I know some people probably will not care about this post except those die hard U of M fans, but I just had the pleasure to look at and take pictures of U of M's jet up close and personal. I work for Pratt & Whitney in Bridgeport, West Virginia. Yeah, imagine that! The plane is in our facility for an (IBR) inspection. Very nice looking plane although I thought the blue would have been darker. I took plenty of pictures with my cell phone to mark the occasion. I have had the pleasure only once to go to a game at the ‘Big House’ prior to the renovation so anything Michigan is a bonus for me. In the process, I'm taking a lot of flak (as usual) about it being here. And of course, certain people would like to vandalize it. Will they ever let it go….Guys in the hanger say Rich Rod flew in to visit family but I can not confirm it. His family is less than 30 minutes from here so it would be plausible. Does anyone know if he is in Ann Arbor today? Just thought it was pretty cool to actually see other than in pictures on the internet. Go Blue!
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University of Michigan's jet here in West Virginia
Well, let's see 'em
Do you guys know how to do it? I would like to post them for you to see but I'm not the most gifted when it comes to this stuff.
If you send a few of them to [mod retracted], I'll upload/post them for you
Maybe not the best idea to post your email address here.
Love,
Your big brother
That's actually McGuffie's old email address, so I'm not worried about it
Huh, funny, when we chat I usually email Sam at sambamhurdleman@[mod retraction while keeping joke].
I assume that's a joke, but I guess I'll delete it anyway.
C'mon, that was funny!
Yeah, but I don't want some random kid with that email start getting spammed with things because adbots scour the site for emails just because of some chance guy writing it out. I left the name there, so at least there's that.
Here are four that he sent me:
hasn't it been discussed this plane isn't attached to the university and is just some rich guy's fun design?
It's cool, but it's not the best looking design, IME.
"Heck, even our jet's got wings!"
appreciate it!
like the blue came from some leftover buckets from the Tom Goss Memorial Halo.
Yeah, fixed that one real quick.
mine as well change the title too
TTIWWP
edit: Flood beat me to it
Are you sure its not the jet of the very rich alumni guy that lives in Texas? Or the UMHS patient transport jet?
If I recall correctly, The university doesn't own any jets, Rich Rod did his recruiting from a leased turboprop Beech King Air.
I friend of mine called me from the hanger and told me about the plane knowing I'm a big Michigan fan. So I went out there to look at it and took pics. Again I apologize, my mistake. I did not know the University didn't have their own jet. Guess I deserve the neg bangs for that. Still, if anyone would like to see the pics and knows how I can upload them from my cell phone please let me know how to do it.
Hey if you know how to attach files onto an email, send a few of the best shots to me and I'll post 'em.
Let me know if/when you get them.
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N911UM
Edit: It's super rich alumni guy's jet:
I think I misworded my original reply. The Athletic Department and University in general do not own their own jets. The Hospital system (UMHS) has their own jets that they use for critical patient evac and urgent organ transplants. So there are University of Michigan jets, but they aren't used for personal trips and such. Can you imagine what the Freep would run with if Rich Rod was using a Michigan jet to go visit family?
It's probably more cost effective for them to lease or fly out of Detroit.
Virginia Tech has two planes (the Hokie Birds, of course) that faculty and staff can use for state business, but our departments are charged by person-flight hour. It's just cost-recovery, though, so it's much cheaper than commercial. Well worth it, too, when it's the choice between a 50 minute flight to DC or a 4-hour drive.
Our airstrip is right on campus, and we're really in the middle of nowhere (at least for the Eastern U.S.) so that may be why we have our own.
I'd bet that Beamer gets free Hokie Bird hours as part of his contract. I know Saban gets to use the LSU planes as part of his.
Apparently in my head it's still 5 years ago.
Anybody want stock tips? Real estate is BIG.
"in addition to the $32 mil, Alabama makes a non-commercial airplane available for Saban's personal use for 25 hours per year"
It's spelled "hangar". Sorry to nitpick, but it helps if you're in the industry.
I used to live in Bridgeport, WV.(1978-82) I know that airport well. When we lived there it was barely big enough for jets to land on. I'd be real interested to see your pics. Go Indians !!! Is Bridgeport High still known as the Indians or has political correctness wrecked it for everybody ?
and still a powerhouse in football. As for the runway, it was expanded years ago. They filled in the valley next to it about 10 years ago and extended the runway.
The Indians won the State Championship when we lived there in 1979. It was a great time. I figured the airport was expanded I've heard B-port and Clarksville are almost connected now. There was plenty of space between them when I lived there.
That plane looks awesome
Bo’s temper combined with our launch codes. Would not want to be in the "worst state ever" in that scenario. +1 good sir
is Mr. Rogel visiting Rich Rodriguez's family half an hour away from the airport?
If some rich alum would pony up for a team plane for game travel, I think that would make a good recruiting tool. If they got an Antonov 225 they could even scrimmage on the flight.
Actually, I don't know what the team does now. Do they team take a bus to places like Wisky and Minny and PSU? Or fly coach?
The alumni would have to be Stephen M. Ross or Larry Page rich to do that without taking a significant hit. Planes and maintenance aren't cheap.
Besides, the University would probably prefer that money to go towards grants and scholarships.
The smaller teams fly commercial to get to the further schools and tourneys. I believe football charters its own jet to go to places like Iowa, although I could be wrong. Equipment makes it down on our very own Semi (it has wings!)
That thing is BITCHIN'!
Are there any coaches left in West Virginia to steal...?
but there were a few couches that were only moderately charred and could be saved by a good upholsterer.....just in case anyone is in need.
Is anyone else having frightening flashbacks to early 2008?
"IT'S A PLANE! IT'S HEADED TO IOWA! SOMEBODY GET TO THE AIRPORT AND SCOUT IT QUICK!
...nevermind, it was just transporting crew members."
I heard Les Miles's plane is in Ann Arbor today! Quick, someone get over to the country club and see what Bill Martin's wife told the golf pro about this!
He brought Jai Eugene with him and Bo just turned over .
That would be late 2007.
Whoops, you're right. My bad
Brandon is here to hire WVU's hockey coach to replace Red next season.
