WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. - The United States Air Force Thunderbirds have been showing off thrilling feats of aerobatics for more than five decades.

The 100-plus member team performed last weekend at the Ocean City air show. On rehearsal day, it was ABC 7's Suzanne Kennedy had a chance to suit up, climb in, and go for a ride down at the Wallops Island, Va., NASA (web | news) facility.

The pre-flight training was intense. Kennedy donned the flight suit and constricting rubber bladders designed to keep her from passing out in extreme maneuvers -- they would come in handy.

Then it was time to go wheels up and experience first hand what its like to being in the cockpit of an F-16 Falcon, flying 700 miles an hour at 14,000 feet.

"You're a mom," Maj. Anthony 'Split' Mulhare, the pilot, reassured Suzanne. "You can do anything."

An onboard cockpit camera captured every minute of the hour-long ordeal.

"Look out the side we're going straight up," Kennedy observed. "We're upside down at 14,000 feet."

The Chesapeake Bay never looked so good, she remarked.

"It really is fantastic," Kennedy said, adding later she was surprised by how smooth and gentle the flight could.

"It's just so peaceful up here," Kennedy observed.

Later she would be screaming, describing the ride as a roller coaster on steroids. Kennedy experienced loops and flying upside down.

"That is very cool," Kennedy told Maj. Mulhare.

"Most people like that," he responded.

There's "something about being upside down," Kennedy added.

The flight concluded with a maneuver that produced 9 Gs, or nine times the force of gravity. Kennedy did not lose consciousness, unlike fellow ABC 7 reporter Brad Bell, who flew with the Blue Angels in May, 2006.

While members of this elite team are ambassadors for the Air Force, the jets they use to perform have a primary role in combat.

Capt. Mulhare has flown more than 1400 hours in the F-16, including 75 combat hours during the invasion of Iraq (web | news) .

"That was great, Split," Kennedy said upon landing, "Thank you!"

"How'd we do?" she asked Maj. Mulhare.

"We did awesome," he replied. "We had a blast. It was very fun. We got a chance to show off the Air Force, the Thunderbirds and the power of the mighty F-16!"

Kennedy would like to extend her thanks to the flight crew for memories that will last a lifetime.

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