Student of the Year earns 'chance of a lifetime' to soar at supersonic speed

  • Published
  • By Diane Betzler
  • Staff writer
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  As a journalism student working on an undergraduate degree at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Laura Mowry never expected when she first started working at Edwards she'd be flying high in a T-38 at speeds fast enough to boom the base.

While wrapping up her degree requirements, the 24-year-old was recognized as Air Force Flight Test Center Student of the Year after her supervisor submitted her award package to the base awards program.

Winning the award earned Mowry a chance of a lifetime - a flight aboard the supersonic T-38 Talon.

"I was shocked, I couldn't believe I won, and I couldn't believe the rewards the program offered as an incentive to continue excelling," she said.

Dressed in a G-suit, Mowry said she could feel the excitement begin to mount as she strapped on a 40-pound parachute and climbed into the jet.

"It was awesome! We went screaming down the runway. It was the most intense experience I've ever had in my life!" she said.

The plane, which is sometimes referred to as the "white rocket," rolled forward, slowly at first, then gave a sudden kick as the burners ignited and the plane lifted off at 160 knots heading straight up.

"She screamed all the way up," joked Bill Koukourikos, AFFTC Flight Safety professional and the pilot behind the controls of the jet that took Mowry accelerating to more than 18,000 feet above the Antelope Valley at speeds faster than sound.

"She actually was a trooper," Koukourikos said in a more serious tone.

"We pulled 5 G's [five times the force of gravity] and she did fine," he said, adding that at the beginning of pilot training most students get sick.

Mowry said the flight of a lifetime lasted just under an hour and was packed full of excitement.

"As we reached the end of the runway, the canopy closed, reality sank in, the engines were humming, the plane was vibrating, my heart was pounding and 'Kouk' pointed the nose up and off we went," Mowry said, describing what she called a "heart-pounding takeoff."

Once airborne Mowry said they banked to the right, inverted and when she looked out she was looking down at the golf course.

"I witnessed the most beautiful view of the Antelope Valley I've ever seen and of Edwards in particular," she said.

Mowry said they didn't go far, just to the Sierra Nevada's where they did some low-level flying, which, she said, was an adventure all in itself.

"We were flying 500 feet off the ground going about 400 mph - I was looking up at the peaks of the mountains, it was unbelievably intense, and I was really glad he knew what he was doing," she said.

Mowry had been given a sense of how combat pilots train and said it gave her a new perspective of her job.

"In public affairs we spend a lot of time writing about what the operational side is doing and to be able to actually experience what they do gives us a better perspective of what we're writing about," she said.

"It gave me a new respect and a great appreciation for what they do."

"That's really what the mission here is all about."

Landing was also an amazing experience, she said. "We took the space shuttle approach and came in at a steep angle."

She said Koukourikos packed many different maneuvers into the flight including a few barrel rolls.

"I didn't get sick! I can't believe I didn't get sick."

Mowry was given the opportunity to pick from a number of aircraft for her opportunity to fly - a C-17, KC-135, C-5 or the T-38.

As soon as she saw the T-38 on the list she knew that was the one.

"We have pretty robust training before we take someone up," Koukourikos said. He added it's important to make sure the passenger understands all emergency procedures.
"Watching Laura go through the training, I was confident she would do the right thing in an emergency," he said.

Mowry said she was taken by surprise with her nomination for Student of the Year. "I felt honored [my supervisor] thought so highly of me," she said.

But she learned firsthand how excelling in school and at work can sometimes offer unexpected rewards.

"It wasn't hard to excel at work. I fell in love with what goes on here and with the mission."

"I've been extremely blessed - I had a boss who put his faith in me and kept increasing my responsibilities," Mowry said.

She credits her accomplishments with the support she received from Mike Strickler, 95th Air Base Public Affairs director, and her supervisor, Dennis Shoffner, 95th ABW PA Civic Outreach director.

"Mike is an amazing director. He worked with me, guided me and allowed me the opportunities to work with VH1, the USO, the Northern Trust Open and a lot of other amazing projects," Mowry said.

This is the first year the Air Force Flight Test Center added a student of the year category to its annual awards program and Mowry now has the distinction of being the first student to win the award.

Milo Conley, civilian recognition program manager for the Workforce Effectiveness Division, said to qualify for the student of the year category the person has to be a student trainee, must have made significant accomplishments during the year and needs to maintain a 2.0 grade point average or better.

The student of the year is a new category that's been added to the annual awards program. The base is looking into adding it to the quarterly program as well, Conley said.

Shoffner said the award is an incentive for students to stay in school and continue to excel. Much of what it takes to win such an honor is the kind of attitude that drives a person to go beyond just getting by, he said, adding that Mowry is that kind of person.

"She will always know she was recognized for having done a good job - an incentive to continue to excel," Shoffner said.

"If America keeps producing people of this caliber, we're going to be OK as a nation," Shoffner said.