CLEVELAND — The Cleveland National Air Show has come and gone, but Rocky River High School history teacher Sara Ziemnick has memories of that weekend that will last a lifetime.
"I still can't believe it happened," Ziemnick said.
Ziemnick was nominated by a friend to participate in the U.S. Navy Blue Angels' key influencer ride-along program, in which individuals are allowed to fly in the backseat of an F/A-18 Super Hornet with the Blue Angels.
"I guess [The Blue Angels] do this in all 32 cities [where they fly at air shows]," said Ziemnick.
Her friend, a Navy recruiter, believed Ziemnik fit the criteria for what the military branch was looking for.
"He was kind of like, 'You know, you do a lot of good things," said Ziemnick. "'You volunteer a lot, you've been a teacher, you've got some awards... I think you would be a good fit.' So I was like, sure, whatever, you know, I didn't think of it really."
After getting a physical fitness examination, things changed.
"I was like, 'Oh, this is getting real,'" she said. "I got the call in probably like late July that I was chosen and I was just laughing. I was like, oh my gosh, now I have to do it."
Ziemnik said she had mixed emotions when the big day finally came.
"I'm actually not a great flyer either," said Ziemnick while laughing. "But I was like, this is the best of the best. These are the best pilots in the country.
Between the nerves and what was to come on the flight, Ziemnick joked she had one mission: not to throw up.
"He [The Flight Crew Chief] said, 'Look, if you throw up, I'm gonna give you two little bags... Just tie them up because if I have to clean this up, we're not gonna be friends," Ziemnik chuckled. "So I was like, ok, ok…"
After the flight, Ziemnick was given GoPro footage of the entire experience. She said she had not watched it yet.
Sitting down with 3News' David Greenberg, the pair went back and documented her first time reliving this unforgettable afternoon.
The moment can be watched below: