While watching the Super Bowl, I remarked to the kids on the curious concept of a flyover by Navy jets for a closed stadium where the fans watched on jumbo screens. My mirth turned to madness when I just saw on Reddit, however, that it cost the public $450,000. I am also pleased to announce the scheduled flyover (left) planned for this year’s Turley Turkey Bowl.
The Navy says the cost to bring the formation of four planes, plus a backup, to North Texas was over $450,000, based on the operational cost of the F-18 aircraft and the number of hours the pilots will fly. They came from Virginia Beach because the military decided it was better to take them from across the country rather than use the squadron of F-18 fighters at the Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, less than 20 miles from the stadium.
The Navy insists that it is good for public relations . . . for the public to see that it is willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars at a time of economic stress to fly over a closed domed stadium.
It works for me. I have completed the DD 2253 (“Request for Military Aerial Support”) form below for my own military flyover for my annual Turley Thanksgiving Turkey Bowl with children in the neighborhood. This Redskins-Bears game is a public event with considerable following.
Unlike the Super Bowl, the Turley Turkey bowl is held in an open field ideal for our flyover.
The Turley Turkey Bowl organization released the following statement:
We are delighted by the opportunity to have a flyover added our annual game watched by dozens across this suburb. While we have a squadron of F-18s located less than a mile away at Langley, we would prefer planes from Europe to perform the flyover to capture the international spirit of this event.
Note to readers: following this blog entry, the “Turley Turkey Bowl” will be trademarked. However, you may continue to refer to it as the “Big Game in McLean” or simply “The Event Formerly Known As The Turley Turkey Bowl.”
Here is our form: DD2535-Aviation
Source: KHOU.
Jonathan Turley
rafflaw
It makes more sense, at least. I heard they did a fly-over of the 100th anniversary celebration of Ronald Reagan’s birth – I guess that, also, is more sensible than this.
Buckeye,
That San Diego flyover sounds pretty exciting.
Why so much? An Orlando Sentinel story from 2008 had the cost of flyovers at between $40-$80,000. Inflation hitting the DOD that badly?
You ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Can you speed up the Turkey bowl to this Saturday and move it to San Diego?
Largest military flyover since WWII planned
By Jeanette Steele, UNION-TRIBUNE
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 12:12 p.m.
Curtiss TS-2 floatplanes fly above North Island and the aircraft carrier Langley, circa 1926. (Naval History and Heritage Command)
The Navy has announced a special air show — including a massive flyover of San Diego Bay by more than 150 aircraft — to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of naval aviation.
“It is expected to be the largest aerial flyover since World War II and the largest in San Diego since November, 1918,” said Lt. Cmdr. Alli Myrick-Ellison, a Navy spokeswoman in Coronado.
The Navy is billing the show as a once-in-a-lifetime event that will allow the public to see the aircraft in flight from vantage points all around the bay.
The show, slated for Feb. 12 at North Island Naval Air Station, kicks off what will be a yearlong effort to mark the start of the Navy’s foray into the air.
The free event will also include a timeline-like display of aircraft from vintage planes to the newest fighter jets.
It’s also your chance to see inside a $4 billion Navy flattop.
Tours of Navy aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships will be offered, along with a tactical demonstration by Marine aircraft and ground equipment.
I see nothing strange about having military jets flying over what will probably become one of the FEMA internment camps being planned in secret by our government. I’d be uneasy if we didn’t have some military air support.
Michele Bachmann wasn’t going to fill out her census form because some group might be sent to an internment camp. Glen Beck was going to investigate the FEMA internment camps, but decided to debunk them instead (it’s hoped his listeners heard both broadcasts). And that upset Alex Jones at Prison Planet.
“Glenn Beck, the seasoned operative, never intended a serious exposé. He planned to make those of us who know FEMA camps exist look like fools and churls.”
http://www.prisonplanet.com/glenn-beck%E2%80%99s-lame-attempt-to-%E2%80%9Cdebunk%E2%80%9D-fema-camps.html
CHOCK FULL O’ NUTS.
Charles G.
Sounds interesting. A link would help.
This needs to be discussed
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41476929/ns/world_news-europe/from/toolbar
LONDON — A man with a low IQ has been banned from sex by a judge who said the case raised questions about civil liberties, The Telegraph newspaper reported.
The 41-year-old man, known as Alan, has an IQ of 48 and a moderate learning disability, the newspaper reported. Alan was living with a man and having sex with him.
His local council decided that his “vigorous sex drive” was not appropriate and he didn’t understand what he was doing, the Telegraph reported.
High Court Justice Nicholas Mostyn agreed that Alan did not have the mental capacity to understand the health risks and should not have sex with anyone. The judge’s order put Alan under the local authority that provides his housing.
Still, the judge called the case “legally, intellectually and morally” complex and said the court must “tread especially carefully” when the state tries to curtail such a basic human function as sex.
The case began in June 2009, when the local council started court proceedings to restrict Alan’s contact with the man, identified as Kieron. Alan has been prevented since then from sexual activity, except when he’s alone, the Telegraph’s report said.
In Britain, the Court of Protection can make decisions for people deemed to lack the intelligence to make them themselves. These people can be ordered to undergo surgery, have abortion, be forced to use contracteption — even have life support switched off.
Alan was described as “sociable” but “seriously challenged in all aspects of his mental functionality.” He had been accused of making lewd gestures at children, but no police action was taken, the Telegraph said.
I grew up going to watch the Blue Angels perform at base shows…I’d much rather they do this than drop bombs….plus, they ARE our planes afterall….
I am curious as to whether this is more of a bookkeeping issue than an extra expense. I assume the pilots routinely fly for training or tactical and strategic reasons, and if so, was flying over Texas was just a change in location.
AA,
You are right about the domed stadium making this mostly a TV flyover experience.
Watching those fly-overs has always left me feeling that this is an “only in America” experience, where a military is bankrupting the country, but we have half a mil for PR… and to me, it is negative PR, especially in a domed stadium…Thanks for getting us the details.
Bob,
You are right about the “turkey drop”! That was a hilarious scene.
Mike S.
Well said as usual. I don’t have a problem with a flyover at big events if the costs are reasonable. I realize it can be a good advertisement for the Air Force, but why don’t they require a fee from the NFL to do this at the most expensive sports event that we have? What was the cost for a 30 second commercial?
Elaine,
That has to be one of the funniest moments in TV history.
Considering a 30 second spot aimed at recruitment would have cost $3,000,000.00, $450,000 was a bargain!
I’m really disappointed! I thought you were planning the first ever “Turley Turkey Drop” this coming November.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ST01bZJPuE0&w=480&h=390]
Well said Mike.
How about the DoD announce that they’re cancelling flyovers and spending that money on those who are wounded?
I don’t believe that JT will actually submit DD2535 for the TT-Bowl.
Hey, its only paper money….we can print our own…more of it too….
I have been pissed off for years at these flyovers at sporting events. What is the point save for some dimwits believing that itwill increase recruitment and the need to co-mingle a phony patriotism with the particular sport receiving this large, expensive favor. If we get to the S-Bowl (no trademark infringement)Did anyone else notice the militaristic/jingoistic
tenor to the proceedings, such as pictures of the troops in Afghanistan watching the game.
I identify with the troops even though I was 4F during Viet Nam. They are for the most part patriotic, self-sacrificing young people, idealistically believing in their country. That they have been used cruelly, were killed and maimed (psychologically & physically)in four unnecessary wars, is without doubt. Adding these horrific insults to injury they return to the country,in need of medical/psychological/social services, only to face red tape and rejection. Every right Wing political SOB who intones support for our troops and then doesn’t work to get good programs funded, is an insensitive deceiver. This goes for many average Americancitizens, who support our troops in the abstract, but not in relity.
That is why I’m sickened by these “patriotic” sports displays, feeding the corporate maw, yet dripping hypocrisy.
This is so crazy it is almost hilarious! I think the NFL should remiburse the taxpayers for those costs. Prof. Turley, let me be the first to request the concession rights to the annual Turley Turkey Bowl! I think it would be fair that the Turley Turkey Bowl Organization should receive 10% of all sales!
Nice to see they got a Concorde out of retirement and the RAF Red Arrows – our armed forces really could do with that $450K. Thanks!