A special eye witness report
Janne from Norway cherish a long time in her life, to fly with a high speed jet-fighter. We satisfied her wish and
she hunted with a MIG-29 'Fulcrum' thru the heaven of Russia. After the flight she can't find the real words, out of this - her husband Meindert wrotes a eye witness report:
“I never forget the day that the Janne (wife) said that she would like to fly a jet. At the time it just sounded as just another “wish” on the gigantic wish-list and the remark was quickly forgotten.
However, over the years, the issue was brought up again on several occasions. Though ignoring in the beginning, an undertone of passion was noticed. Last year, I had the chance to experience an opportunity of a life-time. A friend had bought a sailing yacht in the USA and this boat had to be sailed over the Atlantic to Norway. I was asked to join and I did not hesitate for one moment.
To comprise an ordeal into a few words; it took us 3 months (minus 1 day) to sail this boat to Norway. As every married man would know, such a fulfilled task needs to be compensated and the “jet-wish” was brought to light again. Using time to navigate the web pages, very quickly the possibilities of flying a Mig-29 in Russia were identified.
Though I do fly a lot (as a passenger), it is not my favourite hobby. Trying to speak the idea (i.e this is totally madness and for pilots only) out of the wife’s head appeared not being very successfully, on the contrary, it strengthened her mind in doing so. Not very late after, a date was set and the flights were booked. This would be a “girls-night-out” party on a grand scale. She and 2 of her girlfriends would travel to Russia and she would fly the Mig-29. Agreements were set “in stone” so to speak.
I still vividly remember the evenings, me telling my sailing experience whereby any (hard)earned respect was simply “blown out of the sky” by just one remark of an entering wife: He, guess what, I am going to fly the Mig-29. Obviously, this had to stop and I was happy that the day neared. Was it not for a broken fuel booster pump, the ordeal would have been over, there and then.
One day prior the ladies travelling, the agent informed Janne of the deficiency. Heavily disappointed, but accepting the safety issues, she decided to travel anyway by just having a good holiday time with her friends in Russia. Seeing her hard broken in this weak moment, I volunteered travelling with her as soon as the trip could be realised again.
Only a few months later, a new date was set and travel tickets, visa-permissions, hotels etc. were arranged for the two of us. We should travel to Russia together and this time she should fly the Mig.
Via Copenhagen (Denmark) we ended up in Moscow for a few days of deserved rest. Spending the days watching the “known” attractions, it became quickly time to head for Nizhny Novgorod (old “Gorky”). The inland flight was provided by a 2-propelled airplane of local make. My fears were even more confirmed when the stewardess started handing out “vomit” bags prior the flight. One and half hour later, we arrived in Nizhny Novgorod. I entered the small arrival hall, with a white face and a heavy relaxed wife on my side. This turbulence was nothing, were her words.
The hotel in Nizhny Novgorod, was very nice. The Alexandrovsky Garden Hotel provided a nice river view and was located near the town centre. On the afternoon, prior her flying, the agent phoned the room. While Janne was under the shower, I answered the phone. Receiving instructions for the next day, he also informed me that Janne should bring an extra set of underwear, in case of “accidents” happening during the flight.
I worried even more and I remember several times waking up that night dreaming of my wife “fouling” the cockpit. Under all this, she remained very calmly and even managed, to my absolute disbelief, eating a normal breakfast. This was going to be a hell of a day.
Precise on time, we were picked up and driven to the base. After a very interesting tour through the local museum, I quickly noticed that we were dealing with people being very proud of their produced airplanes (jets). Listening to the stories told in the museum, they have very reason of being so.
Then, finally, the “to-do” part arrived. Janne was introduced to the pilot and I still remember his look. Weather, it was a “sceptical” look caused by seeing Janne, a little Norwegian blond eager to fly, or seeing me, a white faced worrying husband. To this day I still don’t know. Janne was directed to the doctor, for a last medical check. After 12 years marriage, I know that a doctor visit scares more the sh** out of her than anything else but luckily this part went fine.
Next was the dressing. Finding the correct seized gear proved to be difficult. I guess that a “normal” seized pilot exceeds Janne’s length of 1,64 meters. The drive to the plane proved being short. Janne was strapped in the co-pilot’s seat, her seat was raised and she was told of the basic indicators such as speed, height and communications.
The ejection seat procedures were explained and the pilot highlighted that this was for information only. In case of an emergency, he would activate the sequence and everything would go automatically. So Janne was not to push the button or the bill would be sent to me, was jokingly explained. (A very comforting message knowing her years of frustrating experience with the television controls).
Finally, they took off for a so called test-round. The pilot would assess how much Janne’s body could take and would this be successfully, then they would return to the base-area for the acrobatic stunts. Well, to my great relieve, I saw the plane returning to the airfield area performing rolls, dips, loops and God knows what, like there was no tomorrow. It was also very impressive seeing this from the ground. The capabilities of this plane are simply huge.
About 45 minutes later they landed and the pilot immediately left the plane to shake my hands. He explained that all he could hear through the intercom was her smiling/giggling at every acrobatic move. Up to 7Gs were reached without her passing our or getting sick for that matter.. On the way back, the pilot shacked his head of disbelief. How was this possible? She did not even sweat. I had to agree with him. Maybe my worries were for nothing after all……Well done. A huge success.
The travels back home from Nizhny Novgorod, via Frankfurt went quickly and effectively. A few weeks later, we received the video and photo’s. Every visitor in the house is proudly shown the certificate and video and their reactions are all the same; oh my God; and you did that? Well done.
In the mean time I have packed my sailing trip films. Watching for hours, a sailing boat drifting eastwards is nothing compared to 20 minutes, sky-rocketing, performing the most insane acrobatic stunts through the skies of Russia. Her wish came through and you people made it possible. Thanks to all the people involved, most of all to Andreas – who shown a lot of patience with me and Janne, who wanted to have the totally adrenaline kick!”
Meindert, Janne’s husband. Stavanger/Norway - 2009
