Oak Park man working toward F-15 fighter wings
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

TOP GUN- Oak Park's Adam Bushore will soon be gracing the skies as an F-15C fighter pilot for the United States Air Force, something he's wanted to do for a long time. His rigorous training included being jettisoned into the ocean, flying at 8.5 G's, and studying air-to-air combat.

As a new pilot in the United States Air Force, Adam Bushore of Oak Park is living his dream. A 2005 graduate of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Bushore, 24, earned his fighter pilot wings in May and is now undergoing training and testing to become an F-15C fighter pilot.

"I got into the Air Force because I wanted to serve my country," Bushore said. "I feel like my job has true meaning because I'm helping protect my country."

Stationed at a base in Columbus, Miss., where he lives in an apartment nearby, Bushore spent the past year with other men and women studying to fly the F-15C.

He completed water survival training in Pensacola, Fla., where he underwent crash simulations that required him to eject from his jet over the ocean. Resistance training in Fairchild, Wash., tested Bushore's mettle if he were ever to be captured by an enemy. Centrifuge training in New Mexico explored his tolerance to extreme flight acceleration by simulating a flight of 8.5 G's for 15 seconds.

"It's gravity forced against you, G's times your body weight," Bushore said. "When you go on a roller coaster the most you ever feel is 2.5 to 3 G's."

Bushore has two more months of testing ahead, during which he will study air-to-air combat. If he passes he will go on to additional training to become an F-15C fighter pilot. If not, he will fly bombers.

"It's been tough, very stressful with very little free time. Only Saturdays off," Bushore said.

The Air Force requires a 10-year commitment from its pilots. Bushore will eventually be stationed wherever he is needed and said he isn't nervous about the possibility of being sent to Iraq.

"Statistically speaking, it's safer to fly a plane than to drive a car. Every plane crash makes news. Not every car crash does," Bushore said.

Bushore expects to make the Air Force a lifetime career.

"Adam is one of those kids that when he sets his mind to something he keeps going until he does it," said his mother, Donna Bushore, of Oak Park.

Bushore grew up in Oak Park, the second son of four siblings including Brian, 28, Danny, 21 and Jenna, 20. No one else in the family is in the Air Force. A 2001 graduate of Oak Park High, Bushore played football, was a peer counselor and worked hard for his good grades, according to his mother. Active in Boy Scout Troop 718 of Thousand Oaks, he earned the prestigious Eagle Scout distinction.

"He's a very likable, charismatic young man with good leadership skills," said his former Scout leader, Lee Hess of Westlake Village. "If he were my officer I would follow him anywhere, and I have a feeling the men serving with and under him would feel the same."

While in high school, Bushore decided to apply to the Air Force Academy, but first he had to obtain a recommendation from U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks). After an interview with Sherman, Bushore did receive the recommendation, but it did not guarantee admission to the program.

"It meant that Adam was allowed to apply," his mother said.

After the application and screening process, Bushore received a call at home from Sherman. Donna Bushore answered the phone.

"As soon as I heard Brad Sherman's voice I thought, 'Oh my God.' I couldn't believe it," she said.

Becoming a fighter pilot was a big decision for Bushore.

"When Adam came home from college his friends were all partying. Adam gave up everything that everyone in their first year of college does," Donna Bushore said. "But he had a lot of neat experiences that most people don't have."

As a student at the Air Force Academy, Bushore marched in President Ronald Reagan's funeral procession and at President George W. Bush's inauguration. In June 2005, when Bushore graduated from the academy, he received his diploma from Vice President Dick Cheney.

While at the academy, Bushore earned his private pilot's license after only 40 hours of flying time. Earning fighter pilot wings was much more demanding, the toughest challenge Bushore said he ever faced. The 12-hour days included flying trainer jets in stressful situations, putting in more than 200 hours of flight time and learning "about 100 times more."

"You study every emergency you could run into, do format flying- which is flying 3 feet from other aircraft- fly low levels of about 500 feet above the ground, fly in clouds and fog where you can't see much in front of you and flying about seven times as fast as you drive a car," Bushore said.

Despite the level of difficulty, Bushore said he enjoyed the experience.

"Being able to fly a jet is fun. You're doing air-to-air engagement, learning what you're capable of. You can spin around, do loops at 500 knots and push the sound barrier," Bushore said.

With only 200 F-15Cs in the Air Force inventory, Bushore could be part of an elite group.

"He's hoping he's lucky enough to be chosen for the F-15," Donna Bushore said.

Bushore is planning to visit his family in several weeks, his first trip to Oak Park since Christmas.

"I am really proud of him, but I guess I'm really scared for him, too," his mother admitted.