Utah fighter pilot sets world record

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(Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force Sr. Airman Julianne Showalter)

Jed Boal reporting

A fighter pilot out of Hill Air Force Base set a world record in Iraq today that makes him a one-of-a-kind frequent flier. Today, Eyewitness News interviewed him via satellite after he finished his historic flight.

Lt. Col. Michael Brill this morning inspected his F-16 Fighting Falcon and climbed into the cockpit for a record-setting flight in Iraq. The fighter squadron kept a protective eye on an Army operation on the ground, and Brill became the only pilot to amass 6,000 flying hours in the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

"It's neat to get that kind of recognition. But the support I get and the recognition from my peers and my comrades in the fighter community -- we're a tight-knit bunch -- having those guys come up and shake my hand and pat me on the back is the best part of it," Brill said.

Brill's commander called the Air Force reserve pilot assigned to the 419th Fighter Wing an icon among his peers.

"I can't even tell you when I decided I wanted to be a pilot. All I know is it's all I ever wanted to do," Brill said.

Six thousand hours adds up to 250 days in the cockpit. Brill has covered nearly 2.5 million miles -- enough to circle the earth 97 times.

He's totaled 226 combat flying hours and flown more than 50 combat sorties. "I'd probably go nuts sitting in a cockpit thinking about it. But when they happen one hour at a time, it happens pretty quick," Brill said.

As for the mission, from what he's seen, Brill says engagement with the enemy has dropped off, and ground troops are doing a good job.

Now the question is: Will he go for 7,000 hours? "If my body holds up and the flying's there. I've never been know to turn them down. But it's too far away to look at right now. I'm just happy to get this one done," Brill said.

Brill is a full-time reservist and has flown out of Hill Air Force Base for 28 years. He's due home later this month.

He celebrated the accomplishment in Iraq today with cake and Gatorade, and then went back to work.

E-mail: jboal@ksl.com