About a month ago I received an invitation from Breitling USA, asking if I would like to participate in the Breitling Jet Team Experience while the Jet Team was touring North America this summer. In a heartbeat I accepted. As part of the experience I was invited to the NYC Boutique Flight Night on Tuesday, June 9th. At the Flight Night we had the opportunity to meet the pilots of the Jet Team, along with Astronaut Mark Kelly, a NASA Space Shuttle pilot. Following presentations by the special guests we had the opportunity to mingle with the pilots and pick their brains about what the experience would be like. After a few cocktails to bolster my courage, it was of to bed to prepare for an early start in the morning.
Wednesday morning we were transported from the Four Seasons Hotel, where everyone was staying, to the 23rd Street Seaport. Once at the seaport, we would catch a flight to New Haven, CT airport, where the experience would take place. It was my first flight in a seaplane and the views on takeoff were fantastic! Here is my plane, floating towards the "gate";
Here we are waiting to board;
A partial view of the Manhattan skyline taking off!
After a 45 minute flight we arrived at New Haven and were greeted by all of the pilots of the Jet Team, and David Martin, pilot of the Breitling Stunt Plane.
All of the participants were given the opportunity for additional activities to participate in along with the Jet Team experience. I choose to do a tandem sky dive from an altitude of 13,500 feet which included a free fall which last approximately one minute. We took a short twenty minute hop in a Breitling Jet Team Fairchild Metroliner III over to Long Island, NY where the tandem skydiving was done. Unfortunately, I had to leave the cell phone in my locker so there are no pictures, a video of the event was made but it will only show me screaming!! After returning to New Haven it was time for a quick bite to eat!
I ate a light lunch because I was schedule to fly with the jet team shortly thereafter! LOL!
After lunch, it was time to watch a training video of what we would encounter during the flight and to go through a safety briefing with Lead Pilot, Jacques Bothelin. We were instructed on how to use the ejector seat and what maneuvers we would be performing!
After the breifing it was time to go!
Again because of safety reasons no cameras and or phones could be carried during the flight so I do not have any pictures just yet. A video of the flight was made and I hope to receive it shortly. Another participant, Tom Costello, a journalist with the United States based TODAY Show posted his flight on youtube here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNEst8tYoJI
After my flight I had the opportunity to talk and hang out with my Pilot, Phillipe Laloix, "Sheriff" was a fighter pilot in the Mirage F1 and later became part of the Patrouille de France, where he stayed for five years. In 1998, he joined the Breitling Jet Team and has 9,000 flight hours to his credit. An acknowledged expert in formation aerobatics, he is both the Breitling Jet Team instructor and a pilot capable of replacing any of the others within the team. All I can say is that he was a true gentleman. Throughout the flight his main concern was my well being and I could not have enjoyed the experience anymore than I did!
After the day's flight activities we returned to NYC in the float plane. The landing on the East River was a little more interesting than the morning takeoff! The winds had picked up and the tide was changing but our more than capable pilots handled it flawlessly! After a quick shower some of the participants got together and had dinner with Thierry Prissert, Breitling USA President, and Mark Kelly. All in attendance had a great time and enjoyed the opportunity to talk about watches over a fine dinner.
A little over three years ago I first walked into the NYC Boutique. In that first visit we were welcomed into the world of Breitling. My sales representative spent hours with me, showing me the differences between the various models and the sizes that were available. Over the course of the last three years the staff and I have developed a wonderful client relationship. I regularly attend their monthly Flight Night and pepper both the sales associates and Head Watchmaker with questions. Romain, the Assistant Boutique Manager, and Jackie the Boutique Manager, have gone above and beyond in working with me! I can not offer enough praise for every person on the Breitling Boutique Staff. This week, thanks to them I was able to cross numerous items off my "bucket list".
. Congratulations.