One wild ride in the sky

SEATTLE - Maj. John Klatt loves to take journalists for a ride in his lightweight plane - and then flip the plane upside down.

Klatt is an aerobatics pilot, and this week he's taking part in Seattle's Seafair air show. The ride-along is for reporters covering the performance; passenger rides are not being offered to the public.

"I love flying in air shows," he said. "It's really exciting to get out there and share my passion for flight."

Klatt is a member of the Air National Guard and just returned from his second tour in Iraq as a fighter pilot. Being a member of the Guard made it possible for Klatt to live his passion, and he doesn't hesitate to give credit where credit is due.

During shows, Klatt flies a Staudacher, a lighter aerobatics plane than the Extra 300-L he usually flies. It takes two men and very little grunt work to roll his 300-L onto the runway of Seattle's Boeing Field.

The passenger is strapped tightly into a seat parachute. Nervous hands are warned to avoid picking at the shoulder straps; five pounds of pressure, or a sharp tug, is enough to deploy the bag.

Upon sitting in the plane's front cockpit, a lap belt and chest belt are tightened to an uncomfortable pinch. Combined with the warm air, it's enough to set a stomach rolling before Klatt even takes off.

Crew members jokingly fold a small, white bag into fourths and tuck it beneath the belts, just in case that stomach gets the best of his passenger.

Klatt's voice rings clear through the headphones provided, explaining what stunts are to come as he flips, loops and pushes the plane into unimaginable positions at speeds nearing 140 mph. The speed and altitude dials on the dash spin just as crazily as the plane does.

A "hammerhead" stunt takes passengers and the plane straight up, and then straight down. Three loop-de-loops in a row are enough to make one wonder just where that little white bag might be.

"You get your body acclimated to it," Klatt said of the queasiness.

It's taken 23 years of flying for Klatt to master the ins and outs of aerobatics. He's self-taught for the most part, peppering book knowledge and personal experience with a few instructional courses.

Lt. Col. Amy Asher, chief of recruiting and retention for the Guard, was flying with Klatt for the first time Thursday.

Klatt's love of flying makes him an ambassador for the Guard, Asher said.

"He emulates the heart of the Guard," she said. "He's kind of typical of the Guard. They just love what they do."

Reporter Jasa Santos: 425-339-3465 or jsantos@heraldnet.com.