Copyright 2001, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Former Superbike World Champions Carl Fogarty and Troy Corser got the ride of their lives after the Brands Hatch round of the World Superbike Championship, courtesy of the Royal Air Force. The pair met up at the RAF base at Scampton in Lincolnshire, England to go up with the RAF aeronautical team, The Red Arrows.

Corser is a keen flyer, well on his way to getting his own pilot’s license, but Fogarty is less keen on airplanes. “I worry about mechanical failure,” said a nervous-looking Fogarty before climbing into the cramped cockpit of a twin-seat Hawk trainer jet. The pair took to the air riding pillion in the Hawks, with full-time stunt pilots at the stick. British television’s Suzi Perry, who covers the Superbike Championship for BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) TV, joined the pair on the mission.

The three were taken through a full range of stunts, including barrel rolls, loop-the-loops and vertical climbs and dives. When they landed, Fogarty was still grinning and hadn’t needed to reach for the barf bag. “It was great,” enthused Fogarty. “When we were banking I was sticking my knee out like on a bike – it’s been that long since I raced!”

Corser urged his pilot to keep them up for longer and even took control of the jet to perform some maneuvers. “He’s a natural,” said Flight Lieutenant Justin Hughes afterwards.

“The acceleration didn’t feel much harder than on my RSV,” said Corser. “But the speed of the turns and rolls is awesome, it’s so responsive.”

Perry didn’t take to stunting quite so well. Her pilot landed his jet early in order to save the commentator the embarrassment of bringing her breakfast up in mid flight. She looked decidedly green when she eased herself out of the ejector seat.