Last word on Blue Angels

By Brian Livingston
blivingston@themeridianstar.com
I'm still flying high.
I'm also still a little sore. Since my flight with the Blue Angels #7 and Lt. Frank "Walleye" Weisser, a good number of people have asked me about the video of the flight we had on the Meridian Star website. They wondered, among other things, why I looked like I was in great pain but obviously still enjoying myself. It all has to do with the "hic" technique and flexing of my lower body so I wouldn't pass out during high G turns. Here's how it works.
With the onset of G-forces, pilots are trained to tighten their lower body, butt, thighs and everything else, to constrict blood flow. Because the blood wants to drain from the brain at high Gs, it isn't good for pilots to pass out. The Blue Angels don't wear G-suits developed during the Korean War to help combat high Gs.
At the same time you are constricting your lower body, you also want to tighten your stomach. That is where the "hic" techniqe comes in. Saying "hic" while taking deep breaths helps to keep the blood flow going in the upper portion of your body, mainly to your brain. Now, I'm not used to taking so may Gs so my technique was loud and pretty ugly. Aviators such as Walleye have done this so many times, and are in so much better shape, they can stay awake with minimal effort.
In order to properly constrict my lower body I was told to try and stand up in the 12-point harness I was strapped in. That did the trick. But I was so sore for three days afterward because I wasn't used to the exertion. It was pain I was glad to endure given I had the ride of the my life.
A side note. If you listen later on in the video, I'm actually saying "hut" instead of "hic." Reverting back to my football days, hut just came more naturally and accomplished the same thing. In fact, when I was flying the jet myself, that part isn't in the video, I hardly noticed the Gs even though I was pulling 5.5 to 6.5 on the meter. I just wanted to make sure the plane didn't hit the ground which I'm sure Walleye was watching for as well.
As for the bleeps, I apologize.
I was so pumped that I actually forgot EVERYTHING was being recorded. One person said I was taking the Lord's name in vain. I wasn't. The last time I did that was years ago when I hit my thumb with a hammer. What I was saying was "hot damn!" It was just youthful exhuberence on the part of a 48-year old man. Forgive me.
The Blue Angels put on a great show this weekend as did the rest of the performers. I couldn't help but get misty-eyed while watching the Angels fly wishing I was back up there with them. I know this was my first and last shot and I'm glad I didn't puke in their plane. I was, if you'll forgive me for blowing my own horn, very proud of myself for pulling up to 7.9 sustained Gs. It's a guy thang!
Somebody asked me how I was going to top this.
I had two words for them.
Space shuttle!