HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist Ted Ligety met the men and women of the 419th Fighter Wing and got a taste of the Air Force Reserve mission here Oct. 6.
As part of his visit, Ligety flew in the backseat of an F-16 and experienced high-speed maneuvers over the Utah Test and Training Range, where Hill's F-16 pilots hone their combat skills.
The 419th FW occasionally offers F-16 flights to public figures to draw attention to the wing's mission and bolster recruiting. Ligety has earned two Olympic gold medals - once in 2006 and again in 2014. He's also a five-time World Cup champion in giant slalom.
While touring the wing, Ligety expressed his appreciation for military personnel who "put their lives on the line."
To see video footage from the flight, click here.
USAF. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario "Charo" Gutierrez)