Outdoor Recreation

Outdoor Recreation FLY A REAL FIGHTER FOR FUN AND GAMES

"Tracking! Tracking! Tracking!" In the real world of air combat, the T-34 fighter-pilot trainer in my line of fire would be blasted to smithereens, and I'd be an air-command ace.

Zooming at 200 miles an hour, 10,000 feet above the Bradshaw Mountains north of Phoenix, I break my T-34 away from the "enemy," and both of us maneuver to pass each other and engage in another "dogfight."

Remember Disneyland's old "E" rides - the best ones? Well, this one's a "Z." If you've got an extra stash of cash, an iron stomach, and the instinct to conquer, schedule a flight with Dillon Air Combat Training of Scottsdale and get the thrill of your life.

Owner Mike Dillon and his son, Chris, have several T-34 Mentors in a hangar near Scottsdale Airpark, and they organize flights for wannabe fighter pilots. The T-34s aren't jets, but they zip through the air at speeds of more than 200 miles an hour and actually have been used by the armed forces for jet-fighter pilot training.

Dillon offers several air-thrill packages ranging from an hour-long $400 aerobatics flight involving one T-34 to $800 multicraft formation and dogfight flights.

In my book, fun doesn't get any better than what Dillon Air Combat offers. Before you believe me, though, a word of warning: consider the source. I love to go fast. I love to twist and twirl and turn upside down. I love the physical feeling of pulling "Gs" - losing and gaining gravitational force. When I was a kid, I spent my free time ripping above the Long Beach, California, shoreline on the notorious Hurricane Roller Coaster.

My "combat experience" began with a 20-minute briefing by Keith (Keto) Heimes in a conference room at Dillon headquarters. Heimes, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, is stationed at Luke Air Force Base west of Phoenix, and he spends his free time at Dillon with its thrill-seeking customers "for the fun of flying."

He explains what we're going to do: how controls will be passed between him and me; the ins and outs of dogfighting; when you know you've tracked and, therefore, "annihilated" your enemy; speed and altitude data; and other flight factors.

Then he and I climb into our T-34. He takes the front seat and I, the back. I put on my headphones so I can communicate with him and hear his craft-to-craft commands. We take off with two other T-34s. One of them is piloted by Chris Dillon, who will be our dogfight adversary; the other pilot is Mike Dillon. In the rear seat of his plane is photographer Gary Johnson.

In several minutes we're above the Bradshaw Mountains southeast of Prescott, and Heimes takes us straight up. The G force is 4. I let out a whoop, and Heimes knows he's got a live one in his backseat. He turns the Mentor into a barrel roll and engages in other rip-roaring aerobatics. Then he and Chris demonstrate a dogfight to prepare me for my own air battle.

"Tracking! Tracking! Tracking!" Heimes booms over the radio to signal his victory over Dillon, and then, "Knock it off! Knock it off! Knock it off!" calling an end to the fight.

He tells me he's giving me the controls once he gets us into air-battle position.

"Fight's on," he commands over the radio. Then to me, "Marilyn, you've got control."

I soar up and then turn into a barrel roll to keep my enemy in sight. In minutes, I circle around and zero in behind him.

I track him. He's a goner, I'm the victor; and, suddenly, I know what I'm going to be in my next life.

WHEN YOU GO

Dillon Air Combat Training, now in its second year of operation, is at 7442 E. Butherus, Scottsdale, AZ 85206. To schedule a flight, you can contact Mike or Chris Dillon at 1-800-421-7632 or (602) 948-4195. Dillon's is reportedly the only such operation in Arizona.