April 11, 2008
Da Plane, Da Plane: Fenway Flyover Pilot Grounded
Looks like the airlines aren't the only ones having "bad air days" (credit for the pun goes to the Herald's brilliant copyeditors). One of the pilots involved in the Vermont Air National Guard's Opening Day flyover over Fenway is in trouble for performing what is being called an "'unusual' maneuver."
From the AP: "The F-16 pilot weaved under and above three other F-16s about 1,200 feet over Fenway Park Tuesday because he was going too fast and arrived late for the flyover, officials said."
The Herald has a picture of the pilot in question lagging behind the other three planes, a little like a lost puppy. A spokesman for the national guard told WBZ, "It certainly was not your standard flyover. We're not about doing acrobatics."
The pilot hasn't spoken out yet. And fans apparently thought that the entire affair looked cool.
A glimpse of some flyover action, or at least a telltale streak, from bluemarble82 from photos tagged "Bostonist" on Flickr. Bluemarble82 also got some swell shots of Opening Day.
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Wouldn't he have been early if he was going too fast? Was the pilot auditioning for the Thunderbirds?
We're not getting the whole story. I saw the guy do another roll before getting to Fenway. I saw them a couple of times circling Cambridge and just before they came in for their final pass, the guy did a roll over Everett (or Revere -- not sure how far away from North Cambridge they were). If he hadn't done the first roll, he would have been "on time" for the flyover.
It was cool -- but I'm sure against regulations.
Last I heard he's been grounded. It's one way to avoid going to Iraq. ;)
It did look impressive, though.
The local Burlington, VT newspaper has more info about the error.
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080412/NEWS01/804120314/1009