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.

MGoBoard

Don

September 9th, 2015 at 8:25 PM ^

I'm a liberal pinko socialist commie and I love flyovers by military aircraft. I see nothing wrong about them whatsoever. In fact, I love them so much I'm going to subject you to yet another tiresome recounting of the UM-OSU game in 1971.

Michigan enters the game 10-0 and ranked #3. There was legit hope that if Nebraska stumbled, Michigan had a clear path to a national title in Bo's third year. While OSU was having a down year for them, it didn't matter in the least to us. The intensity among the fans was at a fever pitch entering Michigan Stadium. Ufer was going apeshit before the game even started.

At halftime the score was 3-0, and given that the war in Vietnam was still in progress, a portion of the halftime festivities down on the field was devoted to honoring the dead and wounded, including those who were designated MIAs, or missing in action.

I have no memory of where my ticketed seats were—things were still pretty loose those days—but I was standing on the very top row of seats in the south end zone just north of that puny scoreboard, watching the band down on the field perform a short piece recognizing the MIAs.

Without any warning from the announcer or any audible sign of what was coming, a small group of F-5 Phantoms flying a missing man formation came from the south, behind me. They were low and directly over the stadium, and it seemed like they weren't more than 20 feet above my head. Luckily, I have a strong sphincter.

If any of you have been at an airshow and have experienced what it's like to have a jet come right over you from behind, you know that you don't hear the goddamn thing until it's over your head. It's pant-crapping, drink-spilling territory if you're not mentally prepared.

"Touchdown Billy Taylor!" and Woody tearing up the sideline markers were just the perfect topper.

So AAK15, thanks for the info, and to Ugly and Vito for their service.

 

 

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