Pulling high Gs and breaking the sound barrier in a USAF F-16 – as a British civilian

Louis Skupien, the first British civilian to fly in an F-16 Viper, has been describing what it's like to fly in a combat aircraft that goes near-vertical and pulls up to 9G.

He told BFBS Forces News how he had to physically prepare for his high-octane flight through Sidewinder Canyon.

In addition to wearing a G-suit, which helps maintain bloodflow to the brain during the F-16's extreme manoeuvres, he had to ensure he had done two important things – get plenty of sleep beforehand end ensure he was properly hydrated.

• It's like you're on the pointy end of a rocket-propelled dart: What it's like to fly the F-16
• Getting fast and furious: How fast jet pilots practise flying low-level at speed
• Still fighting at 50: F-16s prove their worth defending Nato's eastern flank