Kathy Conlon, an academic advisor for URI’s College of Business Administration, really knows what it takes to get “somewhere over the rainbow, way up high,” and it has nothing to do with singing. It just takes a Blue Angel.

In May, she became one of a very few people to fly at about 700 mph (just under Mach 1) aboard one of the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron’s Blue Angels.

“Getting suited up and strapped into the cockpit made it all real, especially when the pilot, Captain Jeff Kuss, showed me the ejection handle,” Kathy said. “The take off was fast, straight up like a rocket, then we leveled off and I thought I was in heaven. It was surreal to be above the clouds in five seconds. At one point, we flew OVER a rainbow! We went about 80 miles south to open airspace. We did all the tricks they perform in the air show and it was taxing on the body trying not to pass out.

“I felt like I was in heaven and did not want the ride to end. I even asked to go upside down again. The jet is amazing—as slow as 120 mph to the speed of sound at 650 mph—but I felt like it wasn’t even real. Of course, the grand finale was pulling 7.2 g’s right before the landing!”

In the top physical shape required, Kathy is well known as a fitness instructor at the North Kingstown YMCA and URI’s Fascitelli Fitness Center when she’s not in her office in the College of Business. She was nominated for a seat on the flight by one of her students in the Rhode Island National Guard, based at the Quonset Point airport that hosts the Blue Angels each year.

“I am so appreciative of the student who nominated me for this honor,” said Kathy. “Relationship-building is key in any field, as is trust and finding a common ground. It means taking an interest in and listening to others. These are not skills than can be learned, but are qualities that I bring to the job to share with our students.”