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I am a 'Sconnie girl that's happy to be back home.
Angela
Growing up in Wisconsin, Zoe Davies has always been on a mission.
Zoe Davies
I spent 15 years away from Wisconsin after I graduated from high school. I went to the Air Force Academy.
Airman
Badger and Bucky, welcome. It's a beautiful day out there.
Angela
Today, she has landed on home turf.
Airman
Here's your brief. Major Zoe Davies is a US Air Force fighter pilot stationed at Truax Field in Madison.
Zoe Davies
It was an opportunity to be able to come back here that's pretty rare to be active duty and serving with your Guard counterpart. I really feel like I'm back in my hometown.
Angela
This military assignment is in partnership with the Wisconsin Air National Guard.
Airman
Manage airspace, Bravo, 12-45 to 15-15.
Pilot
Sweet.
Airman
Enjoy, have fun.
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Angela
On this day, her primary office will be the cockpit of an F-16 fighter jet. It just looks mean. It's slick; it's fast. It's a supersonic aircraft. It is extremely tactical and it's a 9G aircraft. I have an absolute blast flying it.
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Angela
Zoe flies training missions several times a month in the skies over Wisconsin. It's a kick in the pants and you never forget it because when you pull onto the runway and you get ready for takeoff and you select "max afterburner," you still get pushed to the back of the seat. But that's the point where you realize, like, man, I'm really doing this.
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Angela
I have a jet engine, more so a rocket, attached to my back, and I get to go do something awesome today.
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Angela
And if you're not having a good day at that point, I don't know what's gonna cheer you up. These training exercises are preparing Zoe for a new military mission.
Airman
This is Badger 3, then you have Bucky over here. That guy just appeared outta nowhere.
Zoe Davies
You know, when you're at 500 knots, you have to react very quickly to what's happening in your cockpit.
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Angela
Flying in that air space over Wisconsin brings a sense of pride and accomplishment. And I can't tell you how much I have felt that, specifically flying over my home state and getting to recognize the geographic features of Wisconsin. Getting to fly over my hometown, getting to fly over my mom's house. It's the most patriotic thing that you can feel to know that you're out there protecting your country. As a career fighter pilot, Zoe has taken the high road, earning the respect of her peers. There is no difference between a female pilot and a male pilot. We're just pilots. That's something Zoe learned at an early age, and it would change the trajectory of her life. And so, it was actually at EAA, at Oshkosh, one of the air shows when I was seven or eight and the pilot pulled off their helmet and long blonde hair fell out and it was a female pilot! And that was when I realized that that was actually something that I could, could make happen. So, from that point on, it was my goal. Really, when it comes down to it, it just takes hard work, motivation, and perseverance. Along with a fierce determination to take what might have been a little girl's pie-in-the-sky idea and turn it into reality.
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Angela
When you have just that flash of a second to think, "I can't believe I'm doing this," those are the times that I feel like I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be. It is every bit exciting. It is every bit rewarding and it is every bit difficult as I anticipated it to be. I think it's pretty awesome!
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