The Brightside: Former Orioles Pitcher Kyle Gibson Takes Flight With Air Force Thunderbirds
WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. — The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds delivered a showstopping performance at this year’s Ocean City Air Show. One lucky passenger got the ride of a lifetime in the latest edition of Brightside, sponsored by Choptank Electric Cooperative.
Former Baltimore Orioles pitcher Kyle Gibson strapped into the back seat of an F-16 Thunderbird jet, trading the pitcher’s mound for Mach-speed flight over the beaches of Ocean City.
“It’s an adrenaline rush. It’s a thrill and it’s hard to explain the feeling of when you make that turn and you’re just getting crushed down into your seat,” Gibson said.
Recalling the experience, Gibson described the Thunderbirds’ shared communications system. “We had him and I on the comms and then I could hear the other six pilots on their comms,” Gibson said. “You can hear just the joy and the excitement when they’re doing something cool. It got us laughing a little bit because they’re up there yelling, laughing and talking.”
From the cockpit, Gibson experienced maneuvers most spectators only see from the beach below.
“I was right under the number four jet, I don’t know, a solid five minutes and just 10 feet away, watching these planes, how they’re less than two feet away from each other, maneuvering,” Gibson said. “They’re in lockstep the whole way.”
For Thunderbird 8, Maj. Samuel Larson, call sign “RaZZ,” the opportunity to fly Gibson and give back to the community is unmatched.
“Kyle, what he’s done with his success in Major League Baseball, giving back to communities all across the United States, really mirrors the Thunderbird mission,” Larson said.
Larson said Gibson’s experience as a major league pitcher helped him handle the adrenaline, adding to the experience.
“Everywhere you look on the Thunderbird team, you’re going to find that pride and joy in what we do,” Larson said. “We recognize just how fortunate we are to be part of this team, wear this uniform and patch, and represent this great nation.”
The 45-minute flight offered a glimpse into the lives of the Air Force men and women who serve the country.
“I can only imagine having to do those maneuvers in combat and doing that on the fly, basically fighting for your life,” Gibson said.
Gibson said he felt blessed to receive the opportunity because of his efforts to support communities throughout his baseball career.
“Each city had its own needs, and it was a really special thing to be part of a team, an organization and a city that tried to help meet those needs,” Gibson said.
As a former Oriole, I had to ask Gibson what his walkout song would be after the flight.
“Maybe the ‘Top Gun’ theme song,” Gibson said. “If I had a pair of those sweet sunglasses and could walk out to that. Most of my career, I had some type of Christian rap song.”
Do you have any Bright ideas? Email us at newsroom@wmdt.com
