Thanks, Uncle Sam, for the Boondoggle

Oh, Government. Let me thank you.

Because, because of you, my husband and his fellow Michigan Alumni Air Force cronies have access to jets, and this leads to the Annual Michigan Stadium Flyover Boondoggle.

For those who are unable to attend, a little background information, if you will.

14 years ago, sitting in the student section of Michigan stadium, there was a flyover, in which a much younger Michael Ferrario gazed up and stated, "Someday, I want to do that!"

Well, many years later, and it has happened. Again. Somehow, Mike and his buddies have once again managed to schmooze, coerce, and generally finagel their way into convincing commanders to give them jets to go cross country for the weekend and University personnel to sponsor a flyover.

And, the results were brilliant. After many meetings, tons of diagrams using words like "holding pattern" and "turn circle" the boys have managed another beautiful aerial spectacle. On time and in perfect formation. Way to go guys.

Some funny commentary:
The flyover process involves guys in the jets, and then a guy basically strapped to the top of the Michigan Stadium construction, somewhere in the girders, with handheld radios and such. Based on strict pre-game announcements and band procedures, the guy on the roof makes calls to the jets as to when there is exactly 3 minutes until flyover time. Then, depending upon where the jets are in the holding pattern, they base their turns accordingly and aim to be directly overhead the stadium for the "Home of the Brave..." Well, after the 3 minutes in called, there is not much to do except wait and hope that the plan is solid, and for the second year in the row, the guy on the roof has keyed up the microphone over Ann Arbor Tower frequency, and sung the National Anthem loudly in hopes to help the guys in the jets make it right on time.

I have watched my husband get in the car to prepare to go fly this mission twice now, and both times, I have never seen him so nervous! He totally agrees, and says that he is way more nervous for this mission than any combat sortie he has flown! Way too much chance for error....in front of 108,000 people!