have 2)
Length: 15 m (49 ft 3.5 in)
Wingspan: 8.22 m (26 ft 11 in)
Height: 4.5 m (14 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 34.85 m² (375 ft²)
Empty weight: 7,050 kg (15,600 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 13,500 kg (29,700 lb)
Powerplant: 1× SNECMA Atar 09C turbojet
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2.2 (2,350 km/h, 1,460 mph)
Range: 2,400 km (1,300 NM, 1,500 mi)
Service ceiling: 17,000 m (56,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 83.3 m/s (16,400 ft/min)
Wing loading: 387 kg/m² (79 lb/ft²)
The L39 Albatros is definitely one the best sold aircraft in the world. More than 42 countries have purchased this jet trainer, and many many are still active. However, you do not need to be in the air force to fly one. Many private companies around the world are training private pilots to handle this fantastic plane. One of them is Gauntlet Warbirds, based in Aurora, very near Chicago. The company specialises in transitioning pilots of all experiences to high performance piston and jet aircrafts. And they also offer rides in their planes.
l39 albatros fighter jet chicago
The company operates a T6, L39 Albatros, Extra 300, a Super Decathlon and a Standard Decathlon. For those of you interested in living a unique experience, you should definitely try the T6 and Extra 300. Top of the list is the L39 Albatros for a mix of jet power and aerobatics, with the incredible setting of Chicago in the background. Check Gauntlet Warbirds for additional information on their rides.
OK, you cannot fly the F35 jet fighter as a paying passenger but we wanted to congrat our friend and pilot Jeff Knowles, who flew the F35C for the first time early June. The F35C is the naval variant of the F35 – also called Joint Strike Fighter in reference to the program designed to elect the next generation of fighters and striker aircrafts.
Check the video of the first flight of the F35 C fighter jet:
The F35 is truly a technological marvel. It will replace the F16, A10 and F18. It is simply faster, more agile, and can fly longer distances. It is designed to be superior to any other aircraft and from what we have seen so far, it is going to be a master of the skies.
Mark Pracy welcomes you in Cessnock, New South Wales, just 1h20 north of Sydney, Australia. Mark has been a jet pilot and airshow performer for years, and has been active in promoting L39 Albatros fighter jet rides for a while now. And flying along the coast of Newcastle is quite an experience. Mark puts his experience of airshow performer and delivers great fighter jet rides. Check out the video to see what to expect.
You can select from various types of fighter jet rides on the L39 Albatros. From simple maneuvers to the full extent of Mark’s talent. G turns, loops, barrels, Cuban eight, inverted flight, and the best, flying fast 500ft above the water – the best adrenaline rush you can get. You can also fly in formation with another L39 Albatros so that your pals can take pictures of you in flight ! The experience lasts 20mn to 35mn and starts at 1990 Australian dollars.
See http://www.jetride.com.au for additional information on the L39 albatros fighter jet ride with Mark Pracy.
The L39 Albatros is Czech fighter plane developed in the 1960s. It remains a fantastic jet trainer as it is easy to fly and delivers good flying sensations to would be fighter pilots. The L39 Albatros is still serving 30 air forces around the world, including Australia. The jet has had a big success thanks to its agility and ease of flight and many private associations, companies and individuals have purchased one for their own use.
General characteristics - L39 C
Crew: 2
Length: 12.13 m (39 ft 9½ in)
Wingspan: 9.46 m (31 ft 0½ in)
Height: 4.77 m (15 ft 7¾ in)
Wing area: 18.8 m² (202 ft²)
Airfoil: NACA 64A012 mod
Empty weight: 3,455 kg (7,617 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 4,700 kg (10,362 lb)
Powerplant: 1× Ivchenko AI-25TL turbofan, 16.87 kN (3,792 lbf)
Performance
Never exceed speed: Mach 0.80 (609 mph, 980 km/h)
Maximum speed: 750 km/h (405 knots, 466 mph) at 5,000 m (16,400 ft)
Range: 1,100 km (593 nmi, 683 mi) (internal fuel)
1,750 km, (944 nmi, 1,087 mi) (internal and external fuel)
Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,100 ft)
Rate of climb: 13.5 m/s (4,130 ft/min)
Wing loading: 250.0 kg/m² (51.3 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.37
Climb to 5,000 m (16,400 ft): 5 min
Endurance:
2 hr 30 min (internal fuel)
3 hr 50 min (internal and external fuel)
Take-off roll: 530 m (1,740 ft)
Landing roll: 650 m (2,140 ft)
The Fouga Magister is definitely one of the best jet trainers one can fly. It is easy to control, very agile, with two engines for safety. The Fouga Magister, with its V tail is one of the pilots’ favourite aircraft, and it is easy to understand why. Check out this video - our French friends having fun - barrels, loops, low level flying… all you need to get the adrenaline pumping !
We are always very impressed by talented pilots. And these guys are as they have lead the French national display team, the Patrouille de France.
Flying a fighter jet can be sensational, but flying the Mig 29 Fulcrum is simply exhilarating. Earlier this month we wrote about flying to the edge of space in the U2 Spyplane. Although James May has had a wonderful opportunity to fly to the edge of space, not everyone can hop on the plane and fly up to 70,000ft. However, everyone – with a bit of money – can experience flying to the edge of space in the Mig 29 Fulcrum. Our Russian friends have decommissioned a fleet of Mig 29 and 31 and are offering jet fighter rides on these modern fighter planes. Recently they have stopped doing so in the Mig 31 Foxhound due to high expenses. The good news is they keep flying the Mig 29.
Developed in the 1970s, the Mig 29 was first put in service in 1983 and remains today the most modern jet fighter anyone can fly. Still in use by the Russian air force, the 29 was codenamed Fulcrum by NATO, and was designed to counter attack F15 and F16. Designing the Mig 29 was a challenge as it was – and still is – required to fly long range, land on short strips, be fast – and it is – be agile and carry heavy armament. And it proved successful as no less than 25 countries have bought the Mig 29 Fulcrum, and many of them are still active. Even the US bought 20 of them from Moldavia, both for testing and preventing the planes to go into the wrong hands.
The Mig 29 Fulcrum is a beast. It is fast, even at low altitude, delivers excellent agility, and is also capable of flying very high… And it is exactly one of the attractions of flying the Mig 29 today: flying to the edge of space. The experience is fairly simple: you take off and climb to 60,000ft where the sky is dark. You can admire the curvature of the earth and the very thin layers of oxygen. As you fly down you fighter pilot will start showing off the capacities of the Mig 29 Fulcrum. Get ready for some serious adrenaline rushing through your body…
Check out the video to see what it is like to experience a fighter jet ride in the Mig 29.
A word about the fighter pilots. Russian fighter pilots are amongst the best in the world. You will fly with pilots that have tremendous experience in flying this extraordinary fighter plane. All are still active at SOKOL manufacturing plant where they test modern Russian fighters. They have been honored by their country as some of them are “Heroes of Russia”, one of the highest ranks in Russia and others are “Distinguished Test Pilot of the Russian Federation”. They have logged thousands of hours and trained and tested almost all fighter jets designed and born in Russia. You are in the best hands to fly this fighter jet.
General characteristics of the Mig 29 fighter jet
Crew: One, can take passenger
Length: 17.37 m (57 ft)
Wingspan: 11.4 m (37 ft 3 in)
Height: 4.73 m (15 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 38 m² (409 ft²)
Empty weight: 11,000 kg (24,250 lb)
Loaded weight: 16,800 kg (37,000 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 21,000 kg (46,300 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Klimov RD-33 afterburning turbofans, 8,300 kgf (81.4 kN, 18,300 lbf) each
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2.25 (2,400 km/h, 1,490 mph) At low altitude: 1,500 km/h, 930 mph
Range: 700 km (430 mi)
Ferry range: 2,100 km (1,800 mi) with 1 drop tank
Service ceiling: 18,013 m (59,100 ft)
Rate of climb: initial 330 m/s average 109 m/s 0-6000 m[101] (65,000 ft/min)
Wing loading: 442 kg/m² (90.5 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 1.01
Fly the Mig is costly, due its operating and insurance costs. It will cost you about 19,000 euros or 21,000 USD. You can book your fighter jet ride by visiting Fly a jet Fighter.
Have you ever dreamed of flying to the edge of space, to fly twice as high as a commercial jet liner ? Well this dream is possible. For years now the Russians have allowed civilians to fly their Migs, 29 and 31 to do just that. But one man has gone one step forward, by flying the U2 spyplane to 70,000ft. His name is James May, and unfortunately, he is not your average John Doe but a TV presenter for the English program Top Gear, meaning that everyone can not just ring the bell and get in the cockpit. However, it is worth mentioning as it was the first time that a foreign civilian has been granted access to such an experience. Worth calling your rep in Washington to try it for yourself.
Check out the video of the flight:
The U2 is a very special plane, and one of the most controversial. Designed and built secretly in the first half of the fifties, it came out as a prototype in 1955 and just 48 were built. The test flight was done at Groom Lake (Area 51) Nevada. Actually the plane was not planned to fly on that day, as it was simply a high-speed taxiing test. However, the design of the wings was so efficient that at 70knots, the plane took-off ! The purpose of the Lockheed U2 to put it simply, was to “see” what was going on in Russia from an extremely high altitude that Russian fighters and missiles could not reach. It would even be difficult to trace for radars. This would allow of the U2, and the USA, to gain tremendous intelligence by all weather, anywhere in the world.
However the plane became world famous in May 1960 when it got shot down by a missile. This event resulted in the launch of Project Rainbow, aimed at reducing the U2’s radar cross section. This was unsuccessful and led to the development of the Lockheed A12, also known as Blackbird. The U2 remains in service, however it is planned to be decommissioned by 2012. It has been in service for 50 years and has proven to be an incredible asset for intelligence.
What is it like to fly the U2. James May qualifies it as “life changing”. It certainly must be something to admire the curvature of the earth at 70,000ft. The Lockheed U2 has a very specific design, which allows the plane to fly high, at low speed, but also makes it difficult to fly. The high aspect ratio wing gives the U2 glider like characteristics. When flying at high altitude, the stall speed of the U2 is just… 19km/h or 10 knots ! Because it was built to fly at very high altitude, the controls were very touchy when flying high, but when flying at lower altitudes, inputs must be heavy to gain the desired effects. Difficult to fly, it is also difficult to land. It needs the assistance of a pace car, and another one that guides the pilot. Flying at high altitude also requires wearing a “space” suit that supplies oxygen through the flight. As you can see in James May video, you can also drink and “eat” while in flight. Which is important as the U2 can stay up to 12 hours in the air.
Unfortunately, not everyone can have access to such an experience. But I would not be surprised if an entrepreneur would buy one or two of the soon to be decommissioned U2s and start a business of selling U2 fighter rides… Let’s cross fingers… In the meantime, you can reach the edge of space in a Mig 29.
Lockheed U2 specifications:
Crew: One
Length: 63 ft (19.2 m)
Wingspan: 103 ft (31.4 m)
Height: 16 ft (4.88 m)
Wing area: 1,000 ft² (92.9 m²)
Aspect ratio: 14.3
Empty weight: 14,300 lb (6,760 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 40,000 lb (18,100 kg)
Powerplant: 1× General Electric F118-101 turbofan, 19,000 lbf (84.5 kN)
Maximum speed: 434 knots (500 mph, 805 km/h)
Cruise speed: 373 knots (429 mph, 690 km/h)
Range: 5,566 nmi (6,405 mi, 10,300 km)
Service ceiling: 70,000+ ft (21,300+ m)
Flight endurance: 12 hours
Jet Fighter Rides wishes to be a reference for all fighter jet flights around the world. Flying a fighter jet is a once in a lifetime experience, a truly amazing experience.
