Getting Race Ready: 28 Days...

I love writing this blog...I really do! I love the fact that I have the opportunity to share things with people all over the world...things that are important to me. I realize that not everyone relates, or even likes, what I have to share...but that's okay...I still want to share.

Today's entry really isn't about me...not entirely anyway. Today I write about one of the greatest men I have ever known...someone whom I am also honored to call a friend...a great friend...my buddy Mike. You see, Mike is the guy who is to blame for my addiction to the sport of mountain biking...yep, he's the one who introduced me to a new way to spend money...I mean stay in shape! So today's entry is dedicated to Mike...for without him, I would have never ended up writing a blog, for I would not have been training for a mountain bike race!

Mike has been riding mountain bikes for over fifteen years...probably closer to twenty. I'm not sure exactly how long, but it's been long enough that I can honestly say he is one of the best mountain bikers I have ever ridden with...really. He's the kind of guy who can be off of his bike for a fair amount of time, then hop right on and appear to be in just as good of physical shape as he was before...it's really not fair...and there are times when I don't like him at all! :) I have no doubt that even though I have been training hard for nearly nine months, Mike's level of fitness would allow him to, at the very least, hang with me on any ride we chose to go on. Technically speaking (bike handling skills), Mike could out perform me any day of the week...and he hasn't been riding much lately! Oh, by the way, he's over forty!

Mike's daughter wearing his helmet

Mike's true prowess however, is displayed in the air. "In the air?" you ask. That's right, Mike may be talented on a mountain bike, but that's just a hobby for him...you see, Mike is a pilot. Not just any pilot mind you...he flies F-16 fighter jets...yep, he's got an even cooler job than me! Correction...Mike had a cooler job than mine. Today marked Mike's...actually, Lt. Colonel Wang's last flight. Today Mike retired from the United States Air Force, after twenty years of service to his country. While I am excited for him, I am also saddened, to some degree, over this country's loss. You see, Mike wasn't just a pilot, he was in instructor pilot, or an IP as they are referred to within the military. And from what I have been told, he wasn't just an IP...he was an exceptional pilot in every sense; looked upon with great respect from those whom he works with. As an IP, Mike has had the opportunity to train young pilots, and ready them for combat. Don't get me wrong here, I am not saying that Mike was the absolute best pilot in the USAF (although I truly wouldn't be surprised), and that there are not other capable IP's and combat pilots out there...all I'm saying is the USAF has lost an amazing asset, and in my mind the capability of our Air Force has been slightly reduced, as of today.

My wife and I were fortunate enough to have been invited for Mike's fini flight. The fini flight is an Air Force tradition. It marks an pilot's final flight before retiring from military service. Typically, on the pilot's return to base, he is greeted by friends and family, on the tarmac, and often hosed down with water by his support crew and fellow pilots. This is an event that relatively few people have the opportunity to partake in, therefore we feel very honored to have been invited!

Mike completing is pre-flight check

The celebration began this morning around 0730 hrs, as we met our escorts (we are not allowed on base unless escorted by an active military or retired military member) at McDonald's, just outside the base. Mike was scheduled to fly at 0800 hrs, and we were going to meet up with him prior to take off. Normally, the flight line is a very secure area...so much so, that unauthorized individuals who step onto the flight line, can often find themselves at the business end of an MP's (military police) favorite firearm. This is a high security area, and the MP's do not mess around. Today however, in honor of Colonel Wang's fini flight, the restrictions on the flight line had been lifted...for us anyway. Nearly thirty of Mike's friends and family were escorted onto the tarmac and out to Mike's F-16 Fighter Jet, where we would watch Mike taxi out and make his final flight as an Air Force Lt. Colonel, and leader of an elite group of men who quietly serve and protect us.

After a number of photos were taken, Mike proceeded to complete the pre-flight check of his deadly, but beautiful jet. Once he was satisfied that the support crew had competently performed their job of readying the aircraft, Mike made the short climb up the ladder, into the cockpit. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft's jet engine fired up, creating a high-pitched whine from the precision crafted turbines. With a salute and a few waves, Mike slowly taxied his aircraft toward the runway, where he was joined by three other aircraft, who would also be flying with him. Soon Mike's jet was screaming down the runway, developing the necessary lift under the wings that would propel the jet skyward. It is an amazing sight and feeling to watch, no matter how many times I have seen it.

After an hour, Mike's four-ship (a grouping of four aircraft flying together as a team) returned to base, officially marking the end of a career. This landing however, would not be the normal landing...today, Mike would deploy his drag chute (a large parachute used to provide additional deceleration when landing), another fini-flight tradition. I had never seen the drag chute deployed before, so this was certainly a treat for me.

F16 drag chute deployment

As Mike was preparing to land, his fellow pilots were preparing for something else...a little fini-flight hazing! Two of Mike's fellow pilots had emerged onto the flight line with PW cans (fire extinguishers filled with water under pressure) that would be used to hose Mike down. Other pilots brought out bottles of Champagne and beer to dowse him with. While hosing down pilots is a USAF tradition, many of Mike's fellow pilots were used to other traditions as well. You see, the squadron that Mike has worked for over the past few years, is a Taiwanese training squadron. The 21st Fighter Training Squadron is used to train young F16 pilots from Taiwan, who then return to their country, as highly trained fighter pilots. Soooo...apparently the Taiwanese fini flight tradition is to hog-tie the retiring pilot as soon as he emerges from the cockpit...actually, they hog-tied him because they had heard he might run! Once hog-tied they proceeded to pour ice inside the Mike's flight suit, and all over him while he lay helpless on the tarmac. As an instructor for these Taiwanese pilots, Mike earned the honor of receiving both traditions...U.S. and Taiwanese...lucky guy!

The outdoor celebration was soon moved into the Squadron's on-site tavern, where we took pictures, ate pizza, and celebrated Mike's fini-flight. All in all it was a great experience that I will never forget. Congratulations Lt. Colonel Wang!