Flyover for Saturday's Game
Hey y'all - as one of MGoBlog's MGoPilots (USAF) I thought I'd share this cool story about Saturday's game
The flyover will be conducted with two AT-38's from the 435th Fighter Training Squadron at Randolph AFB in Texas. These supersonic jet trainers are used by student pilots to gain the skills necessary to fly fighter or bomber type aircraft after graduating pilot training. The two pilots flying them are instructor pilots and 1996 UM college of engineering grads: Lt Col Jason "Ugly" Earley and Lt Col Michael "Vito" Ferrario. I haven't met them personally, but if I know fighter pilots, they'll put on a fun show! Note the Block M they painted on the side of one of the birds; not an easy feat to convince maintenance to do.
https://www.facebook.com/umichathletics/posts/964177330301897
I'll check back and answer any questions y'all have about the jets or anything else related if you want
Mod edit: Don't think the comments are salvageable at this point. Not at all a reflection on AAK15's very solid and informative OP. JGB.
September 9th, 2015 at 5:39 PM ^
Thanks so much for the update. 2 questions:
- Will the Block M plane be one of the ones used this weekend, and
- What air speed will they be at when they do the flyover?
Thanks to all of you for all that you do for this country and GO BLUE!
September 9th, 2015 at 7:11 PM ^
1 - I believe so; probably why they featured it in the photos, cannot 100% confirm at this time
2 - Usually they can fly between 250 - 300kts (287-345 mph) but the FAA can choose to limit speeds to contain noise. That's the general rule of thumb, and of course they have to time to the anthem so they can speed up or slow down as they please (maybe speed up at the last second for a good show haha)
September 9th, 2015 at 5:42 PM ^
Skywriting?? Oh wait, Brandon's gone.
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September 9th, 2015 at 5:50 PM ^
I am sure I will get negged like crazy for this, but... does anyone else find it disturbing that we intentionally fly jets moving at hundreds of miles an hour a few hundred feet above a stadium holding 100,000+ plus people each Saturday? I know the odds of a catastrophic event are virtually nil, but it always seems like an unnecessary risk to me. For if one day one of those planes smashes into the south endzone, goodbye 50,000 UM fans...
September 9th, 2015 at 5:55 PM ^
Not really, it's not like they're doing crazy tricks low to the ground like at an airshow and they're actually further up in the air than you'd think. It's pretty tough to imagine a scenario of a flyby going wrong to that extent that that would happen. As a pilot when you're at low level you are really dialed in and the first response to anything going wrong is to climb and get away from the ground. I understand how it may look a bit scary, but it's safe.
September 9th, 2015 at 5:55 PM ^
I find it disturbing that you fret about extremely unlikely occurrences. The stadium is more likely to be hit by a terrorist attack than one of these crashing into the stands.
September 9th, 2015 at 5:57 PM ^
I find your moustache disturbing and rapey. So there...
September 9th, 2015 at 6:01 PM ^
He died from edema contracted while working in a coal mine. Also, stop upvoting yourself.
September 9th, 2015 at 6:03 PM ^
Sorry, was just playing a little.
September 9th, 2015 at 6:47 PM ^
You got a +1 for describing that mustache, correctly I might add, as rapey. But then you pussed out of the comment so I had to downvote you.
Mark it zero.
September 9th, 2015 at 7:29 PM ^
Why, just look at that demonic countenance. He practically is eye-raping Alice.
September 9th, 2015 at 7:40 PM ^
Call it unsolicited ocular intercourse.
September 9th, 2015 at 8:37 PM ^
skull-fucking is the preferred vernacular
September 9th, 2015 at 7:30 PM ^
Next frame.
September 9th, 2015 at 7:19 PM ^
Uh, calm down?
September 9th, 2015 at 6:11 PM ^
rapey? what's that doing here?
September 9th, 2015 at 6:17 PM ^
That's...comforting?
September 9th, 2015 at 6:10 PM ^
There also could be a volcano poised to erupt under the stadium. Better stay home.
September 9th, 2015 at 6:13 PM ^
Really? You really think the odds of a volcano suddenly erupting under Michigan Stadium and a plane crashing during a flyover of the stadium are the same? Really??
September 9th, 2015 at 6:31 PM ^
No I don't, but that was kind of the point. Sorry should have tried to be more literal.
September 9th, 2015 at 6:18 PM ^
Volcano? I think that's geographically impossible.
September 9th, 2015 at 6:31 PM ^
Well that's a fairly substantial list of mid-air "mishaps," now isn't it?
September 9th, 2015 at 6:48 PM ^
Saturday's game isn't an air show. The planes will fly in a straight line over the stadium. Nothing too complicated.
September 9th, 2015 at 7:00 PM ^
In Goa, India during a ceremonial flypast to mark the silver jubilee of the Naval Air Squadron 315 in 2002, the wingtips of twoIlyushin aircraft brushed in mid-air, with the subsequent loss of a dozen lives[clarification needed]. The incident raised questions as to the necessity of flypasts which, "although spectacular and entertaining, can be risky".[27]
September 9th, 2015 at 7:45 PM ^
Well c'mon, those Ilyushin's were Soviet commie aircraft and the pilots were probably wanked from drinking the antifreeze they drained from the hydraulic systems. Those Russians y'know.
September 9th, 2015 at 6:12 PM ^
They're not flying aerobatic maneuvers so there's virtually no risk. Also I believe the restriction is 2000 feet minimum altitude from the stadium, not "a few hundred feet".
September 9th, 2015 at 6:19 PM ^
feet above ground level. There was a flyover at Iowa a few years back and some T38s flew about 50-60 feet above the scoreboard. Around 180 above ground level. IIRC the lead pilot was relieved of his wings afterwards. If you're afraid of them impacting the stadium, I would stay home and watch.
September 9th, 2015 at 8:38 PM ^
According to AFI 11-202, flyovers are always 1,000 above obstacles. Unless there is a national emergency Which a football game is not.
September 9th, 2015 at 6:40 PM ^
a two lane road again. You're literally inches from death every time you pass a car oncoming. These are idiots, including 16y/o kids with an iPhone and a Facebook account attached to their face 90% of their lives. Compared to pilots, who are intensely trained and firmly applied to what they are doing as they fly. You're at infinitesimally lower risk during a flyover than driving down the road.
September 9th, 2015 at 6:43 PM ^
I'm buying a large truck
September 9th, 2015 at 7:23 PM ^
Yes, but the differences between the potentially negative outcomes of those two incidents couldn't be more stark. Only 3-5 dead in a head-on collision versus EVERYONE YOU"VE EVER KNOWN AND LOVED KILLED ALL AT ONCE...
September 9th, 2015 at 7:49 PM ^
Have to make sure my affairs are in order. Will they be smashing into the north or south end zone??
September 9th, 2015 at 6:45 PM ^
we allow teenagers to drive.
September 9th, 2015 at 6:49 PM ^
and women.
September 9th, 2015 at 6:56 PM ^
and teenaged women.
September 9th, 2015 at 7:41 PM ^
Asian teenage women too?
September 9th, 2015 at 7:49 PM ^
Nothing is more hilarious—or frustrating, if you're pressed for time—than being behind an elderly woman of whatever ethnic or racial background in a Prius in an Ann Arbor parking structure. You can literally see the sun move in the sky while they make up their minds what they want to do.
September 9th, 2015 at 8:43 PM ^
I'm not sure if that's better or worse than the old women in downtown Birmingham. They drive big ass Audi's and S Class Mercs. Fast. With their eyes closed giving zero fucks about anything around them.
September 9th, 2015 at 6:54 PM ^
But I think flyovers are an overrated experience to begin with.
For me, they're more about saluting/thanking our armed forces than seeing something "cool." It's planes.
September 9th, 2015 at 7:12 PM ^
There is no way the plane can magically lock up and slam into the stands, except direct pilot input. These guys are trained professionals - even if an engine fails, they turn, climb and head back to the nearest airport to land
September 9th, 2015 at 5:56 PM ^
These stunts are actually pretty gross. Why the tortured connection between a sport and a fairly gratuitous military display? I can't believe people think this is appropriate and commendable.
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September 9th, 2015 at 6:02 PM ^
100% agree. I'm not getting bombarded with "USA! USA!" stuff before a concert or a play, so why before a football game?
September 9th, 2015 at 5:59 PM ^
Because jets are sweet.
September 9th, 2015 at 6:01 PM ^
So are boobs, but we don't fly those over the stadium...
September 9th, 2015 at 6:02 PM ^
But what if we could?
September 9th, 2015 at 6:22 PM ^
Deja Vu in Ypsi did fly over advertising, so once upon a time. . .