Aircrews, support staff work to wow crowds

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jacob Corbin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  At celebrations and events across the country, spectators watch as a formation of United States Air Force aircraft fly over head - whether it be one, two or the maximum of four aircraft in formation. What spectators do not see is the time and work involved in setting up the mere-seconds long display.

Work on the event begins weeks ahead when the organization makes contact and requests an aerial event, said Capt. Kory Einreinhofer, an instructor pilot with the 37th Flying Training Squadron and a veteran of five flyovers. Captain Einreinhofer and three other pilots recently participated in a flyover at Mississippi State University's Super Bulldog Weekend sporting event.

Once the event has the needed Air Staff approval, pilots begin laying the groundwork for their flight.

The pilots contact the event coordinator to confirm the requested flyover time and the direction of the flyover. Precise communication is required to ensure the flyover is in the correct direction over the precise location for the event.

The pilots use a computer-based mapping program to view the area of the flyover and pick out prominent ground references that will be visible from the aircraft for use in their flight, he said. If the flyover location is too far from home station or it is requested during a time when the base is closed, a forward staging location for the aircraft will have to be researched and coordinated. They'll continue to plan out their flight as if it were any other type of mission.

He said a flight that takes less than ten seconds can take up to ten hours of planning to execute.

Once the pilots and ground liaison are selected, Public Affairs coordinates with the flying unit to get the names and hometowns of the participating crews. PA then blends that in to a 10 second statement for the event narrator highlighting the Air Force and its Airmen.

On the day of the event the pilots will place themselves in a circular orbit at a precisely measured distance from the flyover location, but out of visual sight of the event participants. A ground controller, in radio contact with the orbiting aircraft, stands by at the event, radioing any changes in the program timing along with the pre-coordinated start signal to the crew.

"If anything changes, it can sometimes require quick math to figure out when we need to go." Captain Einreinhofer said. "There are a lot of variables that can change. But any changes will be transparent to the people on the ground."

The captain said he enjoys doing flyovers and attending the events after he lands.

"Buzzing 1000' over the crowds ... it's just cool do to," he said. "After the flyover, I really enjoyed attending the Mississippi State game afterwards and hearing all the people talk about the flyover. It's a really rewarding feeling."

The captain said flyovers provide America with a gentle reminder of its airpower. In addition, flyovers also provide valuable training for the pilots flying the mission.

"Whether you're flying over a crowd, preparing to airdrop supplies or putting weapons on target, you have to be at a specific place at a specific time," he said. "People are counting on its Air Force and this gives us practical experience to provide this support."