AMES, Iowa — For the first time in recent memory the Iowa State Marching Band is taking a flight for a post game marching band appearance. The trip to the Dallas area was delayed on Friday when a plane scheduled to pick up part of the band wasn’t in Des Moines in time for the departure.

There are some 350 student musicians in the band, so the trip to Arlington, Texas required some organization. Most of the band was scheduled to take off from Des Moines around 10 a.m., but when the plane wasn’t available the first group set to leave was told to go home to wait for word on when the plane would get to Iowa.

Another group of band members boarded a plane around noon for Texas.

“Even if transportation is messed up, we’re just thankful to have this experience,” said Javan Shields, the ISU Assistant Director of Bands. “We have a first wave of students going down and then hopefully later on everything else gets working out and the majority of the band will follow, just waiting for the bus to get here.”

Shields said the band has not taken a flight to a post-season game before.

“Some students have never flown, so this will be a first for them,” said Shields

Even with the travel plans changed, band members were excited to make the trip to support the Cyclone football team.

“This is a great opportunity for all of us to really show a lot of support for our school and it’s very exciting for all of us to be able to not only travel together, but fly all together as well,” said Meg Sawyer, a band member from Urbandale.

The band members finally all hit the road for the Des Moines Airport prior to 3 p.m., and eventually got wheels up from Des Moines for Texas.

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