According to U.S. Armed Forces’ officials, military flyovers at college and professional sporting events are among the casualties of the sequester – a.k.a. the modest reductions in federal government excess which started kicking in this week.
“The Thunderbirds are expected to stand down effective April 1,” an Air Force spokeswoman told USA Today, indicating a March 10 appearance at a NASCAR race in Las Vegas “is pretty much going to be, I think, the last flyover you’ll see for a while from us.”
Good …
Don’t get us wrong. We love stadium flyovers. Who doesn’t? They’re cool. And loud. And exciting. And they get crowds all sorts of energized. Not only that, they remind us of why we are (or rather were) patriotic – which is probably why the government provides them as a public relations service.
Here’s the thing, though … as good as all of those things are, none of them justify flyovers as a taxpayer expense. In fact funding for flyovers is emblematic of our government’s root problem – appropriating public resources to things simply because they’re popular.
Getting rid of flyovers, on the other hand, is emblematic of what the federal government needs to do en masse across its sprawling bureaucracy … identifying things it doesn’t need to be doing and cutting them.
And while that may not be popular when the cut impacts something as cool as flyovers, it is of vital importance if our country is to survive.
What do you think? Vote in our poll and post your thoughts in our comments section below.
***
64 comments
We will either realize what all our little likes cost us and cut back, or we will all realize what they cost and ante up more money for them. I’m hoping we learn to live without.
We will either realize what all our little likes cost us and cut back, or we will all realize what they cost and ante up more money for them. I’m hoping we learn to live without.
FITS has turned into the cranky old dude, that does nothing but sit around and B!*#h no matter what the news.
I’m not sure why you are telling us how you feel about this, but I am sure I don’t give a $#!*….
They will close the Washington Monument and the Grand Canyon too…
FITS has turned into the cranky old dude, that does nothing but sit around and B!*#h no matter what the news.
I’m not sure why you are telling us how you feel about this, but I am sure I don’t give a $#!*….
They will close the Washington Monument and the Grand Canyon too…
I would love to see a flyover of willy bryce, especially if they dropped a dozen or so hellfires.
That’s the only way Clemson could win…
I would love to see a flyover of willy bryce, especially if they dropped a dozen or so hellfires.
That’s the only way Clemson could win…
America does not have the ability to see the waste in anything. We feel as though the government will take care of us. We have become lazy and complacent and we will get everything we deserve because of our ignorance. Obama is the most lying President I have seen in my lifetime and the press just covers up for him and those without the ability to survive on their own will stick with him and the Democrats until America goes the way of every great nation that came before us!
America does not have the ability to see the waste in anything. We feel as though the government will take care of us. We have become lazy and complacent and we will get everything we deserve because of our ignorance. Obama is the most lying President I have seen in my lifetime and the press just covers up for him and those without the ability to survive on their own will stick with him and the Democrats until America goes the way of every great nation that came before us!
I thought the air national guard did the flyovers at usc. Being the state pays for it not the feds. Not saying right or wrong, just different govt paying for it
The States pay less than 10% of the cost of the National Guard.
Do you think the state owns those F-16’s, C-17’s, AH-64’s, etc… in their aviation inventory?
I thought the air national guard did the flyovers at usc. Being the state pays for it not the feds. Not saying right or wrong, just different govt paying for it
The States pay less than 10% of the cost of the National Guard.
Do you think the state owns those F-16’s, C-17’s, AH-64’s, etc… in their aviation inventory?
More cuts needs to be done. Standing in the grocery line yesterday and a 19 year old shit bag was laughing and telling his thug buddies that the government gives him a check twice a month. He had this stupid looking gold grill on his teeth. After hearing more of this shit, I turned around and asked him did he have a job. You would have thought I just slapped that fake ass gold grill out of his mouth. His smart ass reply was no he don’t have a job and why should he? The government gives him a check. I did all I could not remain mature. I told him did he realize that the money he gets from the government comes from hard working people that have jobs? Another dumb ass reply from this shit bag as he was laughing about it, he said yeah but it is the governments fault because they give it to him.
Then I realized that it is the governments fault for giving shit bags like this who do nothing to get a job, attempt to get a job or maintain a job other than suck off all the working people and displays nothing but pride for receiving money he did not work or contribute
Your anecdote sounds exactly like so many others we’ve heard on this site. Are you sure it really happened?
Sounds like bullshit to me as well. i haven’t seen a gold grill in years…
Not that I necessarily buy the initial story, but I also don’t consider you to be an accurate source for determining urban fashion trends. FWIW, I see grillz on occasion.
Grillz…look at you go, Urban Cowboy!
More cuts needs to be done. Standing in the grocery line yesterday and a 19 year old shit bag was laughing and telling his thug buddies that the government gives him a check twice a month. He had this stupid looking gold grill on his teeth. After hearing more of this shit, I turned around and asked him did he have a job. You would have thought I just slapped that fake ass gold grill out of his mouth. His smart ass reply was no he don’t have a job and why should he? The government gives him a check. I did all I could not remain mature. I told him did he realize that the money he gets from the government comes from hard working people that have jobs? Another dumb ass reply from this shit bag as he was laughing about it, he said yeah but it is the governments fault because they give it to him.
Then I realized that it is the governments fault for giving shit bags like this who do nothing to get a job, attempt to get a job or maintain a job other than suck off all the working people and displays nothing but pride for receiving money he did not work or contribute
Your anecdote sounds exactly like so many others we’ve heard on this site. Are you sure it really happened?
Sounds like bullshit to me as well. i haven’t seen a gold grill in years…
Not that I necessarily buy the initial story, but I also don’t consider you to be an accurate source for determining urban fashion trends. FWIW, I see grillz on occasion.
Grillz…look at you go, Urban Cowboy!
FITS told us there is no difference between Romney and Obama
WHERE ARE THE JOBS?????????????
The economy just gets worse.
Gas is higher, incomes dropping, home prices down and only the faqt cats on the Stock Market get richer on Obama-media hype..
WHY DID YOU LIE TO US FITS?????
Are you a political idiot (trying to sell a politcal web site) or are you corrupt????
Your right to dislike Obama is ok, but the constant distortion of facts gets old. Gas is up, now going back down. Home prices down? no, they are coming back up and sales are better than they have been in 5 years. Wall Street certainly is getting fatter; nothing seems to slow them down.
,Bottom line: No good numbers are sustained. It’s as BAD as it ever has been…and will be until there is some responsible leadership, and jobs come back.
You people take any news and twist it to praise your master…
The stock market is up, but there is no wealth, excepct w/ the wealthy to invest…and the up trend is based on media hype and smoke and mirrors by the Fed. it’s not real…
Obama is a SCREW UP…and you’re lying to yourself until you can admit that.
“…Boy, the way Glenn Miller played…”
FITS told us there is no difference between Romney and Obama
WHERE ARE THE JOBS?????????????
The economy just gets worse.
Gas is higher, incomes dropping, home prices down and only the faqt cats on the Stock Market get richer on Obama-media hype..
WHY DID YOU LIE TO US FITS?????
Are you a political idiot (trying to sell a politcal web site) or are you corrupt????
Your right to dislike Obama is ok, but the constant distortion of facts gets old. Gas is up, now going back down. Home prices down? no, they are coming back up and sales are better than they have been in 5 years. Wall Street certainly is getting fatter; nothing seems to slow them down.
,Bottom line: No good numbers are sustained. It’s as BAD as it ever has been…and will be until there is some responsible leadership, and jobs come back.
You people take any news and twist it to praise your master…
The stock market is up, but there is no wealth, excepct w/ the wealthy to invest…and the up trend is based on media hype and smoke and mirrors by the Fed. it’s not real…
Obama is a SCREW UP…and you’re lying to yourself until you can admit that.
“…Boy, the way Glenn Miller played…”
Sounds like fearmongering to me. An element of truth surrounded by farce. Sure, with a major cut in the DoD budget, the frills may go away. However, military pilots have to fly to stay current, combine training flights with a fly over. The fly over doesn’t take long then it’s off to other training. Sheesh, no common sense, just immediate panic.
Sounds like fearmongering to me. An element of truth surrounded by farce. Sure, with a major cut in the DoD budget, the frills may go away. However, military pilots have to fly to stay current, combine training flights with a fly over. The fly over doesn’t take long then it’s off to other training. Sheesh, no common sense, just immediate panic.
As someone familiar with military aviation, most flyovers are a part of that day’s training mission… typically at the beginning of a training mission or at the end. The planes don’t fly over a stadium as the sole reason for being up that day. The only ones that do are when the Thunderchickens or Blue Angels perform a flyover.
As someone familiar with military aviation, most flyovers are a part of that day’s training mission… typically at the beginning of a training mission or at the end. The planes don’t fly over a stadium as the sole reason for being up that day. The only ones that do are when the Thunderchickens or Blue Angels perform a flyover.
A waste of JP-4.
JP-4? Welcome to 1982.
A waste of JP-4.
JP-4? Welcome to 1982.
I figure flyovers also entice young people to want to join the military, even though very few people qualify to ever fly said planes. Not sure how that stacks up to the cost of usual TV/radio ad buys.
I like the idea someone mentioned, where they just schedule it to coincide with flight training. Do the flyover and then go off to training. We should also charge professional sports teams or events at least a fee for doing it, unless we already do. Do flight shows and get companies to help sponsor it to keep costs down.
Just some ideas. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with them per se, but we should do everything we can to drive down the cost to little or nothing of taxpayer dollars. Then again, it isn’t the end of the world if we don’t have them, either. There’s likely much larger money pits in the military to go after, though.
I figure flyovers also entice young people to want to join the military, even though very few people qualify to ever fly said planes. Not sure how that stacks up to the cost of usual TV/radio ad buys.
I like the idea someone mentioned, where they just schedule it to coincide with flight training. Do the flyover and then go off to training. We should also charge professional sports teams or events at least a fee for doing it, unless we already do. Do flight shows and get companies to help sponsor it to keep costs down.
Just some ideas. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with them per se, but we should do everything we can to drive down the cost to little or nothing of taxpayer dollars. Then again, it isn’t the end of the world if we don’t have them, either. There’s likely much larger money pits in the military to go after, though.
Richard Gozinya and Squishy123,
Please stop bringing facts to this site. It upsets the founding editor’s little stories. Pilots have to put in flying hours to keep their quals and get flight pay. So passing over a stadium as PART of that really costs nothing. Now of course you could ground all the planes and mothball them if that is your ultimate aim.
So, if they cost nothing, and are actually beneficial to training, why is the military putting an end to them?
Sid, you are smarter than that. Showmanship. They want a visual for the taxpayers. Virtually everyone knows and has seen the Blue Angels. So cancel their appearances and the taxpayers will notice and get the connection.
Thank you. I just wanted someone else to spell out yet another way Barry is exploiting this mess. If I said it, others might claim I was spouting anti-Barry paranoia.
Richard Gozinya and Squishy123,
Please stop bringing facts to this site. It upsets the founding editor’s little stories. Pilots have to put in flying hours to keep their quals and get flight pay. So passing over a stadium as PART of that really costs nothing. Now of course you could ground all the planes and mothball them if that is your ultimate aim.
So, if they cost nothing, and are actually beneficial to training, why is the military putting an end to them?
Sid, you are smarter than that. Showmanship. They want a visual for the taxpayers. Virtually everyone knows and has seen the Blue Angels. So cancel their appearances and the taxpayers will notice and get the connection.
Thank you. I just wanted someone else to spell out yet another way Barry is exploiting this mess. If I said it, others might claim I was spouting anti-Barry paranoia.
There’s a difference to having an aerial performance team like the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels to having a flyby. Flybys can possibly be accommodated into normal training schedule. If the Shaw guys are flying 100 miles one way on a Saturday, they can do a flyby.The Thunderbirds is a different beast altogether. Shame. But not necessary.
There’s a difference to having an aerial performance team like the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels to having a flyby. Flybys can possibly be accommodated into normal training schedule. If the Shaw guys are flying 100 miles one way on a Saturday, they can do a flyby.The Thunderbirds is a different beast altogether. Shame. But not necessary.
Money does not matter to politicians. I see where John Kerry is going to give Egypt 3/4 of a Billion dollars. This mean we are going to borrow 40% of it so it will rally cost us over a Billion. A billion here and a billion there.Expensive vacations and junkets and the average America is still suffering. You get what you vote for America!
Money does not matter to politicians. I see where John Kerry is going to give Egypt 3/4 of a Billion dollars. This mean we are going to borrow 40% of it so it will rally cost us over a Billion. A billion here and a billion there.Expensive vacations and junkets and the average America is still suffering. You get what you vote for America!
damn you let me down—they must continually be flying so a flyover is simply an exercise–which they would be doing any way–but they time it accordingly–ever been to MB–they are flying all the time
damn you let me down—they must continually be flying so a flyover is simply an exercise–which they would be doing any way–but they time it accordingly–ever been to MB–they are flying all the time
It’ll probably be a blimp,instead ,just like,Black Sunday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW3ZzsP3XPI
children, stop your nursing,unless you’re rendering fun
It’ll probably be a blimp,instead ,just like,Black Sunday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW3ZzsP3XPI
children, stop your nursing,unless you’re rendering fun