NASA Employee Incentive Flight Laurie Grindle

Laurie Grindle, deputy center director, takes part in an employee incentive flight in an F/A-18 aircraft at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman established the ride‑along program to recognize and reward workforce members for their dedication to advancing the agency’s priorities.

What is said in the film

I was gonna say if you're laying here, I get it. Complex. Okay. You know, feeling presses upon us not to step on this. (laughing) What, don't stop me here.

There we go. Hi. Okay. Or so do that, it's more of an action shot. Yeah, there you go.

There you go. And you guys supposed to hold your helmet under the other arm, but you didn't. Oh, I don't have it. Yeah. It'll make you have it.

There you go. (laughing) All right. I'm all here for you. You want your hero shot? He brought your helmet, so you're gonna have to go back up.

Yeah, totally. Oh. Other way? Hold him, Maverick. (laughing) All right.

That looks more natural. That looks like what's going on. (laughing) Good. We got you. Okay, well, you know, as long as we've got all our social media.

Take the chair off. Yeah, get in there, Jim. All right. Congratulations. Okay.

All right. It's not your first rodeo. And I'll leave you with Tim, because Tim's your pilot, so I'm out of the way. Tim's my pilot. (laughing) Thank you.

So, are you ready for the front seat? I don't know if I'm quite ready for the front seat. Oh, come on. (laughing) But thank you. That's very nice.

Do I have to hold this anymore? We'll put this down. Yes, let's do that. Keep it nice. I feel like I just saw a Brad flick in the corner.

You did? Brad flick. It wasn't my imagination. (laughing) All right, let's get a couple more. I'm going with more photos.

(laughing) Okay, move, Tim. Now Tim's out. (laughing) Oh my. (laughing) You missed a lot of it. I think you got yourself one.

(laughing) That was an error. (laughing) Okay. (laughing) All righty. (laughing) I won't hug you. Okay.

(laughing) Thank you. (chattering) So no, it was great. We had a wonderful flight. It was super fun. There was a bug inside the canopy with me.

Not exactly quite sure why the bug wanted to ride along, but it did and that was good. But the flight was fun. It was supersonic. We had five Gs, which I don't need to have five Gs on any kind of regular basis. I don't know.

But we had fun in Tim's awesome pilot. And a great tour guide. Saw a lot of the area. How's that?

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