What used to be free......."ain't" no more!!

[Navy Chief]

Back in the early 70s at Patuxent River, it was easy to get back seat rides in jets. All it took was completion of a flight physical, pressure chamber test, egress training, and a swim test. Once completed, you simply watched the flight schedules, and waited for an empty seat. I logged 50 hours in Phantom rides alone, not counting hops in T-2s, TA-4s, T-38s, and others.....

Not any more.

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I saw this, and about choked when I read how much they are charging for rides!!!

Flights will be available starting in September. Now accepting reservations.
Call 800.568.8924
Cost: F-4 Phantom $12,500, A-4 Skyhawk $7,800.
_______________________________________________

http://collingsfoundation.org/enews/enewsletter_July.10.1.htm

 

[TARPSBird]

I had a "back-seat" card for a while when I was a young PO3 but never had a chance to use it. I was in a single-seat squadron (RF-8 photo birds) and the F-4 squadrons would fly their own guys before somebody from another squadron. I'd just like to make one more flight in a P2V Neptune, preferably the MAAM plane if it ever goes back on the air show circuit.