The NFL had no shortage of military-style flyovers during opening-Sunday action across the country.
Tennessee‘s Army National Guard’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion cruised over Nashville’s Nissan Stadium before the New York Jets‘ win over the Titans. There were similar flyovers in Charlotte and in Cincinnati, where the civilian KC Flight Team sailed over the Ohio River.
But the one in Pittsburgh before the Steelers’ win over the Atlanta Falcons proved to be historic as two supersonic jets from Houston’s Johnson Space Center jetted over the Steel City in NASA‘s first ever NFL flyover.
‘That’s so cool—NASA doing a flyover at an NFL game?’ one excited fan asked. ‘Absolutely iconic.’
‘I had no idea that NASA has never done a flyover before,’ another added. ‘This is awesome. Yes, I like airplanes. :-)’
The aircraft, two T-38 Talons, are actually used by Artemis astronauts for training, as NASA flight director and Pittsburgh-area native Anthony Vareha told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
The aircraft, two T-38 Talons, are actually used by Artemis astronauts for training, as NASA flight director and Pittsburgh-area native Anthony Vareha told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
DK Metcalf #4 of the Pittsburgh Steelers takes the field prior to a game against the Falcons
‘In the same way that the Steelers run passing drills and train, we train our crews,’ Vareha said. ‘Like a spacecraft, you have to get it right.’
Asked why NASA chose Pittsburgh for its first NFL flyover, Vareha said the federal agency happens to have an abundance of Yinzers – a term for a proud western Pennsylvanian.
‘People should not be surprised in a few years if somebody drops a “yinz” from the surface of the moon, because they’re everywhere,’ he said.
NASA is currently trying to raise its profile nationally as the federal government continues to spend billions in contracts with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Meanwhile, Congress has consistently rejected NASA budget cuts being pushed by the Trump White House.
As NASA administrator Jared Isaacman told the Post-Gazette, NASA is ‘trying to do a lot of things differently right now’ in terms of public relations.
‘We want to get out and engage with the public,’ he said.
NASA has three more flyovers before NFL games scheduled this season: September 20 in Baltimore, October 4 in Philadelphia and October 11 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans celebrate during Sunday’s win over the visiting Atlanta Falcons
Some of the flyovers are meant to showcase the high-speed, high-altitude testing aircraft, although other flyovers will include technology that could be applied to future commercial travel.
Flyovers scheduled at some of the games will showcase NASA’s fleet of aircraft, which are used for high-speed testing, high-altitude research, astronaut training, and more. Regularly flying the aircraft maintains the health of the fleet and publicly demonstrates new technologies that may be applied to future commercial air travel.
‘This is the first season NASA is taking part in flyovers at NFL games, bringing the excitement of America’s space program directly to fans across the country,’ NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said in a statement.
‘We’re returning to the Moon, building a Moon Base, advancing fission-powered spacecraft, and pushing the boundaries in aeronautics, science, and discovery. Achieving those ambitions will take the very best of America, and partnering with the NFL gives us an incredible platform to inspire the next generation to look up and imagine the possibilities.’
