K.T. takes to the skies

Padres general manager Kevin Towers probably thought he was flying high Wednesday morning as he basked in his team's 3-1 victory over the Dodgers, which prevented the rival from celebrating a National League West championship on the PETCO Park turf.

That was great, but Towers had more in store.

Towers took the ride of his life later Wednesday when he accompanied Lt. Ben Walborn in a Boeing F-18 Hornet. The 45-minute flight out of MCAS Miramar was part of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team's "Key Influencer" promotional program. The Blue Angels will be performing this weekend.

"Those guys are amazing athletes," Towers said of Walborn and his fellow pilots. "I'm trying not to pass out as we're at 5, 6 G's, and they're up there without G suits, talking and everything. I felt like I had worked out for about three hours. I was completely exhausted."

Mind you, Towers is a former professional pitcher, so he has athletic chops of his own.

For the record, Towers did the Padres proud. He did not pass out, and his breakfast stayed where it belongs. Not that he didn't have a challenging moment.

The worst, Towers said, came at the end of the flight, when Walborn performed a "carrier turn" maneuver. That's a tight bank that pilots use to get in position for the quick landing on a ship at sea.

Towers said he got tunnel vision as the G forces increased rapidly, then his vision started to fade to gray and finally black. He was without sight for about two seconds, but he never lost conciousness.

Towers got the full experience -- rolls, flying upside down, rapid ascent, the "stall" that seems to leave the aircraft hanging in midair. The scariest part, however, came during the pre-flight instruction.

"When they start talking about what can do wrong, ejecting and how to steer your parachute, you take notice," he said.

Fortunately, all went without a hitch. And Towers was on his feet again in plenty of time to see the Padres deny the Dodgers again on Wednesday night, 5-0 this time.

Still flying high.

The Padres are billed as the Team of the Military because of their ongoing support of service members and their families. That relationship will continue this afternoon as Padres Vice Chairman/CEO Jeff Moorad, manager Bud Black and a number of players will visit the Navy SEAL training center on North Island. 

FJ