Must fly: Tiger Brett Deledio gears up yesterday for his flight in a F/A-18 Hornet. Picture: Andrew Tauber Tiger earns supersonic stripes
22 March 2007 Herald-Sun
Gareth Trickey
MOVE over Maverick, there's a new Top Gun in town.
Young Tiger Brett Deledio yesterday earned his stripes with the RAAF in a F/A-18 Hornet flight over the south coast of Victoria.
Deledio took to the cockpit with Richmond supporter and RAAF Flight Lieutenant Syd McLoughlin as part of the Australian International Airshow.
The 2005 NAB Rising Star strapped himself in for a one-hour flight that took in Warrnambool, The Twelve Apostles and, of course, Punt Rd.
Deledio experienced the thrill of pulling 7Gs while engaged in simulated combat manoeuvre at 1000km/h.
"The takeoff was amazing, I've never been thrown back anything like it," Deledio said. "It feels like every part of your body is being sucked together.
"I was a little nervous when the pilot took a sharp left turn and pulled about 4Gs, but he was really experienced and was in control the whole time so it was a real thrill."
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21424821%255E19742,00.html