SPACE ADVENTURES:
An
Incredible Air and Space Adventure
Written by A. Forrer. (Edited by Jane Reifert)
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Chapter
One - Arrival and Jet Flight
Sunday,
May 26th - Ismailovo
Sunday
we went to the flea market where they sell everything from Lenin to
your  Grandmother.
Got some neat stuff: The ASTP crew as Xmas tree decoration, handmade.
A bunch of Russian Space stamps, a cosmonaut watch, a unique book about
the Russian space program. All in Russian, but pics I've never seen
of engine test stands etc. Also got a hilarious fake ad for Vodka with
a Salyut space station and a prosting cosmonaut...
Monday, May 27th
- L-39 Flight
Today
the serious part began: L-39 flight at Zhukovsky. After the physical
and a  brief
visit to their WOF (wall of fame) with the former Buran test crew pics
(I met the director of the base, who used to be a member of the Buran
Wolf pack, the pilots selected for flying the orbiter eventually) we
went for the briefing with my pilot Alex who was a very nice guy and
bored to tears with my not so much to the limit flight...Weak stomach
I have to admit. They would have even let me take my camera on board,
but recommended against it as it gets hard to handle during the tough
turns. Next, on to the parachute school for training on the ejection
seat procedures. Memorize that or you lose a hand and feet in the process!
After, out to the famous 120m wide runway, built for Buran landings
(and used for the one flight). And there she was being fueled up and
about a dozen people milling around for yours truly. I felt embarrassed.
Anyway, belted in and up we went. Liftoff was easy with a rolling start
on the 5.5km long runway, then a low flight at 600 feet through the
countryside over monasteries etc. Really beautiful.
Just as I felt cozy
an iron fist collapsed my entire body and I felt the blood draining
out
of my head. I started to get tunnel vision: A 5G vertical climb pretty
much left me breathless. After a softer level out and some words with
the pilot over intercom. I told him, that was about all I could stomach
and so he gave me the stick. Me! Yikes! It felt very heavy, but precise
to the touch, a lot like turning the wheels on a real F1. Immediate
reaction of the plane and my stomach. Anyway, I did a bunch of banked
turns watching the speed, altitude, bank angle and variometer. It was
great fun, as I understood most of the instrumentation thanks to my
sim. However there is only so much I can muster and it got very hot
and uncomfortable under the mask, so I switched on the 100% oxygen supply.
That helped a bit. Thereafter a few more loops, a low fly by over the
tower with whom Alex communicated entirely in Russian (wonder if anybody
spilled their coffee in there). Then final approach and landing.
 Last
but not least a great Russian lunch at the General's mess with exchange
of gifts. Alex was very happy about the 'Above Chicago' book; I was
happy to be able to use my internal organs again...On the way home Galina,
my local guide from Incredible Adventures, tried to get professional
movie equipment and guitars for Lulu Santos' zero G flight. Brazilians!
Now I'm completely
exhausted, physically and emotionally, so time to get some shut-eye.
Tomorrow it's off to Z-G flight!
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