Top Coyote, commentator take to skies

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Susan Stout
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Phoenix Coyotes team captain Shane Doan and television color analyst Tyson Nash took to the skies over Luke Feb. 26 during an F-16 orientation flight.

The 62nd Fighter Squadron demonstrated the capabilities of the high-performance fighter aircraft. Mr. Doan and Mr. Nash also got a first-hand look at what it takes to conduct the mission of training the world's finest fighter pilots and mission-ready Airmen here at Luke.

Mr. Doan, who is in his sixth season as team captain with the Coyotes, leads the team in scoring this year. Earlier this year he also became the second player in franchise history to play more than 1,000 games with the organization.

"This is what I always wanted to do," said Mr. Doan before his flight. "When career fairs would come to my school, I always wanted to learn about being a pilot."

The pair, who have been friends since childhood, couldn't wait for the day of the flight. Both describe the experience as "unbelievable."

"It was an unbelievable experience that is really hard to explain," Mr. Doan said. "We took off and the second we got to the end of the runway, we turned and went straight up 90 degrees and I was blown away."

Mr. Doan's pilot, Capt. Tom Tauer, demonstrated flight maneuvers that tested his stamina and endurance.

"I was never worried about (safety)," he said. "I was worried (during egress training) when they were teaching us the proper technique if you have to eject. When they were talking about that, you're thinking, 'Wait a minute. There's a chance I may have to eject?' But they have to teach us that--just in case. When I was strapped inside the plane, fear never crossed my mind once."

A fan favorite during his playing days in Phoenix and St. Louis, Mr. Nash is in his second season as a Coyotes broadcaster and his first as a television commentator on FOX Sports Arizona.

"The flight was absolutely amazing," Mr. Nash said. "There aren't even words to describe the experience."

The Coyotes are currently in fourth place in the Western Conference playoff race, which resumed Tuesday.