no more sporting event fly overs

[Mike]

Perhaps you should invite the Canadians and Mexicans to help you out?

[marine air]

Warbirds were flying these events before the military became increasingly available. The military equipment is free and also very cool. Maybe this will work out better for warbird owners. A lot of warbirds are standard category.
Standard category examples; Stearman,T-34,L-5, L-19, T-6, T-28, C-47, BT-13, B-23, C-45, and many others like the PBY Catalina. A friend of mine used to fly his P-51 over the raceway events at the now defunct Nashville Superspeedway. His aircraft is either limited or experimental.

[SaxMan]

Perhaps this could be looked at as an opportunity for the warbird movement to become more visible? Instead of an F-18 flyover, why not P-51s or B-25s or TBMs or even T-6s? Yes, it would cost the owners gas, oil and their time, but if it helped inspire more people to become involved in helping preserve our aviation history, wouldn't it be money well spent?

[phil65]

Just have the Goodyear blimp do a few barrel rolls.

[Tom H]

I always thought these were creepy anyway. We were the only non-totalitarian country ever to regularly do military flyovers at sporting events.

August

Uh no

In Canada our military does flypasts over public events on a regular basis and has for decades.

Last I checked us Canucks were many things but not totalitarian or militaristic.

[tom d. friedman]

Perhaps this could be looked at as an opportunity for the warbird movement to become more visible? Instead of an F-18 flyover, why not P-51s or B-25s or TBMs or even T-6s? Yes, it would cost the owners gas, oil and their time, but if it helped inspire more people to become involved in helping preserve our aviation history, wouldn't it be money well spent?

this is exactly what i was thinking when i posted this thread!!

[k5083]

Last I checked us Canucks were copycats of the U.S.!

Seriously though, we (and yes I am Canadian) might fly some jets over the Grey Cup but not over every auto race or college football game of any significance (if we had any). I have read that that the U.S. military flyovers run into the thousands each year. Do ours? We do not feel that no major public event is complete without military presence.

Or do we? Maybe I overestimate my fellow Canadians.

What this thread comes down to is, the OP thinks that a reduced military aviation showing at public events due to budget cuts is bad. I think it's neutral, maybe good.

But I'm with Tom in that I'm all for warbirds getting more exposure if they can take up the slack. Whatever feeds the old birds is okay by me!

August

[K5DH]

The flyovers ... are built into the training system and make a good time on target exercise for the aircrews.

I once watched a TV show in which they detailed just what goes into setting up and executing a military jet flyover of a public event. I was amazed! These missions are a LOT of work to plan, and the pilots must execute the mission with perfect timing in order to arrive over the event at the very second that the National Anthem is finishing up. It really is excellent "time on target" training. The pilots, ground crews, and mission planners are very proud of what they do, and rightfully so. It is rare to see a flyover that isn't perfectly timed, and that's a credit to all involved.

Folks, these people put their lives on the line, voluntarily, to keep America free and to defend our interests and allies around the world. I believe that they've earned the right to show off what they can do! I, for one, feel a great sense of pride when I see a flight of F-18s zoom over a football game or a B-52 make a screaming low pass over a NASCAR track, and I never get tired of watching them.

Your mileage may vary. I will never tell anyone that they can't have an opinion that differs from mine, or that their opinion is wrong. I'll share mine, and if we agree, that's fine, and if not, that's fine as well. I may or may not agree with your opinion, but I certainly respect your right to have it and to voice it. That's one of the things that makes America great... the freedom to have and express our own opinions.

Another thing that makes America great is the freedom to come and go as we please. To quote the great Merle Haggard... IF YOU DON'T LOVE IT, LEAVE IT.

Dean the Proud American!

[gary1954]

I will just let you all try to imagine what I am thinking so that I can remain amongst you all without feeling the "ban-hammer"

Tactical Nuke Deployed

[gary1954]

Perhaps this could be looked at as an opportunity for the warbird movement to become more visible? Instead of an F-18 flyover, why not P-51s or B-25s or TBMs or even T-6s? Yes, it would cost the owners gas, oil and their time, but if it helped inspire more people to become involved in helping preserve our aviation history, wouldn't it be money well spent?

Maybe the teams playing a the event could sponsor the flight.. ...look at how much they blow of Gatorade

[tom d. friedman]

pro sports teams should pony up $$$$ for fly bys. look how they gouge the fans on ticket prices, $8.00 for a brewski, on & on, not to mention the exorbitant salaries that the jockstraps are paid!! who supports the teams??? us, the public. now it's time pro sports gives a little back to us!!

[Boeing666]

I think some of the big sporting events leagues - like NASCAR Inc, NFL etc would be able to pay to sponsor a flyover. One of the big highlights of the Daytona 500 is the jet flyover, when is the last time a jet didn't fly over the Daytona 500?

Or maybe they could have Jack Roush fly one of his Mustangs over it

[phil65]

I think some of the big sporting events leagues - like NASCAR Inc, NFL etc would be able to pay to sponsor a flyover. One of the big highlights of the Daytona 500 is the jet flyover, when is the last time a jet didn't fly over the Daytona 500?

Or maybe they could have Jack Roush fly one of his Mustangs over it

This past Sunday. I think it was too cloudy.

Phil

[gary1954]

I think some of the big sporting events leagues - like NASCAR Inc, NFL etc would be able to pay to sponsor a flyover. One of the big highlights of the Daytona 500 is the jet flyover, when is the last time a jet didn't fly over the Daytona 500?

Or maybe they could have Jack Roush fly one of his Mustangs over it

Speaking of Mustangs, which NASCAR driver from Decades ago like in the previous Century, had a P-51? I recall he was checking out the back stretch of one race track to see if he could land his P-51 on it. I know I'm not nuts.....er...At least I don't think so...

[bdk]

Johnny Rutherford? But he was an Indy car driver. Did he do NASCAR too?

http://www.taurtoisemotorsports.com/eig ... rford.html