Retired military pilots did Indy 500 flyover

I am writing in response to the letter, “Indy 500 flyover jet was inappropriate choice”.

For those who have wondered about the jet team that did the flyover, wondered why the military didn’t do it, or even thought that the team was “not American,” here are some facts:

I am the logistics coordinator for the Black Diamond Jet Team and a veteran of the U.S. Air Force (retired after 22 years of service), and I can assure you that we are a privately owned, American jet demonstration team based in Florida. The pilot leading the flight is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who flew F-15s and F-4s. The slot position was flown by a retired Navy captain who held command at different times of every F-14 squadron within the Navy, and just happens to have the most flying hours in an F-14 Tomcat than any person alive.

The military can’t support everything, especially when supporting air shows and other events around the country during this time of the year. Would you rather the U.S. military spend tens of thousands of dollars to support a flyover for a race, or disperse that money where it is truly needed?

Carl Falcione

Lakeland, Fla.