T-38 jets flying over Iowa City today in test runs

Three T-38 fighter jets have made a few passes over Kinnick Stadium today, UI sports information officials have confirmed.

It appears the jets are doing a few flyovers in preparation for tomorrow's flyover as part of the Iowa-Ohio State football game.

Employees with Jet Air at the Iowa City airport say they had a brief communication with the pilots when they said they would be in the area, but the pilots didn't indicate what they would be doing.

The official flyover, by four United States Air Force jets, is planned for Saturday in pre-game ceremonies for the Iowa-OSU football game. The flyover will occur during the playing of the National Anthem. Kickoff is slated for 2:33 p.m. and the flyover is slated for 2:28 p.m.

The flyover will be conducted by the 25th Fighter Training Squadron, which is part of the 71st Flying Training Wing based at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It operates T-38 Talon aircraft conducting flight training.

The 25th flew combat reconnaissance missions in the Southwest and Western Pacific from February 1944 till August 1945. The squadron also conducted photographic reconnaissance in the western United States between 1955 and 1957. It has conducted undergraduate pilot training for active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and selected foreign allies since November, 1972.

The pilots for the flyover will be Major Chris “Hollywood” Kopacek (Plane 1), Major Jason “Slinger” Pax and Major Kevin “Boss” Cossey (Plane 2), Major Eric “Marco” Yape and Lieutenant Otto “Loo” Gerdeman (Plane 3) and Lieutenant Colonel Jeff “Woo” Stands and Lieutenant Colonel Randy “Hacker” Haskins (Plane 4).

Saturday's flyover will be the final flight for Major Kopacek, prior to his retirement. All the pilots are expected to be recognized on the field at some time during a break in Saturday's contest.

The planes are expected to fly over Kinnick Stadium from the north.