Laura Bryna Flying High

Country Music recording artist Laura Bryna is soaring these days…literally! Bryna, who is the new voice of the Air Guard’s advertising campaign, took a ride in an F-16 Falcon at the 149th Fighter Wing in San Antonio, Texas, last week. After an early morning start and lots of training to prepare her for the ride of her lifetime, Bryna prepared to board an F-16 fighter. Before she did, she was given a traditional “call sign,” Laura “Lil’ Thunder” Bryna.  The Air Guard had even painted her call sign on the side of the F-16 she was about to fly in. Bryna boarded “her” F-16 fighter jet with Lt. Col John “Killer” Kane in the pilot seat and took to the skies. “When we took off, we did this vertical lift, we went straight up then flipped over backwards. You get to see the earth fade away, it was just so beautiful!” said Bryna of her experience.   “It was so fantastic! I felt very ‘Top Gun,’ I have to tell you,” said Bryna, the petite, “big voiced” singer who stands all of 5’1”. Bryna said she's grown in her admiration for the military. “I have a new found respect for the men and women of the Air Guard who protect us at home and abroad. Not only are they ready to defend our country in the event of some kind of military threat, they are always the first to be called out when natural disasters happen, such as the recent hurricane in the Gulf," Bryna commented. “I am so proud to be representing them. I didn’t know it, but before I got on the F-16, the Air Guard had placed an American flag on board. They presented it to me after my flight. It was folded and everything, and it flew with me. It was so emotional for me and I am SO proud of it.” Bryna was also presented with a commemorative pin that she can put on her flight suit that denotes she was able to withstand 9 G’s while in flight with no side effects at all.    Bryna’s new single, “Hometown Heroes,” will be playing soon at Country radio. The song was co-written by Bryna and will also be a Country Music video.  Bryna has been busy these days making appearances for the Air Guard and performing concerts for them in addition to making her regular appearances. She will open for Craig Morgan on Sept. 8 in Kansas City and will perform along with Sugarland, Rodney Atkins, Billy Currington and Jason Michael Carroll on Sept. 21 at “Sunday in the Country” to promote her new music. You can see her F-16 experience and learn more at www.laurabryna.com or  www.myspace.com/laurabryna.