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Background and Planning - Simulation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHrRZfhU6Tw
Folks, below is a letter my friend Pepper sent me that he had received from friends involved in the flyby, which I believe was three aircraft - a B1, a B2, and a B-52.
John Wilkes
__________
Subject: Super bowl flyby
Dear Friends,
Please allow a proud father to tell you the rest of the story.
Talked to Chris yesterday on his way home and congratulated him on a great flyby. Turns out it was a lot more challenging than it looked!
Despite all the pre-briefings, advance coordination, a practice run, and a major emphasis on things going according to a to-the-second schedule, CBS and the Super Bowl folks almost caused a 2 and 1/2 minute early arrival. Chris had requested a definite "stake in the ground" time for the last commercial to start prior to the National Anthem so he could have his flight at the IP (Initial Point) at the right time for the run-in. After Chris started the bombers in from their holding pattern (that was 14 miles away) so as to arrive at the IP on time, they delayed the commercial for 2 and 1/2 minutes, meaning the flight would arrive 2 and 1/2 minutes early. While that might seem like a lot of time to perform a racetrack orbit, it's not a lot of time to turn three large bombers in formation.
Folks, below is a letter my friend Pepper sent me that he had received from friends involved in the flyby, which I believe was three aircraft - a B1, a B2, and a B-52.
John Wilkes
__________
Subject: Super bowl flyby
Dear Friends,
Please allow a proud father to tell you the rest of the story.
Talked to Chris yesterday on his way home and congratulated him on a great flyby. Turns out it was a lot more challenging than it looked!
Despite all the pre-briefings, advance coordination, a practice run, and a major emphasis on things going according to a to-the-second schedule, CBS and the Super Bowl folks almost caused a 2 and 1/2 minute early arrival. Chris had requested a definite "stake in the ground" time for the last commercial to start prior to the National Anthem so he could have his flight at the IP (Initial Point) at the right time for the run-in. After Chris started the bombers in from their holding pattern (that was 14 miles away) so as to arrive at the IP on time, they delayed the commercial for 2 and 1/2 minutes, meaning the flight would arrive 2 and 1/2 minutes early. While that might seem like a lot of time to perform a racetrack orbit, it's not a lot of time to turn three large bombers in formation.
As Chris was calculating the size of the pattern they needed or rather to try to come up with a zigzag run-in, Super Bowl officials started the next segment (the award for the man of the year) before the commercial was over, meaning the bombers were only going to be 49 seconds early, so a 360-degree turn would have made them late.
Fortunately, Chris, having planned for all contingencies, had prepared an elaborate excel spreadsheet with timing/airspeed adjustments needed for each point along the approach based on what was happening on the ground -- he even had time-to-go calculations for key words in the National Anthem! Remarkably, he was able to slow these big aircraft enough to have them cross the 50-yard line right on the last note of the anthem, as planned. Added to the pressure, the lead aircraft was not able to use one of its radios because of an antenna malfunction, so they had to use a wingman to talk to approach control so they could talk to Chris on the remaining radio. The run-in produced some tense moments!
Interesting facts for my pilot friends: because the B-2 (flight
lead) has a very small vertical profile and no tail structure (after all, it is a stealth aircraft!), the two wingmen had to fly a little bit higher than lead to give them a reference point to focus on to stay in position. The formation had a block altitude of 1200 - 1400 feet (AGL) to give them the FAA-required 1,000 feet above the highest light towers at Raymond James Stadium.
Thanks for all the messages of thanks for advising you of the flyby and Chris' role in it. I thought all of you would enjoy his team's efforts to provide a perfect flyby and produce a little national pride.
Interesting facts for my pilot friends: because the B-2 (flight
lead) has a very small vertical profile and no tail structure (after all, it is a stealth aircraft!), the two wingmen had to fly a little bit higher than lead to give them a reference point to focus on to stay in position. The formation had a block altitude of 1200 - 1400 feet (AGL) to give them the FAA-required 1,000 feet above the highest light towers at Raymond James Stadium.
Thanks for all the messages of thanks for advising you of the flyby and Chris' role in it. I thought all of you would enjoy his team's efforts to provide a perfect flyby and produce a little national pride.
He and his 3-person run-in crew made the perfect flyby look easy. Lots of behind-the-scenes work for a few seconds of thrills and pride!
God bless you all. And God bless America.
Ken and Ginny
God bless you all. And God bless America.
Ken and Ginny
