WT Forums

I am the voice that was synthesized into the voice you know (but can't shut up) know "fondly" as Bitchin Betty. In 1982 when a production house in Binghamton NY (where I was doing voice-over work) got the contract from GE to tape a "midwest, female" voice they thought of me (a female from Ohio) and invited me to do the job. That is all I thought of when I said "yes"... a paying job. It wasn't long before I realized the seriousness of what I had gotten myself into. We taped the commands in order from most informational ie: "speed brakes extended" to most urgent ie: "pull up!" I did each with up to 10 levels of urgency with the range getting more and more intense. My job was to give GE and the government a lot to choose from. By the end of the taping I was told for my last take that that might be the last thing our young pilot would hear before hitting the ground - I had one last chance to try to bring awareness to the situation. I remember shaking and pleading into the microphone... "Pull Up!!! Pull!!! Up!!!"......I never knew it that is the one you would hear... and prayed that none of our pilots ever would. Now, as a parent of children your age, I realize that my voice may help someone else's child get home to their mother's loving arms. God bless you all. It is an honor to fly with you!

Thank you for your part in helping keep our pilots safe.

Fender

"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it."
George Bernard Shaw

<img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle> And welcome to the forum.

The Second Amendment: America's original homeland security.
Ya just can’t take life too seriously, because you aren’t going to get out of it alive anyway.

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

I'm a fairly new lieutenant in an A-10 squadron and have the pleasure of hearing your voice every time I fly the jet. Usually it is for nothing, but a few times it has alerted me to a close call with the ground. "Bitchin Betty" is mostly a nuisance...but one that has saved many lives over the years. Thanks for the post!

PILSUNG!

"A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing."
-Brigadier General Robin

Hawgstruck or other flyers - Bring me up to date - what are the current commands "Betty" says? I remember "Speed Brakes Extended" "Fuel Low" "Altitude" "Terrain" and "Pull Up" What else?
Joan AKA Betty

Anyone know of a link or site where one can hear "Betty"?

The Second Amendment: America's original homeland security.
Ya just can’t take life too seriously, because you aren’t going to get out of it alive anyway.

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

Thanks Joan,

Even us Maintance Guys have heard your "Voice"

Your voice has saved alot of pilots and A-10's and What Fender said
thank-you too plus Us CrewChief REALLY THANK-YOU nothing worst then seeing a flight of Jets come back "One Short"
<img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle>

Goose

I know now for a FACT that Truth is Stranger than Fiction and IT CAN ALWAYS BE WORST!





Edited by - sgtgoose1 on Jul 21 2006 08:40

_________________
\"Live Free Or Die\"

Never knew a "Bitchin Betty" when I was on the Hogs, maybe she was added after I left the hogs in 86?

I have heard her while working other aircraft. I think the 1st time I heard her was while helping out some Navy guys on their F-18's at Nellis during a Red/Green Flag.

The thing most memorable about the voice's to me........man what sexy voices they were!

For those of you still actively involved in the maintenance arena, or the Jockeys hanging here for that matter, was there a change when the females were allowed to fly fighters?

I know I heard talk of it, as the idea behind the female voice was due to it being inherently different in the flying arena. You'd pick it out over the guys talking over the airwaves easier.

Is there now some "neutral" or "mechanical" sounding voice to set itself apart from the rest of the normal radio chatter?

<img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle> to you Joan!

Joan, as stated above thanks for lending your voice to help keep the best pilots, of the best ground attack aircraft ever built, safe. I've heard your voice 100's of time during ground checks on the A-10.

30mm, here's a couple of clips of "Betty"....

http://www.warthogpen.com/bs/Betty_Altitude.wav

http://www.warthogpen.com/bs/Betty_Pull_Up.wav

http://www.warthogpen.com/bs/Betty_Speedbrakes.wav

Visit my A-10 website at
http://www.warthogpen.com

<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> thanks, dice.

The Second Amendment: America's original homeland security.
Ya just can’t take life too seriously, because you aren’t going to get out of it alive anyway.

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

You know guys when you are in a crowded mall (God forbid)and over all the noise you still can hear your wife say " Look another clearance rack!" or even worse "DO YOU THINK I LOOK FAT IN THIS?".

live to wrench, wrench to live

_________________
Press one for English, Press two to disconect untill you do.

Joan,

Here's to you and any other female voice that has been used to help save lives.

<img src=newicons/smiley_salute.gif border=0 align=middle>

"Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget, in time, that men have died to win them."
Franklin Deleano Roosevelt

Wow! Now that was wierd! Diceman - that was definately me on "Altitude" and "Pull up" (Speed Brakes seems muffled - not so sure!)
That was the first time I have heard it! My heart was racing... I always wondered how it sounded to you. They used the "Pull-Up" I did that was more "encourging, coaching, excited" and less "threatening, desparate." Good choice don't you think!

Thanks Fender, 30Mike, Hawgstruck, Goose, Hogsnort, Goob and Engineguy for All you do and all you have done for us in the good old USA. Are any of you active or in Reserves Now?

Cool.
Every so often it startles me. When launching a jet and everything is quiet, almost too quiet, and the pilot is doing his BIT checks, out of nowhere PULL-UP!! ALTITUDE ALTITUDE!!! Scares the crap out of me.

Assault is a type of behavior, not a type of rifle.

Funny you should say that Jack, While TDY to Vegas We were pulling that oh early early alert waiting for words, the pilot told me to take it easy because he would be awhile. Guess I must have taken it a little to easy because the next thing I heard was PULL-UP!! ALTITUDE ALTITUDE!!! I must have jumped about a foot in the air before I realized what the hell was going on.

capche-capche da - we go forward together

Faugh ah Ballaugh -Clear The Way-

_________________


Faugh ah Ballaugh ~ Clear the Way

Can we call you "Bitchin Joan"? The calls that I can think of in the jet are "pull up", "altitude", "speedbrakes", "IFF" and "obstacle". I'm fairly sure that the "IFF" and "obstacle" both came after you because they are linked to an upgrade the A-10 didn't have in the early 80s (when I was in pre-school). They must have hired a double to sound like you because they are fairly identical. To answer your question, I'm active duty stationed at Osan AB, South Korea. If you ever make it out this way, we'd be proud to have you as our guest.

PILSUNG!

"A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing."
-Brigadier General Robin

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

Thanks Fender, 30Mike, Hawgstruck, Goose, Hogsnort, Goob and Engineguy for All you do and all you have done for us in the good old USA. Are any of you active or in Reserves Now?


<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I retired in 04 (23 years USAF) but still work on USAF aircraft at the Hill AFB Depot.

Visit my A-10 website at
http://www.warthogpen.com

Thats a cool piece of history Dice. Little stuff that we never seem to explore usually turns out to be cool. And I have been woken up more than a few time while sleeping next to a firebottle on one of those extended ground runs.

"By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a peerage or Westminster Abbey !" Nelson the Immortal Memory

_________________
YGBSM !

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>

Thanks Fender, 30Mike, Hawgstruck, Goose, Hogsnort, Goob and Engineguy for All you do and all you have done for us in the good old USA. Are any of you active or in Reserves Now?


<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I only wish I could tell you like Dice that I am retired after about that same number of years.<img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

I was active from July 80 - May 88. Seperating in sort of a pissy mood after being in a unit that was closed and I was going to get a shitty assignment, when the rest of the guys all got their choice with guaranteed follow on assignments!
Rivet Work Force was also being started along those times and I didnt really think that looked like a good thing?

Although for the 16 years following my seperation I lived next to Nellis AFB in Las Vegas and have spent many a day sitting on the porch watching the flight line operations. I was above the runway about had a pretty good view!

I have attempted thru the years to stay in contact with a number of the guys I worked with, and have done so pretty well with about 3 or 4 of them before finding this site. Although I dont believe I know or worked with anyone who "actively" posts!

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Thats a cool piece of history Dice. Little stuff that we never seem to explore usually turns out to be cool. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I didn't do this one Hawg166, Joan came here on her own. I do remember an email (which I have around here somewhere) during, or right after, OIF which Joan sent to the A-10 System Program Office giving the same info....Joan do you remember this email?

Joan, here's a short video of your voice in action....

http://www.warthogpen.com/bs/betty_1.wmv

Visit my A-10 website at
http://www.warthogpen.com

Yes Dice-man... I cannot tell a lie - it was I. When I became aware of the A-10's involvement in OIF I searched to see where they were based. I did initiate an email back then to your base.

My interest in meeting the pilots and crew of the Hogs has grown. Married to an aircraft salesman we often travel to airshows. Where I used to only look forward to the flying demonstrations, I now 1st search out the A-10 static display. I love to have the opportunity to thank the pilots and crew face to face. So... someday I hope to visit a base with an active A-10 program and learn more!

I am thrilled to finally hear "Betty" and the video was thrilling! Looks fun! I would love any other tapes/video clips you can find.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Thanks Fender, 30Mike, Hawgstruck, Goose, Hogsnort, Goob and Engineguy for All you do and all you have done for us in the good old USA. Are any of you active or in Reserves Now?
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>


I am still on active duty. I plan to retire next summer with 25yrs of service. I am no longer at an A-10 base, I wish I was.

Fender

"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it."
George Bernard Shaw

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Yes Dice-man... I cannot tell a lie - it was I. When I became aware of the A-10's involvement in OIF I searched to see where they were based. I did initiate an email back then to your base.

My interest in meeting the pilots and crew of the Hogs has grown. Married to an aircraft salesman we often travel to airshows. Where I used to only look forward to the flying demonstrations, I now 1st search out the A-10 static display. I love to have the opportunity to thank the pilots and crew face to face. So... someday I hope to visit a base with an active A-10 program and learn more!

I am thrilled to finally hear "Betty" and the video was thrilling! Looks fun! <b>I would love any other tapes/video clips you can find.</b>

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

I thought so. If you ever make it to Hill AFB UT. let me know and I'll show you around the A-10 depot.

Joan, anking me for "any other tapes/videos I can find" is pretty wide open. I've been collecting videos and other "stuff" on the A-10 for over 15 years now and have quite a collection of videos, pictures and documents on the Hawg. Have you been to my A-10 website ( www.warthogpen.com ) and looked at it's video section? Also if there is anything specific you would like to see feel free to ask and I'll see what I can find.



Visit my A-10 website at
http://www.warthogpen.com

Joan are you trying to say you didnt know that Dice is the Fred G. Sanford of the A-10 community ? The G stands for 'got what your looking for somewhere in the attic!'

"By this time tomorrow I shall have gained either a peerage or Westminster Abbey !" Nelson the Immortal Memory

_________________
YGBSM !

Joan, there are a few of dice's videos showing the A-10 doing what it does best at <a href="http://www.flightchief.com/videos"><font color="red"><b>Flightchief.com</b></font></a>

capche-capche da - we go forward together

Faugh ah Ballaugh -Clear The Way

Edited by - Lil Hitler on Jul 23 2006 10:32

_________________


Faugh ah Ballaugh ~ Clear the Way