Stars and Stripes – An Unforgettable Ride: Air Force Thunderbirds Give Dayton’s Hero Officer an “Incredible” Ride

DAYTON, Ohio (Tribune News Service) – Dayton Police Officer Ryan Nabel withstood a 9-G F-16 ride like an authentic “G machine,” Major Jason Markzon, forward pilot of the United States of America, said Friday. Air Force Thunderbirds one day before the opening of the CenterPoint Energy Dayton Air Show.

Nabel enjoyed the ride as a “hometown hero” to Dayton International Airport, a day before the Thunderbirds flight demonstration team performed at the show.

“It was amazing,” Nabel said after the ride, once he “got his legs back”.

“It was a lifetime experience, and the Thunderbirds were more than accommodating to me today. Everyone has been really great, ”he added.

Nabel was one of the officers who responded to the mass shootings in the Oregon District that left nine dead and the gunman in the early morning hours of August 4, 2019, before receiving the Officer’s Medal of Bravery. public safety at the hands of President Donald Trump. in September of that year.

Sworn in as a Dayton officer on April 8, 2016, Nabel was one of the officers who regularly patrolled the Oregon District on weekends and was nearby when the shooting began that night. In less than 20 seconds, officers shot the gunman, police later said.

“It means a lot,” he said of Friday’s race. “There were six of us. For me, being chosen from the guys, I mean, a lifetime experience. This is more than anything I could really imagine.

Ryan Nabel is a police officer with the Dayton Police Department in Dayton, Ohio. He is also an Army Veteran and Medal of Valor recipient public security officer. (Air Force Thunderbirds / Facebook)

(Air Force Thunderbirds / Facebook)

The other five officers were the sergeant. William C. Knight, Officer Brian Rolfes, Officer Jeremy Campbell, Officer Vincent Carter and Officer David Denlinger.

Nabel, an army veteran who served in Iraq with the Calvary First Division, said he refrained from eating fatty food before the trip “as directed” and worked until midnight Thursday evening.

“I’ve been in all kinds of vehicles and things like that in the military,” he added. “But I’ve never been into something like this.”

The Thunderbirds were thoughtful enough to give Nabel “a little bag to throw up in,” but the officer said he didn’t need it.

“Officer Nabel did a good job,” said Markzon. “Ryan is a great guy. He is very humble, very gentle. But once you got him on a jet, he really had a blast – just smiles and laughs the whole time.

Markzon, who is also the narrator of the Thunderbirds, said Nabel had “absolutely crushed” a race that used ruthless maneuvering.

“We shot 9G,” said the major. “I went inside out, curls and all. It was great. He crushed it. This guy is made for.

Doors open at Dayton International Airport for the air show at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available at Kroger stores in the area or at https://daytonairshow.com.

Spectators can expect a full roster of performers in addition to the Thunderbirds, including the Army Golden Knights Parachute Team, an Air Force C-17 Demonstration, the AeroShell Aerobatic Team. , a demonstration of the US Navy F-18 Super Hornet and more.

Visit the Journal-News (Hamilton, Ohio) at www.journal-news.com

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