U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds pulls back no punches as top women's MMA champion takes to the skies Published Nov. 13, 2012 By Tech. Sgt. Alice Diddle U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron Public Affairs NELLIS AFB, Nev. -- The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron also known as the "Thunderbirds," flew Olympic medalist and Strikeforce Women's Bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey here Nov. 9. The flight took place the day before "Aviation Nation," Nellis Air Force Base's annual air show. Part of any Thunderbirds performance includes "media flights," intended to raise awareness about the air show and promote Air Force initiatives by interaction with local celebrities. Through Rousey, the Thunderbirds hoped to give mixed martial artist fans the opportunity to see the Air Force's mission up close from the perspective of a Thunderbird fighter pilot. Rousey's day started with a briefing and fitting session with one of the team's Aircrew Flight Equipment specialists, Tech. Sgt. Amber Alumpe. Alumpe helped Rousey don her flightsuit, helmet, harness and G suit as well as instruct her on emergency parachute training, all of which is necessary for a fighter pilot to take to the skies. To ensure she was medically prepared, Rousey then met with the team's flight surgeon, Thunderbird 9, Dr. (Maj.) Michael Carletti. Carletti helped Rousey with proper breathing techniques to help her body cope with experiences the massive G forces that the F-16 pulls during flight. Her morning ended with a pre-flight brief from her pilot, Maj. Michael Fisher, Thunderbird 8, the team's Advance Pilot/Narrator. Fisher detailed the maneuvers the aircraft would perform, giving Rousey insight as to what to expect after takeoff. Rousey said the briefings gave her the chance to become even more excited to experience flight. "I started building up a lot of anticipation the whole time because it seemed like a long build up. I was definitely a lot more anxious than I think I would have been had I just showed up and got in the plane," Rousey said. Once the series of briefings concluded, Rousey stepped out to one of the team's Fighting Falcons aircraft and took off into the skies with Fisher. She experienced several of the same maneuvers the Thunderbirds perform during their air demonstrations, including Aileron Rolls, and an Inverted Flat Pass. After about an hour in the air, it was time to land. Rousey received a warm welcome from several members of the Thunderbirds team as well as a special presentation from her pilot. "It was a fantastic opportunity for us to fly Ronda today and show her what the Air Force is all about," said Fisher. "She not only had a great time, but she was able to see first-hand the pride, professionalism, and teamwork displayed by Airmen around the world." Rousey said she truly enjoyed the opportunity to fly with the team and if she could use one word to describe her flight, "heavy," was her choice. "With all those G pulls I felt extremely heavy," she said. Rousey also said flying with the Air Force was extremely humbling. She thanked the men and women of the Thunderbirds for making her flight happen. "I know the amount of work, time and effort that goes into a flight like this. I just really appreciate everyone's efforts," Rousey said. Rousey is considered the number one pound-for pound female MMA fighter in the world according to MMA Rising.com. She is expected to defend her title sometime in 2013. The Thunderbirds is the Air Force's premier demonstration squadron. Its mission is to exhibit the capabilities of modern high performance aircraft and represent the nearly 700,000 total force Airmen around the globe.
