MIG-31 'Foxhound' VIP jet flight - to the "Edge of Space"

Joe Golightly, citizen of the Faroe Islands, has made in September 2007 with Space Travellers his markable voyage of his life. He experienced during a special made trip of 8 days the steps of Yuri A. Gagarin, trought the Russian aviation and space history - to the top of the world: a flight with the MiG-31 'Foxhound' nearby to the "Edge of Space"! Here, you can read his customer response.

I’m asking myself where should I begin? Not even ‘once upon a time’ would be the right beginning. It was better than that. A fairytale perhaps?! No, the hole journey would be more respectfully described as a spell, with all the positive things you can imagine. Nothing less!

During the primlinerary conversation and correspondence with the founder and managing director of Space Travellers Andreas P. Bergweiler, we agreed upon him putting an interesting program together. And what a program! I had the pleasure of having him with me all along on this trip and was it contributing to give me the feeling of reassurance in many situations. Not because you as customer was left alone at any time, that is during excursions, sightseeings or check-in etc., but more like because everything is alien and there is a bunch of impressions to absorb.

Andreas knew the most of the people we met and I think properly knew the most of the russian space history as well. This knowledge added something extra during the visit in Star City and Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, although we had both well spoken and indeed knowledgeable russian tour guides. A lot of times we foreigners tend to have different imaginations of the russian society and its people. That’s ok. But unfortunately they may not always be positive perhaps.

And that is a shame because today’s Russia is defently different from the old one. I was met with hospitality and professionalism throughout my stay. Interesting and enlightening tours, superb restaurants, fascinating history, dynamic society, the mentality, kind and forthcoming people, made it all a cocktail so intriguing, that if something went wrong with my visa I wouldn’t mind staying there some extra weeks!

Of course all this made it only more exciting for the up coming flight with nothing less than one of most exhilarating strategic jetfighters in the world, more specifically the MIG-31.

The day before the actual flight I was given certain recommendations such as, not to have too big of a breakfast and to get a decent amount of sleep, in order to become more fit for the flight.

The first one I was able to control, but the second one could be a potential problem. By 4.30 in the morning, way earlier than the birds had gone to sing my stomach was simple full of butterflies, and it became evidently difficult to obey, not to say impossible to fall a sleep again. But somehow it didn’t bother me.

I felt Ok and was only looking very much forward to perhaps the greatest thrill of my life! No doubt about that. Shortly before lunchtime we were escorted to the airbase from which all this marvellous scenery would take place. As we came to the gates of the airbase we were forthcomingly greeted by part of the management, photographer, and security-personnel.

After undergoing the mandatory medical check and having been put on the purpose designed G-suit our way went to the briefing room, where I had the absolutely pleasure of meeting the russian pilot who in the next 45 minutes would take me nearly to a attitude of 21.000 m (~ 69.000ft)! It is normal to have a certain degree of anxiety for us ‘deadly’ people prior to such a flight, but this pilot just had such a strong aura that you actually could feel the radiation of self-confidence, authority, and competence, and this of course contributed to my wellbeing as I was asked to take my seat in this huge pilot steered rocket.

And believe me by comparison the MIG-29 almost look cute. As we taxied out on the runway and the canopy closed I was thinking : Now it’s for real! Out on the beginning of the runway the pilot tested one of the engines by giving it full throttle, then the second one, and before you knew it, we like a lightning blasted off with such a amazing force, that it for a second took my breath away. Woowww!! Just to feel the sheer power was awesome. Not to forget the astonishing view from up there while flying almost 2700 kph.

It’s simple impossible to described it completely, and there seems only to one good advice : Make the decision and try it!!

I firmly believe you won’t regret it! If the whole experience was as good as mine was, you will only thank yourself.

But, I will say thanks Andreas for participating and developing of this trip, and also specially to Vasili Popov for his powerful attention. And my pilot Sergei Kara, who has flown me in very high altitudes. And to all people, who had helped to make this adventure possible!