Flyover for Saturday's Game

Submitted by AAK15 on

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.

East German Judge

September 9th, 2015 at 5:39 PM ^

Thanks so much for the update.  2 questions:

  1. Will the Block M plane be one of the ones used this weekend, and
  2. 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!

AAK15

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)

FauxMo

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...  

Rabbit21

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.    

Jack Hammer

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]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flypast

Blue4U

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.

mgobleu

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.

Don

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.

mackbru

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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