Five hundred feet to my left, Spartan says he’s ready to engage by zipping past me in the opposite direction at about 180 m.p.h. Joker, sitting with me in a German Extra 300L plane, tells me to take a hard right and pull the stick back as we climb into a rolling U-turn and set our sights on Spartan’s aircraft. I am a fighter pilot for a day.
For executives used to getting thrills behind the wheel of a sports car, this adventure kicks it up a notch. Air Combat USA, run out of Fullerton Municipal Airport, teaches basic pilot and dogfight training, then puts you in control of a series of air battles with minimal input from a pro copilot.
Ben Clerx, an Air Force veteran and American Airlines pilot known as Joker, was my instructor. “The worse that’ll happen is the engine quits,” he says. Now I know why they call him Joker.
In a green jumpsuit with military-style patches, we walk to the runway. Spartan, also known as Tom Smith, is doing a final check of the planes. Smith, an instructor with the Navy and now with Continental Airlines, will be my bogey.
I’ve been in plenty of planes, but never closer to the cockpit than seat 11A. In a few minutes, Clerx is going to hand over control of the $275,000 jet.
At take off, we have a clear view of Knott’s Berry Farm, downtown Los Angeles and Catalina Island. Moments later, we’re over the shipping channel that leads into the Port of Long Beach.
From there we’re screaming straight into the air and pulling back into a loop. I lose sight of Spartan. Rookie mistake, as he circles behind me, sets me in his sights and pulls the trigger.
I’m dead. But I get a few more chances. The basic air combat package provides six dogfights. I’m determined to redeem myself.
I pull the joystick all the way back. We’re flying perpendicular, like an astronaut heading into space, and hit about 6Gs. The force of 1,000 pounds of pressure against my body is immense. Blood rushes from my head. For a moment, I grey out,temporary tunnel vision and loss of color perception.
More dogfights ensue. I’m hit again. And Smith is hit again, and again. Smith calls over the radio to congratulate me. Clerx tells me to take a victory roll. So I pull the stick to the left and roll 360 degrees again.
On the ground, we watch digital video recordings of the flights. The videos are mine to take, compiled on a DVD with the soundtrack to “Top Gun.”
The adventure isn’t cheap: basic instruction costs $1,200 with subsequent packages running up to $2,000. Air Combat has a package aimed at corporate groups. It’s $12,000 for 10 people. Information: (800) 522-7590 or www.aircombat.com.
,Dan Anderson
