Olympic silver medalist takes flight

2010 Winter Olympics Silver Medalist winner, Monique Lamoureux, smiles as Lt Col. Derek Routt, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, preps her for the flight May 20 at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Ms. Lamoureux was picked as one of the participants in the Thunder Over the Red River Air Show Hometown Hero flight. Hometown Heroes is a program that recognizes ordinary people as heroes throughout the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amber Price)

Olympic silver medalist takes flight

Lt Col. Derek Routt, U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, gives a thumbs-up before takeoff May 20 at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Colonel Routt was chosen as the pilot for the Hometown Heroes incentive flight. Hometown Heroes is a program that recognizes ordinary people as heroes throughout the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amber Price)

Olympic silver medalist takes flight

2010 Winter Olympics Silver Medalist winner, Monique Lamoureux, gives the thumbs-up after prepping for her F-16 Fighting Falcon incentive flight with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds May 20 at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Ms. Lamoureux was picked as one of the participants in the Thunder Over the Red River Air Show Hometown Hero flight. Hometown Heroes is a program that recognizes ordinary people as heroes throughout the community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Amber Price)

Olympic silver medalist takes flight

Published May 20, 2010
By 2nd Lt. Chase P. McFarland
319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, ND -- Monique Lamoureux, a 2010 Winter Olympics Silver Medalist, donned a different uniform for the afternoon during an incentive flight with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds May 20.

Ms. Lamoureux played for the US Women's Olympic Hockey Team along with her twin sister Jocelyne. The twins, originally from Grand Forks, N.D., currently play hockey for the University of North Dakota.

The day started with Ms. Lamoureux, along with her mother and grandmother, watching as the Thunderbirds performed their arrival and survey maneuvers.

"My smile is just getting bigger and bigger seeing them fly," said Ms. Lamoureux as she anxiously waited for her turn to fly.

She then prepared for her flight with a brief medical exam, her flight suit fitting and emergency procedures training. After her training was complete Ms. Lamoureux and her family spoke with the Thunderbird pilot that would be conducting her incentive flight and discussed the day's flight mission, including the flight plan as well as the maneuvers that would be flown.

"Monique is a true American hero," said Lt. Col. Derek Routt, United States Air Force Thunderbirds. "It is a real honor for the team to have the opportunity to fly an Olympian in her own hometown. I can only imagine how proud the people of Grand Forks must be to have someone like Monique to represent them in the Olympics."

Before she stepped into the Thunderbird F-16 she made sure to pack her silver medal into her flight suit. With her family waving her off, Ms. Lamoureux's plane instantly shot skyward, climbing straight-up at more than 400 miles per hour.

After about a one-hour flight, Ms. Lamoureux stepped out of the plane and was presented with an autographed photo and flight certificate by the entire Thunderbird team. She walked away from the flight with bragging rights of pulling turns so fast that she had 7.3 times normal gravity pulling on her body.

"I had an amazing opportunity to represent America in the Olympics," said Ms. Lamoureux. "But the Thunderbirds have the opportunity to represent our country every day."

The Thunderbirds are the headlining act at the Grand Forks Air Force Base Thunder Over the Red River Air Show May 22. Gates will be opening at 9 a.m. and is free to the public.

TSgt Randy Redman, USAF Thunderbirds Public Affairs, contributed to this article.