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

Posted on 02/05/2004 8:00:25 PM PST by 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.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: fighterspetaluma
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To: Monti Cello
Perhaps they were trying to strafe Barbara Boxer's Porsche Boxster.
21 posted on 02/05/2004 8:54:19 PM PST by steve86
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To: snarkpup
You must have done something to piss them off! Were you smoking by chance?
22 posted on 02/05/2004 9:03:05 PM PST by Atchafalaya
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To: snarkpup
Almost surely someone saying hello or goodbye to someone on the ground.
23 posted on 02/05/2004 9:07:20 PM PST by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: snarkpup
Did they leave contrails?
24 posted on 02/05/2004 9:08:40 PM PST by NotJustAnotherPrettyFace (Michael <a href = "http://www.michaelmoore.com/" title="Miserable Failure">"Miserable Failure"</a>)
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To: 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.
25 posted on 02/05/2004 9:12:07 PM PST by snarkpup
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To: snarkpup
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.
26 posted on 02/05/2004 9:18:46 PM PST by rivercat (Welcome to California. Now go home.)
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To: dcam
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
27 posted on 02/05/2004 9:25:14 PM PST by Senormechanico
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To: Senormechanico
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.
28 posted on 02/05/2004 9:32:48 PM PST by rivercat (Welcome to California. Now go home.)
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To: dcam
I remember seeing your tagline during the '84 Olympics on bumper-stickers.
29 posted on 02/05/2004 9:52:46 PM PST by gracie1 (Where are we going and why are we in this handbasket?)
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To: skinkinthegrass
Beached Whale alert

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

LOL

30 posted on 02/06/2004 1:09:19 AM PST by yhwhsman ("Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small..." -Sir Winston Churchill)
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To: Quix
Wings Over Petaluma!
31 posted on 02/06/2004 4:19:27 AM PST by Oztrich Boy (It is always tempting to impute unlikely virtues to the cute)
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To: yhwhsman
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.

32 posted on 02/06/2004 6:11:41 AM PST by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :)
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To: Oztrich Boy
Great. Thanks.
33 posted on 02/06/2004 6:20:14 AM PST by Quix (Choose this day whom U will serve: Shrillery & demonic goons or The King of Kings and Lord of Lords)
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To: snarkpup; All
Pilots face discipline for buzzing Calif. town
34 posted on 02/12/2004 3:30:13 PM PST by dighton
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