(5/11) Stoops, Former Idol Takes Flight.. Loses Consciousness
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles/Notes
Coach Stoops on Flying with Blue Angels: Oklahoma head football coach Bob Stoops went up with the Navy's Blue Angels Wednesday afternoon. Stoops took off from the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. The hour-long flight began at 2:30 p.m., and was piloted by Kevin Davis, a 31-year-old Connecticut native. Here is a statement from Stoops that describes his ride:
On the flight... "It was awesome. What an experience. The force and power in the jet and the precision and skill of the pilot are overwhelming. Kevin Davis was great to me. What an amazing guy." On maneuvers... "We started with a straight vertical climb up to 7,000 feet, and then we went out over what appeared to be some rural areas. We started doing some maneuvers flying upside down, getting right to the edge of mach speed and doing some loops. "Then we did the cork screw vertical climb and nosedived into some turns. It was just amazing. The first few heavy G forces came during the Immelmann Turn. We were pulling 7.5 and 7.6, then we went into an MRT (minimal radius turn) and we pulled 7.8. He lost me there. You just black out for a second or two. "(The pilot) was talking me through it the entire time. Of course, it doesn't faze them a bit. At one point, we were flying upside down at about 1,000 feet just hanging by our straps." On the Navy Blue Angels..."I already appreciated our military, but being involved with something like this is more than you can describe. These people are incredible. Everything was so impressive. It's a special experience to spend time with the men and women in our military." On his stomach... "I didn't have any problems, but I didn't think I would. I haven't had any trouble with my stomach over the years. I ate a club sandwich a couple hours before we went up." (Sooner Sports Relase)
Former Idol Kelly Clarkson, joined Stoops: In their matching flight suits, Oklahoma coach Stoops and Burleson's Clarkson, the original American Idol who now sells millions of records worldwide, were an odd pair Wednesday before each took a thrill ride most people will never experience. Both were passengers in an F/A-18 Hornet jet from the Navy's legendary precision flight team, the Blue Angels, as part of the lead-up to this weekend's Texas Thunder 2006 Air Show at Naval Air Station Fort Worth.Stoops' and Clarkson's pilot, Lt. Kevin Davis, said about 65 percent of his passengers get sick. At least momentarily, about 95 percent black out, mostly on minimum-radius turns. On those, the jet flips 90 degrees and completes a wickedly sharp right or left turn. Stoops' stomach survived that move and Davis' dizzying vertical maneuvers. Clarkson, a Texas fan who mercilessly needled Stoops in the pre-flight briefing, did need an air-sick bag. "I have a little bit of a fear of small planes," Clarkson said. "I was trying to overcome that today. I felt so bad, because they had to clean up the plane." (Star-Telegram)Stoops passes out while flying with Blue Angels: ESPN.com
Stoops keeps lunch down, enjoys flight: The Oklahoman
Soaring Stoops survives, and enjoys, trip: Tulsa World
Stoops takes flight with Blue Angels: Norman Transcript
Coach Stoops on Flying with Blue Angels: Oklahoma head football coach Bob Stoops went up with the Navy's Blue Angels Wednesday afternoon. Stoops took off from the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. The hour-long flight began at 2:30 p.m., and was piloted by Kevin Davis, a 31-year-old Connecticut native. Here is a statement from Stoops that describes his ride:
On the flight... "It was awesome. What an experience. The force and power in the jet and the precision and skill of the pilot are overwhelming. Kevin Davis was great to me. What an amazing guy." On maneuvers... "We started with a straight vertical climb up to 7,000 feet, and then we went out over what appeared to be some rural areas. We started doing some maneuvers flying upside down, getting right to the edge of mach speed and doing some loops. "Then we did the cork screw vertical climb and nosedived into some turns. It was just amazing. The first few heavy G forces came during the Immelmann Turn. We were pulling 7.5 and 7.6, then we went into an MRT (minimal radius turn) and we pulled 7.8. He lost me there. You just black out for a second or two. "(The pilot) was talking me through it the entire time. Of course, it doesn't faze them a bit. At one point, we were flying upside down at about 1,000 feet just hanging by our straps." On the Navy Blue Angels..."I already appreciated our military, but being involved with something like this is more than you can describe. These people are incredible. Everything was so impressive. It's a special experience to spend time with the men and women in our military." On his stomach... "I didn't have any problems, but I didn't think I would. I haven't had any trouble with my stomach over the years. I ate a club sandwich a couple hours before we went up." (Sooner Sports Relase)
Former Idol Kelly Clarkson, joined Stoops: In their matching flight suits, Oklahoma coach Stoops and Burleson's Clarkson, the original American Idol who now sells millions of records worldwide, were an odd pair Wednesday before each took a thrill ride most people will never experience. Both were passengers in an F/A-18 Hornet jet from the Navy's legendary precision flight team, the Blue Angels, as part of the lead-up to this weekend's Texas Thunder 2006 Air Show at Naval Air Station Fort Worth.Stoops' and Clarkson's pilot, Lt. Kevin Davis, said about 65 percent of his passengers get sick. At least momentarily, about 95 percent black out, mostly on minimum-radius turns. On those, the jet flips 90 degrees and completes a wickedly sharp right or left turn. Stoops' stomach survived that move and Davis' dizzying vertical maneuvers. Clarkson, a Texas fan who mercilessly needled Stoops in the pre-flight briefing, did need an air-sick bag. "I have a little bit of a fear of small planes," Clarkson said. "I was trying to overcome that today. I felt so bad, because they had to clean up the plane." (Star-Telegram)Stoops passes out while flying with Blue Angels: ESPN.com
Stoops keeps lunch down, enjoys flight: The Oklahoman
Soaring Stoops survives, and enjoys, trip: Tulsa World
Stoops takes flight with Blue Angels: Norman Transcript
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