I've had the exquisite privilege of flying with Bob Lutz a couple of times, once each in his Albatross LR-39 and another in his Alpha Jet, and in the Alpha Jet, he said that in a couple turns we were pulling around 5.5 Gs.

I had a gauge set in front of me. Honestly, I was trying to keep from crapping my pants and clenching my leg and stomach muscles to keep from passing out - I don't know how else to put it - to pay attention to what the gauges were saying.

I don't know how fighter jet pilots do it. When I flew with Bob, he was 74+ years old and he was talking through the whole flight, except in those real hi-G maneuvers. Talked through them like they were brain stem activity, which maybe they are for him.

I honestly thought I was going to die a couple times in both flights, but with a big old smile on my face. A smile of terror. Does that make sense?

I can see how someone could get addicted to the thrill like he is. He's so addicted that he's laid out major coin for these planes and to have them maintained and ready to fly. The LR-39 didn't cost him much more than a high-dollar sports car. He never told me how much he paid for the Alpha Jet. The LR-39 had the feeling of a kit-car, but smooth. The turns in the Alpha Jet were gut-wrenching. I at least remembered to bring my camera on that flight! However, trying to hold it up high enough to get good shots during turns is a real challenge when your arms are so heavy! I'll post some of the choice shots on my Imageshack account. Can't imagine sustaining those Gs for long enough to escape falling to earth gravity.

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