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Air Force flies Supercross racer Heath Voss

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Wendy Yada
  • 152nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. --  Supercross racer Heath Voss flew in an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet in an hour-long orientation flight Oct. 8, over the Nevada Test and Training Range here with Air National Guard pilot Col. Terrence Fornof.

Mr. Voss, a commercial pilot and motorcycle racer, grew up surrounded by aviation, acrobat flying and motorcycle racing, so it comes as no surprise that flying an F-15E would be the ultimate experience of his life. 

At age 13, Mr. Voss started riding motorcycles and was competitively racing by age 16. He competed in his first professional Supercross race in1994 and in the 2004 World Supercross Championships. In 2008, he raced in the AMA Supercross Series, earning four top 10 finishes. 

"I've always wanted to be a fighter pilot. I missed my calling, but I love Motocross too," Mr. Voss said. "Flying the F-15 is a dream come true. This was the week of my life."

Colonel Fornof, who raced motocross and supercross professionally at the national level as a teenager, said Mr. Voss did better than anyone he's every given an orientation flight to.

"Heath's got excellent coordination and great mental control," the colonel said.

Mr. Voss said he almost blacked out the first time they pulled 9G's,
"I used all my training techniques and everything started coming back," he said.

"The second one [9G] was no problem, but it was incredibly painful," Mr. Voss said. "There is something wrong with me because I liked it."

The supercross star, who voluntarily promotes the Air Force at all his races said, "It's so cool to be able to go out there and fly. Today we broke the speed of sound, which I have never done."

"I have a lot of respect for the guys that fly, train here and work here," he added.

The Air Force Recruiting Service, headquartered Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, set up the flight to strengthen the relationship between Mr. Voss and the Air Force and to provide him with some hands-on familiarization of the Air Force.

Demographically, racing fans consist of the age group the Air Force wants to attract, said Master Sgt. Larry Wright, AFRS special events program manager.

"Heath Voss' passion for both his sport and the Air Force comes through loud and clear each time he gets out on the track," Sergeant Wright said.

With no formal sponsorship, Heath proudly races motorcross and supercross wearing the U.S. Air Force colors on his motorcycle gear and jersey.

"I enjoy getting the word out about the Air Force because the training and experience are valuable. I think everyone should try to better themselves in all they do," Mr. Voss said. "Wearing the Air Force logos represents core values and excellence in all we do, and that is something that I work on every day."

Mr. Voss said the skills learned in the Air Force are the same sets of skills he has learned as a motorcycle racer -- discipline and teamwork.

"I've been to Lackland and have seen what the kids have to go through during basic training. I think when those kids graduate, that might be one of the best times of their life when they have everything together, both physically and mentally," he said. "I'm a big believer in either you got to go up or go down, and you always got to be working on going up and towards something. I think the Air Force teaches you those core values and that's what keeps you motivated."

Colonel Fornof, who credits his experience in racing with preparing him to be a successful fighter pilot, said when military members have the opportunity to see someone like Mr. Voss on the race track, wearing Air Force colors, they can feel proud to know there are people supporting them.

"It means a lot because everything we are fighting for has purpose," he added.

According to the colonel, motocross racing is one of the most mentally draining and physically demanding sports in the world; and that there are many parallels between flying fighter jets and racing motorcycles. The fusion of both man and machine are what it takes to make for a great performance.

Several members of the Nevada National Guard and active duty Air Force supported the orientation flight to include the flight crew and public affairs.

"My crew and I are proud to be a part of this event," said Master Sgt. Robert Butchko, 232nd Operations Squadron crew chief with the Nevada Air National Guard. "We think Heath Voss is awesome. He has been supportive and loyal to the Air Force for a long time and that means a lot to us."