Gishwhes item 71

[tripperfunster]

VIDEO. Let’s see what a fighter jet passenger or pilot POV looks like. The video must be shot during a flight and the aircraft must do a complete "roll" during the video. After completing the roll, you or the pilot must hold up a hand or arm on which is written, "GISHWHES does Mach 2", "I flip for GISHWHES," or a similar phrase.169 POINTS

Early on Sunday I called the Snow Birds (Canadian Forces stunt flight team) to see if they would do this. I expected to get an answering machine, or at the very best someone who is the secretary to someone else, etc. Imagine my surprise when I was talking to one of the actual pilots!

He was really nice, and asked lots of good questions about the task and about Gishwhes and the charity that it supports, then asked me to email him with the what/when/where/why of the whole thing, and he'd see what he could do. He told me that he'd let me know by Tuesday.

When I received an email from him on Tuesday morning and IT HAD AN ATTACHMENT, I just about burst into tears. (I was already suffering from lack of sleep.) After this email, when someone would tell me "No." or say that what I was asking was impossible, I would shrug and grin and say "Hey, I got the Snow Birds to film a barrel roll for me." Like seriously, I do not have time for your negative shit, people!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWv2sArdF34&feature=youtu.be
I love that he turns the camera on himself at the end.
Aside from a gushing email, does anyone have any ideas on how I could express to the Snow Birds (and Captain Edelson) how thankful I am?

Comments

[mab.livejournal.com]

That is so brilliant! Fantastic!

I've got zero ideas atm about how to express so much awesome thankfulness, (about ready to drop dead after driving for 5 hours) but I'm sure somebody will come along with a brilliant suggestion!

Vatican Cameos FTW!!!

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Thanks hon. Man, it was such a thrill to get this! And the Captain was soooo nice!

[foxestacado.livejournal.com]

WHOA. What. I am amazed this happened. How many other people actually got this task done??

[nic]

I believe several teams paid for flights in stunt planes. But that's gotta be a minority.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

You can get a flight in a jet stunt plane??

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Honey, with the right amount of cash, you can go into outer space!!

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

True. But I admit, I spend as little money as possible doing GISHWHES - if it's going to be down to money spent, then I'd rather see that money going to Random Acts than just making an item entry look great, otherwise in my view, you are doing the whole thing for the wrong reason.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

We have no idea how many did. We can only know who posts stuff, but there could be none or hundreds. ??

I did call a flight school/business where you or your company can book planes to simulate fights and stuff, and asked them about it and they were already tired of dealing with gishwhes people! :D They said they'd done 8 so far, and were refusing to do more.

I assume that was 8 they did for free, as opposed to people paying to take the flight? The snowbirds were much more accommodating, but did say that they helped us and one other team, and then cut it off there.

[nic]

This is the best story yet!!!! :D :D :D

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

It's a total feel good one, for sure! I still internally squee when I see this!

[tinkcph.livejournal.com]

That is so awesome!

Are you able to send them a gift of some kind? Because I am yet to meet a man who wouldn't appreciate a gift basket containing everything you need to make awesome hotdogs.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Ha! Well, they travel a lot, doing air shows. They might get their fill of hotdogs on a regular basis. I will probably donate to a charity in their name instead.

[amberdreams.livejournal.com]

Crikey that's so wonderful! Just goes to show if you don't ask, you don't get... I'd second tinkcph's suggestion of sending him something. Maybe something GISHWHES related - like the GISHWHES underpants!

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Hee! That is funny, but also don't want to creep him out! :D

I will probably make a charitable donation in his name instead, and send him the link.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

HOLY S**T!!

Yes, if anyone refuses you anything for this, you tell them you got the Snow Birds to film a barrel roll for you including the shot of the writing on the hand, and make them ASHAMED. Holy s**t, people. This is fabulous.

Send them something. Do. Send them, like, some zucchini bread loaves or banana bread losves in a nice gift box. Or big cookies. Inexpensive but heartfelt. Baked goods are usually a hit.

(icon choice: here, have a hot pilot)

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Thanks hon! Yes, I DID use this as leverage. Hell, two years ago I got an Olympic gold medalist to let me drive to her house and pick up her gold medals! DON'T FUCKIN' TELL ME THAT SOMETHING IS IMPOSSIBLE! simply not true! You just have to keep asking!

One upcoming story features a SHIT TON of no's, and just one yes. And that's all I needed!