Narrative:

I was the #4 aircraft in a 3 ship missing man formation flyover at starks twin oaks (7s3) airport. The WX was marginal, however the other 2 aircraft participating in the flyover had just flown in from another airport about 15 mi away and the pilots reported the WX at 7s3 as ok to do the flyover (scattered to broken scud at less than 1000 ft with a clear area above and overcast at 3000-4000 ft). We were all very proficient in the aircraft, 2 rv-4's and an rv-8A, and very familiar with local WX patterns. We were all trying hard to make this flyover work as we felt it an important part of the special event. The entire flight lasted only 4 or 5 mins. Flight visibility was excellent, at least 30 mi and we stayed out of the low scud. After landing I learned by word of mouth that the FAA had observed us and warned of 'taking numbers' if anyone else attempted flight. I then found the FAA man in a hangar working on his private aircraft. He is an FSDO maintenance inspector. He was not happy about the flight but after I pointed out that the 2 other aircraft had flown in and observed local WX conditions (PIREP), so we considered this in the decision to go ahead with the flyover. From the ground the WX looked bad, so I can see his concern. The pressure to meet a time slot was a factor. Next time we need to consider the 'big picture' a little more. The non-flying guests loved us, for the pilots watching we may have been a bad example of judgement.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLTS FLYOVER WAS QUESTIONED BY AN FAA INSPECTOR OF POSSIBLY FLYING IN LESS THAN VFR CONDITIONS DUE TO THE LOW CLOUD COVER.

Narrative: I WAS THE #4 ACFT IN A 3 SHIP MISSING MAN FORMATION FLYOVER AT STARKS TWIN OAKS (7S3) ARPT. THE WX WAS MARGINAL, HOWEVER THE OTHER 2 ACFT PARTICIPATING IN THE FLYOVER HAD JUST FLOWN IN FROM ANOTHER ARPT ABOUT 15 MI AWAY AND THE PLTS RPTED THE WX AT 7S3 AS OK TO DO THE FLYOVER (SCATTERED TO BROKEN SCUD AT LESS THAN 1000 FT WITH A CLR AREA ABOVE AND OVCST AT 3000-4000 FT). WE WERE ALL VERY PROFICIENT IN THE ACFT, 2 RV-4'S AND AN RV-8A, AND VERY FAMILIAR WITH LCL WX PATTERNS. WE WERE ALL TRYING HARD TO MAKE THIS FLYOVER WORK AS WE FELT IT AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SPECIAL EVENT. THE ENTIRE FLT LASTED ONLY 4 OR 5 MINS. FLT VISIBILITY WAS EXCELLENT, AT LEAST 30 MI AND WE STAYED OUT OF THE LOW SCUD. AFTER LNDG I LEARNED BY WORD OF MOUTH THAT THE FAA HAD OBSERVED US AND WARNED OF 'TAKING NUMBERS' IF ANYONE ELSE ATTEMPTED FLT. I THEN FOUND THE FAA MAN IN A HANGAR WORKING ON HIS PVT ACFT. HE IS AN FSDO MAINT INSPECTOR. HE WAS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE FLT BUT AFTER I POINTED OUT THAT THE 2 OTHER ACFT HAD FLOWN IN AND OBSERVED LCL WX CONDITIONS (PIREP), SO WE CONSIDERED THIS IN THE DECISION TO GO AHEAD WITH THE FLYOVER. FROM THE GND THE WX LOOKED BAD, SO I CAN SEE HIS CONCERN. THE PRESSURE TO MEET A TIME SLOT WAS A FACTOR. NEXT TIME WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE 'BIG PICTURE' A LITTLE MORE. THE NON-FLYING GUESTS LOVED US, FOR THE PLTS WATCHING WE MAY HAVE BEEN A BAD EXAMPLE OF JUDGEMENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.