General Discussion

MineralMan

(146,325 posts) Sat Apr 6, 2019, 12:45 PM Apr 2019

The Final Four NCAA playoff games happen today in Minneapolis.

This is not a post about those games, though. Today, I'm monitoring the tower radio traffic for Holman Field, the airport in St. Paul, MN where most business jet and charter small jet traffic happens. Normally, it's a boring frequency, with only 40 or so flights a day. Today, though, it's busy as can be, with rich folks showing up for the games. It's almost Noon here, and the first game starts around 5 PM. So, this is a very busy time for arrivals. Tonight, around Midnight, lots of those folks will be getting back on their private jets and departing. Things will get busy again for a while.

Then, there's the NCAA championship game on Monday. More bizjet traffic coming and going for that. All that fuel going up in smoke over a college basketball game.

It's not quite as busy as for the Super Bowl, but it's busy. The arrival and departure pattern often takes those smaller jets right over my house, so I'm always interested when Holman Field gets busy.

Rich folks coming to watch the game. Bless their greedy little hearts!

15 replies

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The Final Four NCAA playoff games happen today in Minneapolis. (Original Post) MineralMan Apr 2019 OP

Who is still in the tournament? milestogo Apr 2019 #1

I don't know. I don't follow college basketball. MineralMan Apr 2019 #2

Michigan State, Texas Tech, Auburn and Virginia caraher Apr 2019 #3

I've not heard of a 'bracketeer' who picked these 3 underdogs. empedocles Apr 2019 #4

I think everyone's brackets were destroyed early on this year. MineralMan Apr 2019 #5

i picked duke to win in a pool....... Takket Apr 2019 #11

Msu alum here, I shied away from msu because of the loss of key starting empedocles Apr 2019 #14

I wonder if our President Obama filled out one this year. Was it published? n/t monmouth4 Apr 2019 #6

here... Takket Apr 2019 #12

Thank you. n/t monmouth4 Apr 2019 #15

Are you still using the same SDR thingy you wrote about last year? mahatmakanejeeves Apr 2019 #7

Yes, the same one. It still works great. MineralMan Apr 2019 #8

Which one was it again? I've forgotten. Thanks. NT mahatmakanejeeves Apr 2019 #9

It's the NESDR SMArt from NOOElec MineralMan Apr 2019 #10

Must be nice to have private jet money! Initech Apr 2019 #13

milestogo

(16,829 posts)

1. Who is still in the tournament?

Reply to MineralMan (Original post)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 12:47 PM

Apr 2019

MineralMan

(146,325 posts)

2. I don't know. I don't follow college basketball.

Reply to milestogo (Reply #1)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 12:49 PM

Apr 2019

caraher

(6,279 posts)

3. Michigan State, Texas Tech, Auburn and Virginia

Reply to milestogo (Reply #1)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 12:56 PM

Apr 2019

empedocles

(15,751 posts)

4. I've not heard of a 'bracketeer' who picked these 3 underdogs.

Reply to caraher (Reply #3)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 01:01 PM

Apr 2019

MineralMan

(146,325 posts)

5. I think everyone's brackets were destroyed early on this year.

Reply to empedocles (Reply #4)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 01:02 PM

Apr 2019

There was a story on the evening news about that.

Takket

(21,611 posts)

11. i picked duke to win in a pool.......

Reply to empedocles (Reply #4)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 02:09 PM

Apr 2019

even though i can't stand duke lol

but regardless i'm still in first place and will win the pool if either texas tech OR Virginia wins.

i live in michigan and i think only one person in the pool had MSU in the finals. they used to be the trendy pick but people shied away this year after several early exits last few years.

empedocles

(15,751 posts)

14. Msu alum here, I shied away from msu because of the loss of key starting

Reply to Takket (Reply #11)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 02:28 PM

Apr 2019

guard and 2 nba first round picks last year, including a lottery pick. Rebuilding year I thought.

Suspect the 1 and done formula hasn't worked as well as many thought. Several teams msu beat have had 'better' talent. Good for the Izzo type coach.

monmouth4

(9,709 posts)

6. I wonder if our President Obama filled out one this year. Was it published? n/t

Reply to MineralMan (Original post)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 01:21 PM

Apr 2019

Takket

(21,611 posts)

12. here...

Reply to monmouth4 (Reply #6)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 02:10 PM

Apr 2019

he picked none of the final 4 teams correct

https://www.obama.org/2019-ncaa/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=obamafound&utm_campaign=20190321_P44Brackets&source=20190321_P44Brackets

monmouth4

(9,709 posts)

15. Thank you. n/t

Reply to Takket (Reply #12)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 04:40 PM

Apr 2019

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,580 posts)

7. Are you still using the same SDR thingy you wrote about last year?

Reply to MineralMan (Original post)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 01:41 PM

Apr 2019

One of these days I'm going to break down and get one for myself.

My scanners work just fine on the civil aircraft bands though. I don't listen to aircraft much, not being a plane spotter.

Keep your ears on, good buddy.

MineralMan

(146,325 posts)

8. Yes, the same one. It still works great.

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Reply #7)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 01:46 PM

Apr 2019

Best investment of $25 I've made for a while. That's my background noise here. Sometimes aircraft bands. Sometimes business communications. Sometimes the VHF Marine channels on the Mississippi River.

mahatmakanejeeves

(57,580 posts)

9. Which one was it again? I've forgotten. Thanks. NT

Reply to MineralMan (Reply #8)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 01:55 PM

Apr 2019

MineralMan

(146,325 posts)

10. It's the NESDR SMArt from NOOElec

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Reply #9)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 01:59 PM

Apr 2019

There are new ones all the time, though. Amazon has scads of them. That particular one comes with three antennas, and works pretty well in my metro area with the antenna indoors.

Initech

(100,099 posts)

13. Must be nice to have private jet money!

Reply to MineralMan (Original post)

Sat Apr 6, 2019, 02:10 PM

Apr 2019

The rest of us can only dream what it is like to take a private jet to a basketball tournament game and sit in a $20,000 luxury suite.

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