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Those T-38s are small single engine jet trainers with no afterburners (I believe). While they will most likely make the pass at a similar speed and altitide as the Navy game last year, they should not make nearly as much noise as the F-18s. Those guys were coming in hot anyway, and I'm pretty sure they lit the afterburners right as they got to the stadium.

I cannot remember the specifics, but I remember reading a newspaper article about a year ago that oulined the costs of a 4 plane F-18 flyover for either a Patriots game or a NASCAR race and it exceeded $100,000 (mostly for fuel if I remember correctly). I can't remember what it said about who actually paid the bill.

I attended the Armed Services Bowl in Ft. Worth 2 years ago (Air Foce versus Cal) and they came by with an F-22 Raptor, a B-1 Bomber and something else and it was hellaciously loud (in a good way). You see those guys coming in at high subsonic speed and low altitude it makes you glad to know they are on our side.

mrydel wrote:My wife gets mad at me when I convert gas to noise.

Probably because you forgot to engage the afterburner.

I will go ahead and clear up some of the questions in this thread....

Yes, the tax payers pay for the flyover, but not directly. The hours utilized are allocated out of the particular bases flying hour program. Each flying hour costs $XX dollars, depending on the airframe. The flying hour budget encompasses all training for the year and of course the main component is the cost of fuel. Since the T-38 is the USAFs advanced jet trainer (training those who go on to fly fighter and bombers) every sortie is basically a training sortie even for the Instructor Pilots (IPs) who will be performing the flyby.

Having done flyovers in the past, the main mission of this particular sortie is to make the "TOT" or "time on target" and pass overhead right after the national anthem finishes. These pilots are most likely on a local training sortie or going on a weekend cross country mission after they do the flyby. We get training flying from point A to B by practicing instrument approach procedures to stay current.

We pride ourselves being on time, so hopefully these guys make it happen! After the flyby they will return to Base (RTB) probably back to Sheppard up in Wichita Falls or land at Alliance in Fort Worth and drive over to make the last half of the game. Take care of them if they do!

As incorrectly stated earlier, the T-38 actually does have Afterburning engines and can be quite loud if they "stroke the burner" as they pass overhead, but I doubt they will do that since its already loud enough.

Enjoy the flyby, they are alot of fun to fly and to see from the ground, I wish I could be there!

Thanks for the explanation Jetnfast. I guess this is what we will see weather permitting?

I like jets!

Me too! Looking forward this this.

Don't hold your breath. Supposed to be cloudy with chance of showers.

I am not sure who "Winslow Wheeler, an analyst with the Center for Defense Information in Washington, D.C." but coming I am a former Army helicopter pilot and these flights are scheduled in lieu of other training. If they were not doing this, they would be flying traffic patterns in BFE.