Ohio National Guard fighter jets are scheduled to perform flyovers at seven high school football games across Ohio on Friday night. The flyovers, executed by the 180th Fighter Wing, are timed to coincide with the schools’ military appreciation nights, honoring military-connected students and their families.
The 180th Fighter Wing announced the planned flyovers via their Facebook page on Wednesday. The initiative serves as a gesture of recognition for the seven high schools’ Purple Star status, a designation awarded to schools that meet specific criteria and provide dedicated support systems for students from military families.
According to Christine Young, program coordinator and military families school liaison, Purple Star schools acknowledge that military-connected students are “drafted” into a life of service alongside their parents, requiring them to adapt to frequent moves and unique challenges. The flyover is intended to acknowledge their sacrifices and contributions.
Military flyovers at high school sporting events are uncommon, requiring approval from the Pentagon. Such demonstrations are typically reserved for college or professional sporting events, as well as other large-scale public gatherings. However, the 180th Fighter Wing successfully secured approval for this unique opportunity to honor the Purple Star schools.
Lieutenant Colonel Jon Ripple-Farragher told WTOL that extensive planning has been underway for days, involving coordination with school bands and athletic directors to synchronize the flyovers with the conclusion of the national anthem at each location. He emphasized the significant effort involved, deeming it “definitely worth it.”
Four F-16 fighter jets will participate in the flyovers. Notably, one of the pilots involved will have a personal connection to the event, as his son is a football player at one of the participating schools. The planned route will begin with an east-to-west pass, followed by a shift to a south-to-north trajectory. The jets will then briefly cross the state line before turning back to complete the remaining flyovers.
The timeline provided by WTOL indicates a tightly scheduled sequence of events. The 180th Fighter Wing and WTOL served as the primary sources of information for this report. Any further distribution, publication, or reproduction of this material is prohibited.
