T-Birds Pilot Says Driving Race Cars And Flying F-16s Are Similar

A former Thunderbirds F-16 pilot and aviation executive says driving race cars and flying F-16s share striking similarities, including speed, high G-forces and precise, edge-of-control handling. John “Slick” Baum, who flew plane No. 2 in the U.S. Air Force demonstration team for two years, currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer at Voyager Technologies. Baum co-founded Draken International with NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman after his Air Force career, and Draken was purchased by Blackstone in 2019. During a visit to Daytona International Speedway, Baum experienced a NASCAR Racing Experience stock car on the 2.5-mile, high-banked oval, reaching about 170 mph on track. He compared the vibration and engine noise to his fighter-jet flights, while noting that G-related sensations and cockpit procedures feel familiar. The story connects the high-performance environments across aviation and motorsport.