Two of the larger-sized aircraft that will populate the parking areas of Indy area airports this weekend. Photo By FlyOverFan

A friend and I didn’t have a ticket to the Super Bowl, but we wanted to see the other spectacle that most don’t see; all these jets, turboprops, and a few light piston aircraft all in one place. We left sunny and clear Oshkosh, Wisconsin in a Piper Arrow, a 180 horsepower 4-seat piston powered aircraft and flew south. In winter, with a weather system generating rain in Illinois and Indiana and potential icing conditions north of that along our route, the flight itself was not going to be an easy one.

We jumped across lake Michigan to avoid most of the weather. This was a necessity since our plane has no way of shedding ice in-flight like most of the aircraft we would later see in Indy. In our plane it’s a cat and mouse game of avoiding cloud layers and finding air that is above freezing;  no small feat.

Our flight was successful and, despite a soggy, misty arrival, we parked at one of two Fixed Based Operators (FBO) on the field. An FBO is the Federal Aviation Administration’s name for a business that offers commercial services at an airport like fuel, repairs, charter, and concierge-type services for flight crews and their passengers. At Indy we parked at popular nationwide chain, but many airports have locally-owned FBO’s and the six airports in the Indy metro area have a mix of these types of FBO’s. Each one competes to have planes to land at their airport.

Indianapolis International has long, wide runways which will accommodate the largest of the private aircraft expected this weekend, while the other airports have shorter runways, which may limit which airplanes may visit each airfield. Wherever you went, there was not a shortage of planes. From November to April in the Colorado ski areas, you must have an air traffic control slot to fly-in, and it’s the same for many of the other sporting championship events. This year, we did not need a pre-determined air traffic slot to the Super Bowl, but we did need a parking reservation. Each airport FBO has been taking parking reservations for weeks and most were basically at capacity.

A little accuracy help for the athlete in you after the first three beers. Photo by FlyOverFan

Upon arrival, we see that our FBO in Indy has rolled out the red carpet for everyone: flight crews, passengers, and anyone else who steps off an aircraft. There is a cavernous hangar that has been converted into a huge hospitality suite, complete with two 10-foot tall TV screens, featuring numerous leather couches before them with coffee tables, replete with dishes overflowing with candy.

This is your Super Bowl party on steroids. Imagine coolers full of soda, a long table featuring every type of party food, hospitality bars, and appearances by former NFL players. Plus, a chance to sit in a full-size Formula One race car simulator and if you like that, there was a woman roving around offering the chance of purchasing a suite at a new F-1 track opening near Dallas, Texas.

That is what the Super Bowl has also become — not just a game, but the largest corporate networking event in the country.

Our FBO’s party is also sponsored by a major aircraft manufacturer which makes several flavors of business jet and an airliner or two; showing visitors a good time may mean sales later on. In the short term, often the FBO with the best party gets the most aircraft which means lucrative fuel sales and also services such as de-icing, lavatory cleaning, catering, and more.

Full disclosure, I am a professional pilot and have enjoyed a long career flying these limos in the sky. The vast majority of the people I have flown are wonderful and that is a lot of what makes the job fun. But like the athletes we adore but likely will never be; much of what I have seen so far here in Indy is just a whole other world that many of us see and dream about, but then go back to our own lives.

There is one  important reason that these aircraft exist. Despite the perceived opulence, I will briefly defend the aircraft as a key tool of business.  Visiting two or more investment opportunities or company facilities in one day on the airlines is not cost-effective for many high-level executives. The corporate aircraft can limit the amount of time executives are away from the office traveling. It may only be one reason, but it’s a really important one. It’s the same reason the president also goes by air.

A hangar transformed into the ultimate Super Bowl viewing venue. Photo by FlyOverFan

This world is not just the domain of over-hyped celebrities, martini swilling fat-cats, or even old biddies french-kissing their lap dogs as they jet to their multiple homes; its also our domain too. My friend and I flew in the smallest plane and the first piston aircraft the FBO had received that day. We may not have the most money or the shiniest airplane, but we were still welcomed with the same level of service, even though we are going to buy a fraction of the fuel one jet aircraft is likely to buy. The American air traffic control system is set up the same way. The system grants nearly equal access with small accommodations for speed and capabilities. That’s why were were allowed to fly in to one of the busiest sporting events in the world without having to prove money or status.

I had the chance in 2006 to fly passengers to the Final Four championship game in St. Louis. In my next post, I’ll compare that experience to what I see Sunday when it really starts to rain aircraft.

An F-1 simulator, paying homage to Indy's local tradition. Photo by FlyOverFan

The New England Patriots and the New York Giants will faceoff this Sunday in Indianapolis for Super Bowl XLVI (46) – but this matchup is anything but “new.”

The Pats and G-Men have had many recent battles, highlighted by a Super Bowl Matchup no more than 4 years ago in Super Bowl XLII (42), as well as a regular season matchup this season.

Four years ago in the season’s pinnacle, not only did New York get over in the end with an Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress touchdown connection that ended up being the game winner, but in the same swoop, the Giants also ended the Patriots’ run at a perfect 19-0 season.

This year, Eli did it again to the Pats with a late game, lead-taking, back-shoulder-fade touchdown pass to tight end Jake Ballard with 15 seconds remaining. This is all the more fuel Brady and his teammates need to drive their juggernaut, offensive sports car to victory this time around.

One would be remiss if, while picking New England, didn’t make a point to note how Eli is coming of age, and how some are obviously undervaluing his potential impression on not only this game, but proactively, his now obtainable hall of fame career.

Manning has an 11/1 touchdown/interception ratio in his last 4 games. But Tom Brady happens to have a better passer rating than Eli in not only this regular season, but these playoffs as well.

The pass defense ranking of the Giants this regular season is 29th, which is not much to argue when comparing them to the 31st regular season ranking of New England’s, a pass defense who has been openly ostracized throughout these playoffs, much more than the Giants have been when comparing the overall similarity between the two.

I’ll take Brady versus a 29th ranked defense over Eli versus a 31st ranked defense. And even though the Giants have a total of 20 sacks in their last 5 games, I see the offensive line of the Pats stepping up and protecting their present day version of Joe Montana.

But let us not forget the advantage the recieving core of the Giants has over that of the Patriots. Let’s consider: Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Mario Manningham, Jake Ballard and Bear Pascoe; versus: Wes Welker, Deion Branch, Chad “Ochocinco” (uhhh…), Aaron Hernandez, and Rob Gronkowski in a high ankle-sprained boot. Any real bet would take the former before the latter. Vegas even has the odds of an Ochocinco single catch in the game versus a missed extra point near even money.

The deck is also stacked against New England in the running game. Even a random observer would take Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw over Benjarvis Green-Ellis and …… Danny Woodhead? Kevin Faulk? Stevan Ridley?

This disadvantage is where Tom Brady makes the difference and where first-ballot hall of famers make their mark. Even when they are sitting on 15 and the dealer is showing 19, they hit, and they pull a random 5 out of their back pocket and score big. Intangibles seem to always make the ultimate difference on the biggest of stages.

The trump card in the mix has to be coaching. History and a hand full of rings tells us Bill Bellichek has done wonders with extra time to prepare. Don’t sleep on this palpable advantage the Pats hold no matter what your Super Bowl party hacks have to say.

The joker in the whole cauldron is undoubtedly Peyton’s effect on the whole ordeal. It seems his dilemma is almost challenging the front seat, as the actual game itself rides shotgun. Unrightfully so.

Is Peyton stealing some thunder from his brother? Does the fact that this season’s penultimate contest is taking place in the stadium that Peyton built have some cosmic effect on the outcome? I suppose only shamans and exorcists know for sure.

All of this considered, once Sunday rolls around, and after all of the fanfare has finally come to a simmer, “dopey versus slick, country boy versus the city boy, $100 haircut versus $1,000 haircut” will become the singular forefront.

It will be a battle of quarterbacks. Of course.

It will be a test of one who is ahead, head-to-head, but behind all-time; versus one who is ahead, all-time, but behind head-to-head. This is the storyline, as it should be to the bitter end whenever it shows itself throughout the history of the final say.

So go right ahead – make your bet on whether or not some American Idol winner will foul up the lyrics of the Star Spangled Banner. Make your bet on whether or not a steaker will make his or her way onto the field during the game. Make your bet on whether or not Madonna will show her boob during the halftime show.

Just know none of that matters. Aside from all the circus, all the production, all the distraction; remember what does matter and what the game is all about at its core. Remember who wins and who loses, even in the preseason, and why.

Because that simplicity is what will ultimately will decide a champion – football team that plays better on this particular day versus football team that plays worse – nothing more, nothing less.

New England 28 – New York 24.

Stay drunk and full.