A Rancho Cordova teacher was selected for the ride of a lifetime in a U.S. Navy Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornet this week as part of the California Capital Airshow Key Influencer program.

This year’s Key Influencer was Jason McKnight, a 6th and 8th grade science teacher at Mills Middle School in Rancho Cordova. In an interview after the flight, McKnight said he plans to take his experience back to the classroom. 

“The physical science stuff, the G forces, the thrust that that thing puts out,” McKnight said. “You can feel the normal takeoff and then as soon as you hit the afterburner, it’s just wham, right in the back of your seat.”

With a degree in biology, McKnight said he plans to make some of the human factors in flight such as G induced loss of consciousness, or G-LOC, part of his lessons as well.

McKnight’s family was present for the experience and his students also attended the event to watch their teacher climb into the sky with the Blue Angels.

Director of Operations for the California Capital Airshow, Angela Terry, said she made sure McKnight’s students were able to stay long enough to see their teacher takeoff. 

“I’m so glad you reached out to us,” Terry said of McKnight. “I would have never found you, just so many teachers, but I know how much this meant to you.”

Fox40 news anchor Melanie Townsend also went up for a media flight in the same aircraft following McKnight’s flight.

The flight is a dream come true for McKnight who comes from a military family, according to his application letter. Both of McKnight’s parents were Naval officers stationed in San Diego where he grew up. McKnight said he also spent 35 years as a contractor for the Navy, according to the letter.

The flight lasted about 45 minutes in Blue Angel 7, piloted by Maj. Scott Laux. The Hornet departed on runway 22R, and McKnight said he could see Mills Middle School soon after takeoff. The school has a diverse student population that is typically low income, McKnight said in the letter, and many students face obstacles in pursuing careers in science fields.

“It is my goal to help these kids be knowledgeable both in science and to be comfortable with new and unique learning experiences,” he said. “Seeing their teacher pursue a passion/dream, like flying with the Blue Angles, and succeeding, would be something this year’s students, future students and my own 4 children, would remember forever.”