Tanker pilot pushes the limits of aviation

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jonathan Jones
  • 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind --  Imagine an aircraft spinning over 50 times consecutively during a flight, while plummeting towards the ground in a downward-spiral motion. Then the aircraft begins to perform cartwheels; would this invoke fear into the average person?

It is safe to conclude the average person might experience an emotional state of fear regardless if he was a passenger or spectator. However, for Capt. Billy Werth, a KC-135R Stratotanker pilot with the 72nd Air Refueling Squadron, strong confidence and an indescribable feeling of excitement prevail, whether he is viewing, flying, or riding in an aircraft that is performing these types of stunts -- known as aerobatics.

Captain Werth, an aerobatics instructor with Grayout Aerosports in Indianapolis, said he has been flying on planes since he was born.

Growing up in an Air Force family, the captain's dad, retired Col. Gerry Werth, was a pilot at Grissom when the base flew the A-10s.

According to Captain Werth, his dad's experience influenced him in a positive way and assisted him in realizing that he wanted to become a pilot.

He piloted his first aircraft, a Cessna 152, in November 1988, while attending Indiana State University and majoring in Professional Aviation Technology, in which he holds a bachelors degree.

It was not until 1991 while taking an emergency maneuver class that he became interested in aerobatics. "I took that class and I was hooked," he said.

In 1992, he became certified to begin performing aerobatics, which changed the dynamics of his flying career, the pilot said.

"It's an adrenaline rush getting an airplane to do things that some people think an airplane shouldn't do; going fast, going slow, flying straight up, flying straight down and flying upside down is a satisfying feeling," said the captain.

Although aerobatics is fun and exciting, he believes there are certain factors and characteristics a person must possess prior to becoming an aerobatic performer. He believes the person should enjoy performing, be responsible to include practicing good operational risk management, possess a strong confidence, and continually increase his knowledge of aircraft, surroundings, and environment.

In addition, having these qualities and becoming knowledgeable about aerobatics will help an individual during all of the training aspects of aerobatics. Some of this training includes basic aerobatic training, advanced aerobatic training, and emergency maneuver training.

Since his first flight in 1988, he continues to feel that adrenaline rush every time he takes his Pitts SC2 aircraft into the sky, he said.

"It's a more [aerobatics] extreme level of sports, and it's that part of your brain that gets triggered by doing stuff that's a little more dangerous than your average walk across the street," he added.