Blue Angels Shock NFL Crowd with Unexpected Flyover: What Really Happened featuring George Dom

Military flyovers add a unique touch to pre-game ceremonies at major sporting events, but an in-game flyover is a rare spectacle. On October 12, 1997, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron surprised attendees at Candlestick Park in San Francisco during the Rams vs. 49ers game in Week 7 of the NFL season.

During their annual Fleet Week Air Show visit to the city, the idea for the mid-game flyover originated with Lead Solo Lt. Ryan Scholl. On the Thursday before the game, Lt. Scholl approached Flight Leader Cdr. George Dom, seeking approval. Cdr. Dom, instead of dismissing the idea, instructed Lt. Scholl to obtain clearance from both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the San Francisco 49ers.

To Cdr. Dom's surprise on the morning of October 12th, all necessary permissions were granted. Following the Blue Angels Flight Demonstration over San Francisco Bay, airspace above the stadium was cleared, allowing the iconic Delta Formation to soar over the game during the 3rd quarter.
The live broadcast on Fox Sports captured the animated reaction of renowned broadcasters John Madden and Pat Summerall in the booth. Madden, known for his fear of flying, added an extra layer of excitement to the unexpected flyover.

In the weeks that followed, Cdr. Dom extended a personal invitation to both broadcasters for a ride in one of the Team's jets, which was declined. However, the following year, Fox Sports sent a production crew to NAS El Centro, the Blue Angels' winter home base. They filmed a skit with the Team, featured on the "All Madden Team" television special aired just before the Super Bowl. At the conclusion of the broadcast, John Madden honored the Blue Angels as the MVP of the All Madden Team.

Produced by Ryan Nothhaft

Visual Resources

Fox Sports
National Archives
rulenumberone2 | Flickr

[flyjagz]

Credit to Lt. Scholl for the idea and follow through, and credit to boss for not immediately shooting down the idea. "You don't want to suppress the good ideas coming from the rest of the team" wise words from a great leader.

[randyhuffman]

I don't care how old this story gets, , .. It always leaves me in tears!!! RIP John Madden

[jeffreyvb]

I was at that game. Steve Young stepped back from the line and stared into the sky in awe. The roar of the crowd and the planes was unbelievable. Thank you Blue Angels.

[ktbeatty]

Great to occasionally see a story like this that’s just good fun all around, with no one clutching pearls.

[dslife]

RIP John and Patt.😞 The best part of my Sunday football rituals for many years. God bless both of them.

[reggierico]

During Fleet Week in San Francisco, the Blues would traditionally fly out of Oakland International Airport. Now, they fly out of Moffett Field in the South Bay. One early afternoon, I was flying for a major airline out of Oakland and as we pulled up No. 1 for departure, we were informed by tower that there would be a 5-10 minute delay as the Blue Angels recovered after their show. I remember turning the airplane slightly to allow the passengers the best view and informed them of what was about to take place. Their low recovery was perfect and as they peeled off one by one, we had quite an airshow for ourselves and the passengers. It was a memorable day!

[alan.macrae]

We need more stories like this. Thank you Blue Angels!

[SteveH]

I'm a retired air traffic controller and was working @ BAY approach the day this happened. The reaction in the break room was clearly heard in the control room right after the fly-by.

[Nevertoolatefilms]

I was working in the Security Command Post at Candlestick Park when this happened. I was told by a 49er executive just a few minutes before that it was going to occur. I was just two boxes over from Madden and Summerall so I had the same view and it did look like they were at eye level, but obviously they were higher than that. I have seen the Fox tape but never heard this explanation before from the Blue Angels CO. There was a photo in the Stadium Operations Office taken from the Met Life Blimp looking down on the Blue Angels as they flew over the stadium, with the signatures of the pilots. It is a rare shot as all air traffic is usually cleared for them. It was a privilege to see the impromptu fly over

[THRSTEP]

Madden’s reaction was the best!!!! The fly over was incredible!!!!

[dennyfitzgerald]

There is nothing more exciting or more patriotic as a fly over a football game by the Blue Angels! Incredible!

[williamoleary]

RIP to the hands down greatest NFL Announcer Team in the history of the NFL!
We miss you very much Pat & John.

[wtcashel]

America needs more of the approving roar heard when 70, 000 of us, regardless of who and what we are, cheer together for something we all support and believe in — like The Blue Angels! We used to cheer together more often. What changed that isn’t worth arguing about. What’s much more important is figuring out how we can get back together before we tear this country apart! (76 year young American).

[EvilTheOne]

As a fighter jet maintainer for 39+ years, it still give me goosebumps seeing stories about our great aircraft and the pilots who fly them.
To all of my fellow maintainers, thank you for your dedication & commitment to excellence!

[JackCade-tm]

Mu neice and I were sitting in our seats in Upper Section 1. Just as the teams were getting ready for the second half kick-off we looked up off in the distance I said those are the Blue Angeles and they are heading straight towards us. They flew low directly over us. The stadium crowd was rocking. It was so cool and to hear this back story makes all the more special!

[K]

Madden "Sometimes those guys do goofy things like fly upside down" . Thats an amazing story glad this came across my feed today.

[CardinalStandard]

Saw the Blue Angel's in Latrobe, PA. I was never more proud to be an American than I was to see the kicking ass in the skies of southwestern Pennsylvania! I was in New York, at the WTC on 9/11 and didn't feel safe until I heard our fighter jets flying overhead. That is the only good memory that I have of that nightmarish day. Those fighter jets were the Angel's upon our shoulder's that day as we dug for our family and friends.

[cap]

That’s a great story. I’m not a football fan, but a career pilot. This story is heart warming to all the crews involved as well as all the football fans and players .

[michael]

I was there at that game. My brother and I were seated on the side that the Angels were coming from so our backs were to them. We were puzzled why the crowd on the opposite side of the stadium were standing up and getting really loud, they could see the Angels coming, then Boom! They flew overhead, it was really loud. It was between plays and I looked down on the field and Steve Young was still lookin up. As a pilot myself it was so exciting.

[michaelmappin]

Ryan Scholl was my XO on USS Enterprise. He went on to command USS Harry S. Truman and is currently a rear admiral.