Fighters scrambled over Petaluma (What's all this then?)

me

[snarkpup]

I was just out for my evening walk (5:50 p.m. PST). I heard a huge roar, looked overhead and saw a fighter plane perhaps 1/4 mile up with its afterburners on. It made two or three very tight circles over my neighborhood in southeast Petaluma, CA. He turned the afterburners on and off a couple of times during this process and was banked near 90 degrees much of the time. I got the impression he was trying to go slow, hover around one spot, and create a show of force with sight and sound. Meanwhile, a second similar plane was cruising in a larger circle. After circling around the spot I was standing for a couple of minutes, they cruised off.

I spoke on the phone to the newsroom at the local paper (Press Democrat). They said they were already investigating and would report tomorrow, but didn't know much yet.

[steve86]

Perhaps they were trying to strafe Barbara Boxer's Porsche Boxster.

[Atchafalaya]

You must have done something to piss them off! Were you smoking by chance?

[Pukin Dog]

Almost surely someone saying hello or goodbye to someone on the ground.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Did they leave contrails?

[snarkpup]

KRON-TV (channel 4) says they were Navy F-18s that were apparently just horsing around; and that the pilots may have some 'splainin' to do.

[rivercat]

I also live in East Petaluma. I saw two F-18s flying at about 5000ft. One was doing tight turns with full afterburner. It was so cool! Loud, too. I'll be curious to see what it was all about.

[Senormechanico]

That roar is the sound of freedom.
As for your tagline (Welcome to California. Now go home.),
we say something similar to Californians when they come to Washington State! : )

SM

[rivercat]

Though I was born and raised in California, my entire family hails from Bellingham, WA. Many still live there. We still love to visit our cabin on Lummi Island.

BTW...My tagline was a very popular bumpersticker in the late 70's.

[gracie1]

I remember seeing your tagline during the '84 Olympics on bumper-stickers.

[yhwhsman]

Beached Whale alert

Please don't haul his carcass through downtown, Ok.

LOL

[Oztrich Boy]

Wings Over Petaluma!

[skinkinthegrass]

Please, Don't haul his carcass through downtown, Ok!

Ahww, C'mon!...Think of all the Democratic lawyers/blizzards/vultures drawn to the carcass, you'll see democratic lawyers in their natural habitat (chasing ambulances) after the carcass blows, from midday heat. ...a real Education for the chil'ren of America.

note to lawyers on FR, you are fine upstanding citizens...its' the very few lawyers, who tarnish your profession.

[Quix]

Great. Thanks.

[dighton]

Pilots face discipline for buzzing Calif. town