We're not the worst!

[ExAF]

aint there usually a dude on the ground counting you down, or holding the mic up to the Anthem or something. We just fly the commanded speed the FMS gives us based on entered RTA, which is close but not perfect. . . .no one notices the gas wagon anyway, not terribly loud or exotic. .

Yea, but the guy on the ground sounds like this: OK guys....start your run....TOT in 3 minutes...TOT in 1 minute...5...4..........3 ...................... 2................................. 1....................OK...................... READY.................................NOW!:laugh:

 

[sardaddy]

We did one of the playoff games for the Seahawks last season and despite it being a goat rope, we got it done.

Two different airstations with two airframes H-60 and H-65. I plan it down to the milisecond and we decide to put the H-60 in lead as we had two H-65s so we put one on each side with me calling the times.

As we transit, to Seattle we go slower than planned so we lose a few minutes of practice time in the Puget sound. I am required to pick up a PAO so he can take pictures from the formation so I break off to do a quick snatch and grab at Boeing field. You guessed it, the PAO is late. He comes scrambling to the aircraft and we bolt just in time to get back in formation as the other two aircraft are heading to the IP. I had planned and replanned that IP as the point where the anthem would start and we would blast over the stadium just as the music starts.

So we are about 1 mile from the IP and our man on the ground keys his radio saying the anthen is starting and the music starts! What the hell? We later found out the organizers decided to start early assuming the aircraft will just catch up.

Lead starts pulling in power to adjust for time leaving 2 and 3 in the dust. We are stretched out and look so bad people might think we were were trained to fly formation by Air Force pilots. We finally catch up and regroup tight just as we pass over the stadium and it looks great.

Literally two seconds after we pass the stadium we get a call from our Sector telling us that there is a SAR case so #3 has to break off and execute the mission. The rest of us land at Boeing field, get transported over to the stadium, get to hang out on the field for a while (right next to the cheerleaders) and enjoy the game while receiving compliments of an awesome flyover. If they only knew.

Nobody said this job was easy.

 

[mudkow60]

I find it quite difficult to sneak up on someone when I am hovering 100 feet from them.

 

[AlbieF15]

Flyovers are fun, but the opportunity to look like a goon is ALWAYS present.

The avatar I have is me as #2 at a Memorial Day flyover in Panama City. you quickly learn why the senior guys enjoy just flying on the wing on those events then going out for some BFM...because making a fly by perfect is a LOT of work and rife with chances to look stupid.

A couple stories:

I led that same flyover Panama City fly by several times, as well as seveal over American Cemetaries in Belgium, Luxumborg, and France when I was in Europe.

In at least 2 of those, locating the site during the run in was a challenge. In both cases, approaching show center, I ended up turning the formation SLIGHTLY into show center and starting the climb out. The result in both cases was instead of a bottom view of the jets the audience got to see the aircraft turn and part of the planform of the mighty Eagle was visible (hence the " Tennis Court" knickname given to us by the Viper guys).

I was an ANG Major in an active duty unit when I led one of these, and as we returned to our squadron the wing commander was there and had returned from the ceremony. He was new to the base, and it was our first intro. He was effusive with how sharp it looked and thanked us for coming in and flying in on a holiday. (Whew!). " Just doin' our job, sir, just doin' our job. And the Guard is here to support the team... "

Another buddy led a group of Eagles over a Boston 4th of July ceremony on National TV. Let's just say I was glad I wasn't even in that state that day... Sometimes you are the hero, and sometimes...well...Murphy loves fly-overs.

And murphy can bite you on the ground too! When I was a new IP at the 95FS, I went out to Panama City Beach to FAC for our DO and ADO who were going to fly by to dedicate a new park named after a former F101 pilot and city councilman who had died. We had a beater blue steely truck with a UHF radio. Nobody bothered to tell me that the UHF sucked the battery dry in about 30 minutes if the truck (a loud diesel pickup) was running. So...I take my position....shut the truck off so the public speakers and folks won't compete over the "chug chug chug" of the diesel engine. All this works fine until about 5 minutes before the fly over, when I realize that I am NO LONGER talking to anyone on the UHF. $Hit! So...I end up shuffling over as inconspicously as I can AROUND the speakers on stage to a payphone on the platform of the newly constucted pier/restroom facility on the beach and dialing the squadron. I end up talking on the phone to the guy at the duty desk, who relays the information on HIS UHF radio to the guys flying. We got it done...but I took a LOT of grief that Friday at Roll Call for killing the truck and almost ruining the fly-by with EVERY heavy hitter in our hometown present.

I'll save our UT/Texas A&M flyover story for another day...

 

[stonewall]

One of my last flights in an F-16 was the Richmond Braves home opener flyby. 2 ship, holding about 10 NM south of the stadium. I live a couple miles from the stadium and know downtown pretty well...no worries, right?

Well, we have a couple NCOs at the game drinking beer and manning the cell phone. They'll call back to the squadron who will relay the national anthem countdown. The chick was timed at 1:50 or so the day prior. I get the hack and turn toward the stadium for my run in. Slowly ease it down to, ahem, 1000' AGL. I get the call "Dude, push it up!! She's almost done! She's holding the high note!!!" She sang fast when the crowd was present. I was pretty much screwed.

Anyway, I get over the stadium at about 600' AGL...eased it down as I could NOT find centerfield, even with GPS. Dang stadium blends in pretty well with downtown...definitely a late-show target. As I pass over the stadium (we DID look good...the wife got pics!) at, oh, about 450 KCAS, the players were already heading for the dugouts. Oh well.

It was fun, but like Albie said, it's a great opportunity to screw up. Just reference the Green Mountain Boys and the 2008 Fenway Park home opener. I'd rather just skip the flybys and be the dude on the ground!

 

[AlbieF15]

I think you meant 1500 AGL and 300 knots, but yeah...been there, done that....

 

[Deuce130]

I've never done a flyby. Unless you count 50' at 250 KIAS (hercs, remember) for the DZ party in Thailand when we were done for the day. Of course, noone wants a MC-130 flyby if anyone else is available. Doesn't look real good when the folks on the ground are "Look! There's a C-130!.........Look! There's a C-130!......Look! ...." you get the point.

 

[AlbieF15]

I saw a Herc go over Lake Martin years ago when I was in college at Auburn, followed shortly by 2 F-4s that were obvious "escorting" him. I thought is was darned impressive. With 3 AFROTC guys in the boat, we stopped skiing enough to whoop and holler for a why about what we had just seen...

 

[bssthound]

Nothin' like being in your home state's Guard Unit back in the day. I'm' from a tiny town in West MS and I made the most of a couple opportunities to overfly it back when I was in the F-4. A couple friends were at work in a local factory when one of them thought the boiler was exploding. The other, cigarette between his lips, didn't even look up, he just said "aw he11, that' just (bssthound's real name) showin' his A$$." On my finis flight I let a bud of mine, a former 38 FAIP, know that a close friend of his and myself were coming over. He got up on the roof of his business and filmed it. The funny part was watching people empty out of the bank to watch the flyover. It was a nice little "coffee break" for everyone.

If people know you it's cool, if they don't it's a noise complaint!!

 

[dtfl]

Nothin' like being in your home state's Guard Unit back in the day. I'm' from a tiny town in West MS and I made the most of a couple opportunities to overfly it back when I was in the F-4. A couple friends were at work in a local factory when one of them thought the boiler was exploding. The other, cigarette between his lips, didn't even look up, he just said "aw he11, that' just (bssthound's real name) showin' his A$$." On my finis flight I let a bud of mine, a former 38 FAIP, know that a close friend of his and myself were coming over. He got up on the roof of his business and filmed it. The funny part was watching people empty out of the bank to watch the flyover. It was a nice little "coffee break" for everyone.

If people know you it's cool, if they don't it's a noise complaint!!

Are yall home now?