Red Bird II Keeps Detroit's Teams Flying in Style

05.07.07

Heather Rousseau/Special to The Detroit News Robert Lang disembarks Red Bird II at Metro Airport as the Wings return from San Jose tied 2-2. The plane lessens travel stress.

Red Bird II keeps teams flying in style

Eric Lacy / The Detroit News

ROMULUS -- There's an old Woody Allen quote: "Eighty percent of success is showing up." If that's true, then there's definitely something to be said about those who can get people to where they need to be. For the Red Wings and Tigers, nobody is more important in that department than the crew of Red Bird II, the private plane leased by sports and business mogul Mike Ilitch that the teams share. It's a 30-year-old, modernized DC9-51 luxury aircraft equipped with flat-screen TV monitors, folding card tables and plenty of legroom that from March 28 to today will have been in the air 37 out of 42 days, taking both teams to their destinations. That's more than 45,000 miles and 85 hours of flying. But the rotating crew of two pilots and three flight attendants is accustomed to that kind of workload. Players give their all to win games. So they truly appreciate the hospitality they receive while preparing for the next challenge. "We're all putting a lot of air miles in and the crew does a great job," Wings center Kris Draper said. "They're taking care of us, and it's certainly a luxury. All we have to do is get on the plane and relax. Everything that's done for us helps us just concentrate on playing the game." 'Love to fly' Don't feel sorry for the Red Bird II crew, especially pilot Fred Testa, 61. He has 38 years of commercial airline experience and is using this opportunity as a way to ease into retirement. Testa, of Brighton, has been with Red Bird II for five years and said he never gets tired of the hectic schedules and odd hours the job demands. He also said he never has felt pressure at work, even with millions of dollars worth of coaches and athletes in the back seats. "I love to fly," Testa said. "Someone is going to have to drive my dead (behind) out of the cockpit someday. That's all I've done my entire adult life, and this opportunity just makes it even more enjoyable. This is the neatest job I've ever had." An average day of travel for the Red Wings or Tigers requires crew members to arrive at the hangar about two hours before departure time. Pilots and maintenance personnel do routine checks on the aircraft for proper function and cleanliness, while flight attendants handle catering and other services. Both teams have schedules that demand as little ground time as possible, so everything has to be a seamless transition. Once the plane lands, crew members usually have some time to visit their destination cities -- unless they have to turn around to pick the other team up. Red Bird II technician Greg Vinyard, 33, tried not to be star-struck when he started handling Red Wings travel 11 years ago. But he admits, as serious as he takes his job, there are some surreal moments he can't help but enjoy. "There are some perks," Vinyard said. "The Wings allowed us to have the Stanley Cup one day in the workplace." Another benefit, at least for crew members, is free tickets to games, Testa said. Pilot Pudge? This veteran airline staff is so in tune with its important clients that the members know exactly where each traveler sits, what he prefers to eat and how he spends his downtime in the air. One of the most inquisitive riders is Tigers catcher Pudge Rodriguez, who expressed his interest in flying once he came to the organization in 2004. All it took was a couple of trips for Rodriguez to start asking the crew questions about practically everything having to do with the aircraft. Last Thursday, about 90 minutes before the Tigers left for Kansas City, Rodriguez was the first player spotted in the hangar's lounge, dressed in a suit while chatting with flight crew members. During trips, Rodriguez often sits in a spare seat behind both pilots and watches their every move to get first-hand experience of this craft. He absolutely loves it. "I've been in the majors for 17 years and have never had the kind of experiences with planes and pilots that I've had here in Detroit," Rodriguez said. "I ask a million questions, and the pilots explain to me how everything works. It's like you're a part of the whole process." Does this mean Pudge has found a hobby once he retires? "You never know where your interests take you," Rodriguez said. "But if I were to sit in that first seat and try to fly now, my hands would be shaking and sweaty. Trust me, it wouldn't be good." Recruiting tool Red Wings general manger Ken Holland acknowledges Red Bird II is one of many assets Ilitch has at his disposal to attract top talent. "Some teams obviously travel similar to us, but very few teams have their own plane," Holland said. "It helps keep your players in Detroit and keep them happy. "There's a comfort level there, with the crew, the travel schedule, everything." Holland, like the players, doesn't even have to ask for his preferred postgame snacks. Holland's old standbys -- red licorice and grapes -- always are waiting for him at his seat. The crew also is well aware of the tight schedules both teams are forced to keep. There's as little ground time before a flight as possible. "We're creatures of habit, and there's a lot of stress, especially on the players," Holland said. "So the more things you can do to make them feel rested and mentally prepared, the better. "The flight crew understands that, and that kind of care gives a team advantages." Sporting synergy It's well-documented that members of the Red Wings and Tigers organizations are close and constantly root for each other to succeed. There's a familiarity with the way each team travels, and it's clear the Ilitch family believes both teams are equally important. Take a look at the equal sized Red Wings and Tigers logos that adorn the plane's exterior -- the result of a design contest won by a Little Caesar's customer. There's also a personal touch the Ilitches provide during special circumstances. When one of the teams is on a successful postseason run, like the Tigers in the World Series last season, the Ilitches do what they can to keep the team and their families together. Instead of using Red Bird II for trips to St. Louis, the Ilitches paid to have a 757 jet fly the Tigers and their families to all the games against the Cardinals, Testa said. "There's no favoritism for one team over the other, but the team in the playoffs definitely gets top priority because of the more demanding schedule," Testa said. "The Ilitches handle everything perfectly. "And everyone on both teams are nice, down-to-earth people. Because of them, my job seems to get better every year." http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070507/SPORTS0103/705070352