The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will host Training Squadron SEVEN (VT-7) from Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss., who will conduct a military aircraft flyover with two Boeing T-45C Goshawk aircraft during the national anthem prior to the Virginia Tech versus Duke University football game on Saturday.

The flight will take place during the joint pre-game performance by the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets regimental band, the Highty-Tighties, and the Highty-Tighty Alumni band.

The flyover is expected barring weather or operational factors. The flight was coordinated by Lt. Michael Renard, U.S. Navy, who earned a degree in business information technology from the Pamplin College of Business and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2004. Renard, who currently serves as an instructor pilot, will fly one aircraft this weekend. The other plane will be flown by Capt. Dave Parker, U.S. Marine Corps.

Training Squadron SEVEN has the mission of safely and effectively training the world's finest naval aviators. Student naval aviators train for approximately 12 months in the fundamentals of strike aviation including aerobatics, two-plane, four-plane, and night formation flying, manual air-to-ground bombing, tactical formation, air combat maneuvering, and operational navigation at low altitude. Finally, students perform field carrier landing practice in preparation for their carrier qualifications. In order to earn their Wings of Gold as Naval Aviators, students must safely complete four touch-and-goes and 10 arrested landings aboard a carrier at sea.

The T-45 is a tandem-seat, carrier capable, jet trainer. Powered by a single Rolls Royce F405-RR-401 turbofan engine with 5,527 pounds thrust, the T-45 can reach speeds up to 645 miles per hour.