A couple of weeks before the 4th of July, my Ops Officer at Minot asked if I wanted to lead a four ship of F-106s for a flyby to open the Calgary Stampede at Calgary, Canada. At first I hesitated because the 4th touched a weekend and resulted in a very rare four day weekend. Something we all cherished because it gave us a chance to get out of town for a couple of days. As I explained my sort of plans for the weekend, he pushed a little bit and dangled a carrot by saying none of the married guys with kids (the vast majority of our pilots) were interested and all had plans with their kids. He further dangled that I could pick the other three guys for the four ship. The squadron was tasked by higher headquarters and we were going to do it one way or the other. My initial hesitation was slowly turning into an involuntary acceptance. He then said that I would have to take T-33 (which I was also dual qualified in) over to the Air Division Headquarters at Malmstrom AFB, Montana, pick up the Air Division Commander’s Executive Officer, a Canadian Major, fly over to Calgary, meet with the Calgary Stampede Organizing Committee to discuss their desires for the flyby, and do a site survey of the Stampede grounds layout. This was starting to sound like a semi good deal with a lot of extra flying time involved.
So, on the scheduled day of the site survey, I saddled up my trusty T-33, and flew solo over to Malmstrom to pick up the Major. He was waiting on the ramp when I taxied in. I shut down, hoped out of the jet, and introduced myself to the Major. He, like every Canadian I ever met, was very personable and very excited about flying over to Calgary and meeting the planning committee. He had additional info about the Stampede, the committee, and flyby that my Ops Officer didn’t know, or brief me about. Hmmmmmmm......this could turn out to be a really cool gig. We fired up the T Bird and headed over to Calgary. Along the way, he revealed even more about what we were about to hear about. Yeah, this was going to be great fun today and over the Forth of July.
We landed at Calgary International and taxied into a well established FBO (Fixed Base Operator) and parked on their VIP ramp. While shutting down the jet’s engine and doing the shutdown checklist, I noticed a crowd of people in business attire standing at the entrance to the FBO. Must be some high roller inbound from the look of all those suits. The Major and I climb down to the ramp. As I’m talking to the fuel truck driver, the crowd of suits starts heading our way. They are all smiles and excited to see us arrive. Introductions are made, starting with the lady who is the Public Relations Chair of the Committee. She is way more outgoing than the others. It turns out, this is the first time she’s met military pilots or been this close to a military plane. She and the rest of the crowd were quite enamored with our very old T-33, Lockheed Racer. She is also very interested in the international orange flights suits we were wearing. She asks if this is the type aircraft that would be flown for the 4th of July flyby. I explained that no, we would fly the F-106, a much bigger and faster jet. The T Bird is just our taxi for this trip. We’ll bring the Lamborghinis next time.
The Major and I are expecting a short meet and great at the FBO, hop in the TBird, back to Malmstrom, and then Minot. The PA (Public Affairs) lady asks if we would like to have lunch with them. Why of course. She then says come this way, our car is out front. We stroll through the FBO, out the front door where a white limo is parked. Miss PA motions us toward the limo and the six of us get in. While we drive to lunch there are numerous questions about all things military flying, how we got there, were we were going in the future, what the jets were capable of, etc, etc, etc. Eventually, we arrive at the front door of a very high end restaurant in downtown Calgary. The Major and I glance at each other and are thinking the exact same thing. We are both in our bright orange, wrinkled, sweat stained, stinking flight suits. It was strictly forbidden in both of our air forces to go out in public while dressed for flying, for obvious reasons. Yet, here we are about to step foot into a 5 Star restaurant. What were we to do? Go with it and follow the suits to a big reserved table in the middle of the joint. We had no choice. We’ve been kidnapped. Numerous questions followed over lunch. This is the first time these very kind Canadians have ever been in close proximity to military fighter pilots. Toward the end of lunch, the discussion trends toward the Stampede event and layout. Miss PA then asks if we would like to visit the Stamped grounds and see the layout in person. She has already given each of us a packet of info about the Stampede grounds, to include several high quality aerial photos for our flyby planning. Who are we to refuse? Why of course we would like to visit. So, we all load up in the limo and head toward the Calgary Stampede grounds.
After a short drive we arrive at vantage point east of the Elbow River looking west toward the Stampede grounds. There’s more discussion about the time line schedule of events of the Stampede day. We are to open the event day with our four ship of F-106s, arriving “overhead” at a specified TOT (time over target). Toward the end of the discussion, Miss PA asks how low we intend to fly by. I ask how low would they would like it done? Her response was “No lower than the roof of the grand stand because there will be a lot of valuable show horses in position for the opening parade”. She then asks how fast we will fly by? My response was “do you want it fast with the associated noise or slower?” She then says they prefer not as fast as the four ship of Canadian F-101 Voodoos did last year. And, please don’t fly between the buildings in downtown like was done last year. Apparently, the Voodoos were transonic or close to it last year and broke windows in downtown buildings. Now, I’m realizing why a USAF squadron has been invited to open a Canadian International event.
With the discussion winding down, we load up in the limo for the trip back to the airport. Along the way, Miss PA mentions that after the flyby and landing back at Calgary International Airport, a limo would pick us up and deliver us to the Stampede grounds. Once there, we would be escorted to center stage and introduced to the crowd. After that we would be welcome to stay for the day or be delivered to our hotel. This is starting develop a life of its own. It’s going to be a fun weekend for my hand picked buds and I.
We arrive at the airport, say our goodbyes, load up in the T Bird, and head back over to Malmstrom. I drop the Major off and head back home to Minot. It’s two weeks out from the 4th of July weekend.
The next day, I briefed my Ops Officer on the visit and the plan. He gives me the nod of approval and asks who else has “volunteered” for the flyby? I’ve got two other guys “volunteered” and am still working on the third.
As the week progresses, I’ve solidified my four ship of 4th of July “volunteers”. With a run down of the weekend’s “everything free” events, my buds are more accepting of their “volunteer” status. Five days out from the 4th, my Ops Officer calls me in his office and advises me that our Squadron Commander has decided to lead the four ship. Grrrrrrr. One of my buds gets relieved of his “volunteer status. So, I try to make an appointment to brief the boss on the plan. He’s busy and doesn’t have time. Over the next few days, I continue to try for time to give him the run down and keep getting brushed off. We are scheduled to launch the four ship the morning the 4th and arrive at the preplanned holding point early in preparation for an on time arrival for the Calgary Stampede opening ceremony.
To be continued.....
