Low planes: Houston, we don't have a problem (747 flies near Houston skyscrapers)

Houston Chronicle ^ | 12.10.2003 | MARK CARREAU

[SolidSupplySide]

pair of NASA aircraft prompted a flurry of calls to local law enforcement today as they flew low over the city at mid-day.

The NASA Boeing 747 jumbo jet, normally used to ferry the space shuttle from California to Florida, and the smaller T-38, a training jet flown by astronauts, were involved in a Federal Aviation Administration exercise.

However, some who witnessed the two aircraft fly over downtown Houston and the Galleria at altitudes of 2,000 feet became concerned of a possible terrorist threat and called authorities, said NASA spokesman James Hartsfield.

"The purpose of the exercise is to improve the safety of commercial airliners, and our aircraft were serving as a test bed," said Hartsfield.

The nation has been on alert for low-flying aircraft over metropolitan areas since the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C. on Sept. 11, 2001.

The Boeing 747 and the T-38, whose pilots were filming the jumbo jet as they followed, were under the supervision of federal air traffic controllers.

The space agency said it plans to puplicly announce any future low-altitude exercises, but that none are planned.

[al baby]

Duck !!!!!!!!!!

[Wright is right!]

AFLACK!!

Actually, 2000 feet isn't all that low. We live under the approach to Rwy 31, the nighttime runway at BNA (Nashville) and every aircraft landing here at night passes right overhead at about 1200'. We get some cargo heavies in here that seem so low you could read the serial numbers off the landing gear.

ATC uses Rwy 31 because (a) it's 11,000+ feet long, (b) it's load-rated for just about anything, and (c) the approach is over the least noise-sensitve areas. Departure is over a couple of hotels and downtown. The three N/S parallels have both approaches and departures over dense residential.

Michael

[Poohbah]

That ain't low.

Low was when an FB-111 buzzed my squadron hangar in Beaufort, South Carolina in 1987.

I was able to call the squadron in question at Pease AFB, identify the aircraft by tail number, and tell them that some fasteners were missing from a panel next to the left main gear door.

[al baby]

i grew up next to lax and lived across from 24 right. loved it. "duck" was just a joke thanks for your post al

[Poohbah]

"Duck" was the National Bird of Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

[SolidSupplySide]

2,000 feet is low when you see it out of your window. My building is 800 feet tall and by no means the tallest building in Houston.

And for the record, I would testify in court right now that that plane was *not* a 747.

[Poohbah]

If not a 747, then what was it?

[tbpiper]

We live under the approach to Rwy 31

What!!! And you haven't sued to have the airport moved yet?!?!........God bless you.

[So Cal Rocket]

[al baby]

If not a 747, then what was it?

Benny hill Did a bit years ago he was dressed as a flight addentant very buxom and says

I got 747"s going to my mymame

Funny as a get out

[txhurl]

Here in Austin, before they moved the airport from Mueller out to Bergstrom, I used to eat lunch at Captain's on I35 so I could watch planes fly at what seemed like 200 feet over us.

Tickled me, for some strange reason.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Is this a real picture?

[Poohbah]

Not sure. The shadows look like they might be off, but it's very hard to tell.

[SolidSupplySide]

Here is a picture of the jet flying low over Houston. I can't seem to "View Source" so I can't put it directly on this thread.

[So Cal Rocket]

Yes, it's the airport at St. Maarten

Here's a different picture:

[battousai]

Yes that is a real picture there are many more, better quality ones, posted by the original photographers at www.airliners.net. Its taken from the threshold of the runway on St. Maarten Island in the Netherlands Antilles.

if you visit airliners.net just click on the most popular photos of all time (along the left menu bar) and you will see quite a few of these landings and approaches (makes for great desktop wallpaper)

[firehunter]

Yes, it's a real picture.
Photo was taken at some small island in the Caribbean.
Princess Juliana airport on St. Maarten.
Check it out at airliners.net

[Poohbah]

Looks like they need an LSO at the threshold.

"Power, power...POWER! WAVE OFF! WAVE OFF! RAMP STRIKE!"

[Right_in_Virginia]

Wow.