Army flyover to kickoff Super Bowl

Army News Service ^

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

 

 

Army flyover to kickoff Super Bowl

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jan. 30, 2004) -- U.S. Army aviation assets will help kickoff America's most-watched annual sporting event Feb. 1, when four Apache helicopters fly over Reliant Stadium in Houston prior to Super Bowl XXXVIII.

The 2nd Battalion of the 149th Aviation Regiment, Texas Army National Guard, will fly the Apaches over the Stadium just before the Carolina Panthers begin playing the New England Patriots.

The retractable-roof stadium will be open and plans call for the helicopters to appear following the National Anthem, Army officials said.

"It's one of those once-in-a-lifetime things," said Lt. Col. Bo Cenyon, who will co-pilot one of the Apaches. He said four of the eight pilots returned from Bosnia in October and other members of the battalion are currently there now serving with the Stabilization Force.

The Flyover request came from Reliant Stadium and Super Bowl officials, and has the approval of the Department of Defense.

The Texas Guard flight is in keeping with tight security plans, which will include a 12-hour civilian no-fly zone in the area of the 70,000-seat stadium, officials said. Homeland Security officials approved the opening of the stadium's dome.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command are taking actions to deter any possible threats against Sunday's game and festivities, according to Mike Perini, director of public affairs for both commands. In their homeland defense roles, NORAD and NORTHCOM join local, state, federal and other military efforts to protect Americans.

NFL will salute U.S. service members around the world during the Super Bowl. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers will participate in pregame festitivities. More than 5,000 Super Bowl game programs were sent by the NFL to military stationed overseas.

CBS Sports officials said they will televise members of the military stationed in Baghdad watching the game. More than 800,000 servicemen and women in 165 countries will be able to watch the game on the American Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.

Super Bowl XXXVIII will be televised by CBS on Feb. 1 and watched by more than 130 million viewers in the United States with a potential worldwide audience of 1 billion viewers. The Super Bowl is annually the nation's highest-rated TV program and the most-watched single-day sporting event. Game time is 6 p.m. ET.

The Super Bowl salute caps off a season-long tribute by the NFL to America's military. The NFL kicked off the season Sept. 4 with an event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., recognizing "Operation Tribute to Freedom," which salutes troops returning home from the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters.

(Editor's note: The American Forces Press Service, the Army Community Relations and Outreach Division, NFL and CBS provided information for this article.)

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

U.S. Army aviation assets will help kickoff America's most-watched annual sporting event Feb. 1, when four Apache helicopters fly over Reliant Stadium in Houston prior to Super Bowl XXXVIII.

The 2nd Battalion of the 149th Aviation Regiment, Texas Army National Guard, will fly the Apaches over the Stadium just before the Carolina Panthers begin playing the New England Patriots.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

               AH-1 Cobra briefing room

[SandRat]

Ohhhhh, .... it promises to be grand!

Of course the whining and sniveling of the FAR LEFT about how inappropriate is also promises to be most entertaining.

I wonder which of the remaining 7 Dwarfs will whine first?

[xzins]

The Guard On patrol

at the Super Bowl

[LasVegasMac]

when four Apache helicopters fly over Reliant Stadium in Houston prior to Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Well that should take about 20 minutes. Hope the crowd doesn't doze off.

LVM

[blackie]

The 2nd Battalion of the 149th Aviation Regiment, Texas Army National Guard, will fly the Apaches over the Stadium just before the Carolina Panthers begin playing the New England Patriots ~ Bump!

[SandRat]

Just because I'm a retired Vet I'm cheering for the Patriots

[mrs tiggywinkle]

**I wonder which of the remaining 7 Dwarfs will whine first? **

:o)

[Ronin]

Since the guys and gals taking the most hits and shedding the most blood in Iraq are those grunts and helo drivers, a bit more respect seems to be called for.

They deserve this moment of glory.

[LasVegasMac]

Do you recall the exact moment that you lost your sense of humor?

LVM

[steplock]

"U.S. Army aviation ASSETS" ??

I just wonder about this choice of terms ???

.

[windchime]

Military flyovers are AWESOME whatever aircraft they use. I hope the City of Houston is letting the citizens know about it. In addition to awesome, it can be scarey if you don't know what's up.

[Eagle Eye]

Fast movers haven't done squat for us compared to the chopper pilots who chase bad guys and escort convoys.

Maybe you'd think twice about put downs if you were on the ground a littl more.

[Joe Brower]

Er, RC, not to be nitpicky, that pic you have for your "AH-1 Cobra briefing room" link is an AH-64 Apache, not a HueyCobra.

[Broadside Joe]

I wasn't going to watch the game but I will now.

[leadpenny]

Too bad these birds can't perform in a way that reflects the reason they were designed:

An imposing hover pop-up from four corners of the stadium.

[TruthNtegrity]

Let's all remember that Kerry voted against Chinooks, Apaches, two of the tank-type vehicles, and numerous other DoD advancements.

The guy is anti-Military as a Dim can be.

I'm going to look up his record and start posting all his votes against the Military. It will be my small contribution here at FR.

Thanks, Rags, for all of your posts. I don't often come on them and post, but I do read them all.

God bless you, God bless our Military and God bless Pres. Bush.

[Edgewood Pilot]

What time does the game start? Thx.

[TruthNtegrity]

Kickoff is at 7:25.

The folks in Baghdad will be watching it on a movie screen in a former Hussein palace, but they have to be awake at 2:25AM. (That's how I figured out the time here!)

Go Army!

[Crew Chief]

And Lest We Forget , when Kerry returned from his tour of the other side of the world the first thing he did was start the organization known as The Viet Nam Vets Against The War and led organized civil disturbances in a number of US cities that lead to clashes with Police and Nat'l Guard units .