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Jed Boal Reporting The Utah Air National Guard today performed an important support mission for the Super Bowl. They won't handle the coin toss, transport teams or even secure the stadium Sunday. But, they made sure some key performers will make it to Miami.
You may know the US Air Force's elite demonstration squad known as the "Thunderbirds." They fly in death-defying formations at air shows. We sent a crew up with the Utah Air National Guard as they pumped up the Thunderbirds for the Super Bowl.
Their thunder is deafening. As the National Anthem concludes, right before kick-off of Super Bowl 41, the US Air Force Thunderbirds will roar over Dolphin Stadium. Just 500 feet above the crowd, the six red, white and blue F-16 fighter jets will fly by at 450 miles per hour.
But, their fuel tanks don't hold enough gas to make it from Las Vegas to Miami, so, they got help from the 151st Air Refueling Wing of the Utah Air National Guard.
Maj. Mark Pehrson, Pilot, 151st Air Refueling Wing: "I've refueled F-16's hundreds of times, but never the Thunderbirds, so this is exciting."
The Guard's KC-135R Stratotanker refueled the fighter jets in the air over Texas, roughly half way from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada to South Florida.
Maj. Mark Pehrson, Pilot, 151st Air Refueling Wing: "We're going to give ‘em about six thousand pounds of fuel each, and then they'll be on their way."
A second air tanker later refueled the jets over Florida. After a lot of preflight planning, the tankers keep a constant air speed as the fighter pilot moves in so the boom operator can gas him up.
MSgt. John Salazar, Boom Operator, 151st Air Refueling Wing: "We'll be coming from one way, they'll be coming from the other. (How fast will you be going?) 315 knots."
Members of the 151st will tune in with extra interest Sunday.
Cpt. Dan Boyack, Pilot, 151st Air Refueling Wing: "It's exciting any time you can be part of something come together on TV. It will be really fun."
The Thunderbirds will have a busy schedule this year as they celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Air Force.
