Mayor Bell to fly as guest in fighter jet

10/4/2010
BLADE STAFF

Toledo Mayor Mike Bell is to fly in an F-16 fighter jet Tuesday as a guest of the Ohio Air National Guard's 180th Fighter Wing.

Mayor Bell is to climb into the cockpit with Lt. Col. Chris Belli at Toledo Express Airport around 2 p.m. for what is typically a 90-minute flight.

Maj. Gary Bentley of the 180th said the flight is a regularly scheduled training session and that Mayor Bell's presence on board will come at no expense to the public. Major Bentley said the plane will travel to a military flying area between Columbus and Cincinnati where the pilot will perform basic maneuvers.

“It's not a Top Gun experience,” Major Bentley said, referring to the 1986 fighter pilot movie starring Tom Cruise.