Rivals turned Wingmen take flight

Capt. Nathaniel Dreslinski, 535th Airlift Squadron pilot, prepares to perform a flyover at Aloha Stadium on a C-17 Globemaster III October 19, 2019, near Honolulu, Hawaii. The flyover was performed during the closure of the U.S. national anthem at an Air Force Academy and University of Hawaii football game. Dreslinski and his copilot, from the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 204th Airlift Squadron, were prior athletes to the opposing teams. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier)

A total-force aircrew, consisting of members of the 204th and 535th Airlift Squadrons, huddle for a pre-flight briefing October 19, 2019, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The team comprised of active-duty Airmen from the 15th Wing and members from the Hawaii Air National Guard, who conducted a flyover at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, for an Air Force Academy and University of Hawaii football game. The C-17 Globemaster III was piloted by prior athletes who each played for opposing teams. Active duty and ANG units at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam conduct flying operations together on a nonstop basis to maximize their ability to integrate as a cohesive team for any mission tasking. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier)

Maj. Britton Komine, 204th Airlift Squadron pilot, inspects a C-17 Globemaster III October 19, 2019, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam, Hawaii. Komine integrated with an aircrew from the 535th Airlift Squadron to perform a flyover at the Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The maneuver was held in celebration of a football game between the Air Force Academy and the University of Hawaii. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier)

A total-force aircrew, consisting of members of the 204th and 535th Airlift Squadrons, step toward the ramp of a C-17 Globemaster III October 19, 2019, during a flyover sortie over Honolulu, Hawaii. The flyover took place during the closure of the U.S. national anthem at an Air Force Academy and University of Hawaii football game. Active duty and ANG units at Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam conduct flying operations together on a nonstop basis to maximize their ability to integrate as a cohesive team for any mission tasking. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier)

Maj. Britton Komine, 204th Airlift Squadron pilot, and Capt. Nathaniel Dreslinski, 535th Airlift Squadron pilot, performs a flyover toward Aloha Stadium on a C-17 Globemaster III October 19, 2019, above Honolulu, Hawaii. The flyover took place during the closure of the U.S. national anthem at an Air Force Academy and University of Hawaii football game. Both pilots were prior athletes to the opposing teams – Komine, a Hawaii Rainbow Warrior and Dreslinski, an Air Force Falcon. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier)

Maj. Britton Komine, 204th Airlift Squadron pilot, flies toward Aloha Stadium on a C-17 Globemaster III October 19, 2019, above Honolulu, Hawaii. A flyover was performed during the closure of the U.S. national anthem at an Air Force Academy and University of Hawaii football game. Komine and his active duty copilot, from the 535th Airlift Squadron, were prior athletes to the opposing teams. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman John Linzmeier)