What things should be v. what they are
At the UT v. Air Force game last night, I saw 3 fighter plans and a B52 bomber fly the stadium as part of the ceremonies. I thought it was an impressive sight. Then I thought I wonder how much this cost the taxpayers? Probably quite a bit. But I should just get over it.
Smarminess aside, Xrlq makes a good point about taxes you should be reminded of.
September 10th, 2006 at 12:41 pm
Concern about how much something costs taxpayers generally is legit. My post was directed at those who say “I don’t want one dime of MY tax dollars going to X” – as if to suggest that the speaker thinks he is the only taxpayer in the country, or that his status as an individual taxpayer should vest in him a veto power over everything he doesn’t like.
September 10th, 2006 at 1:10 pm
I was wondering the same thing…cool as shit to see a B52 buzz over me, but that had to cost a helluva lot of money in AV fuel.
September 10th, 2006 at 2:21 pm
Yes it probably did cost a bit, however, the time the pilots spent in the cockpit go towards their qualifing times. The pilots must have a certain amount of flight time each year to keep their ratings.
September 10th, 2006 at 3:37 pm
Maybe that was part of the $800,000 bill that UT paid AF to come play us.
September 10th, 2006 at 3:49 pm
I would think that all over our nation scenes like that are common as the fifth anniversary of 911 approaches. I am cheaper than most but can understand why that was done. It was meant to be both symbolic and reassuring. Monday will be a difficult day. I hope Americans will think more about what brings them together than what pulls them apart.
September 10th, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Brass is dead on.
Flight crews have to log so many hours per month, and these types of things count toward that, so no money wasted. Appearances like those are just value-added training.
September 10th, 2006 at 7:34 pm
Not sure how often they do it at away games, but every home game at the AFA features many flyovers by our nation’s finest. The most aircraft usually come for whichever other service academy is playing at our home games. I’ve heard stories of AF planes buzzing the other academies in the week before a game as well. Money well spent? I don’t mind, and as pointed out above, the pilots get the hours on their logs…
September 10th, 2006 at 9:08 pm
When you consider the fact that they hire recruiters and run tv ads, flyovers aren’t that big of a deal. It’s just another method of public outreach.
September 10th, 2006 at 11:29 pm
We are the biggest, baddest, most kick ass air force in history.
I for one, don’t mind them spending my tax dollars to show it off and give the citizens a thrill as well as a demonstration.
I just can’t believe we almost blew this one. What a fricken forth quarter letdown.
Fire Phil Fulmer got lucky on this one.
September 10th, 2006 at 11:52 pm
As a BYU supporter, I could have warned you UT fans to beware of Air Force. If you can’t stop their option, they’ll run over you all day long. Doesn’t matter if you have a good QB (who, incidentally, is the nephew of BYU great Danny Ainge — but you probably already knew that) if he can’t get his hands on the ball, he can’t win the game.
A few years ago, we really gave it to them in Provo. Something like 63-21. AF coach DeBerry was furious because he thought we ran up the score intentionally. The next year, we went to Colorado Springs and they returned the favor, by about the same score. Those Academy guys might not be big or fast, but they’re tough. And they don’t give up.
But then you found that out yesterday, didn’t you?
September 11th, 2006 at 12:29 am
Of course, aviation kerosene was cheaper back then, but I still fondly remember my participation as a high-school bandsman in a pregame show at an Orange Bowl game where we played the afterburner arrangement of the National Anthem. A coupla F4s came over and lit burners at “rocket’s red glare” in the music. 1967 or 1968, I think it was. We used the Fillmore, or “trumpeting” arrangement, and played it at a lively tempo.
Yes, the SSB sounds really cool with afterburners lightin’up at the right time. You have to get the phrasing and dynamics right.