[narby]

I was at the Rose Bowl in 2003 and we had a B2, F117 and the F/A-22 Raptor perform a low pass after the National Anthem....

I used to fly banner planes in So. Cal. in the 90's, and one year the Blue Angles did the national anthem flyby at the Rose Bowl (they don't allow banner planes now after 9/11).

We usually had 10-20 banner planes up, in a tight altitude restriction on top of the blimps and helicopters, but under regular traffic. It was an airspace nightmare.

Anyway, we were briefed on exactly when the Blues would be coming through, and everybody moved a few miles away to give them a path in and out. What was amazing is that they time this stuff exactly to the second. They must have equipment for such things.

It was impressive to see from in the air, even if we were a couple miles away.

[jaydubya2]

"they don't allow banner planes now after 9/11"
Yes. And it put a lot of peolpe out of work. I could never undestand the threat of a banner plane, or most GA planes in gerneral.

[Dashing Dasher]

What was amazing is that they time this stuff exactly to the second. They must have equipment for such things.

When we do formation join ups - we have to be on our mark at the exact time also.

For the type of flying I was trained in - military level precision is taught and expected.

I'll never forget my ex- was discussing a recovery operation - we had 8-10 planes in the air that needed to be recovered with minutes. One of the newbies said, "I go around alot - what should I do?!" and my ex-/coach said,

"FOCUS MORE!"