Evacuation of Capital now! (Update: FNC: White House Secret Service gives all clear signal)

Fox News

[the anti-liberal]

First the false alarm with the 'hand grenade' in Georgia (have the SS even examined the 'device' yet??) and now this on the very next day.

What is going on here?

[silentknight]

Quote "First the false alarm with the 'hand grenade' in Georgia (have the SS even examined the 'device' yet??) and now this on the very next day.
What is going on here?"

Nothing. It was a coincidence. This guy has nothing to do with what happened over in Georgia.

[the anti-liberal]

I'm not suggesting any conspiracy, and I agree that it's merely a coincidence, but what a coincidence!

[Brad’s Gramma]

Welcome to FR.....And watch the language. :)

[nw_arizona_granny]

see photo in 922.

[advance_copy]

Dou think anybody is going to be talking about Tblisi on cable/broadcast news tonight?

[the anti-liberal]

Very good question. I've simply been waiting to hear that the SS has been shown the device, that they've examined it. Until this has been done, how do we know there ever was any 'device'? Very curious.

[demkicker]

Dude, calm down... Geeze! Your points that terrorist attacks are more likely to come by means other than airplanes are well taken. However, since intelligence sources know terrorists have not given up the idea of using planes to deliver another blow, it would be foolish to dismiss the threats and not take necessary precautions.

Since preventing airplanes from flying withing a few miles over the White House and our nations capital isn't that difficult to enforce, I'm at a loss to understand your bitching about it. 9/11 is embedded in my memory and I'd much rather inconvenience a few blow-hard politicians for an hour or so with a possible false alarm than get caught with our pants down around our ankles again.

[El Gato]

I thought something was up the SENATE just ran out........

Now that it's all over, I can say that I would love to see a tape of that, especially Her Highness, the junior senator from New York, and both California senators. Oh and Sheets from WV too, that must have been quite a sight.

[fatnotlazy]

Now that it's all over, I can say that I would love to see a tape of that, especially Her Highness, the junior senator from New York, and both California senators. Oh and Sheets from WV too, that must have been quite a sight.

***

You forgot Ted from Mass. -- or did you see him run (waddle) out already? :)

[El Gato]

SCUBA TEDDY JUST ROLLS--i.e. when not swimming.

I'm sure his interns practice rolling a large ball of soft rubber, just to be ready for situations like this, even though *this time* it was *apparently* just a stray aircraft.

[ARCADIA]

so you can file VFR and in restricted airspace without a mode C transponder or a radio that has the ability to at least monitor a guard freq?

VFR= Visual flight rules means that you will be flying on visual ques. You are flying slowly, relatively low (below 10,000), and outside of air traffic controlled corridors. You are not in contact with an air traffic controller until you call in to request landing permission at a controlled airport. Most likely, your radio will be monitoring the latest air info (altimeter setting, wind speed, wind direction, and visibility). He will also have a transponder turned on that identifies his aircraft to traffic control.

You are not allowed to fly into restricted air space; although, it is important to note that restricted air is designed as a three dimensional object. You may for instance not be allowed to fly between 5,000-10,000 feet within several miles of an airports approach path, but you may be able to approach much closer at 1000 feet of elevation (the idea is to keep the VFR traffic out of the way of the controlled traffic). Most restricted area are shaped something like an upside down wedding cake. It is important to note that there are no visual, or instrumental indications of a restricted area. The VFR pilot has to rely on his basic navigation skills, his charts, and his Airman's manual to identify and stay clear of these areas.

There is no requirement, nor even ability, to monitor military radio. I was once taxing at a major airport and had a National Guard trainer headed the wrong way on the taxi way right at me. Neither I, nor the tower were able to raise the National guard pilot although we were all stopped on the ground within a couple of hundred yards of each other. Civilian aviation is managed by civilian air traffic controllers.

[El Gato]

Some poor schmuck pilot is in for the reaming of his life when he lands at Reagan National, methinks

AFAIK, small private aircraft are not allowed in there, for obvious reasons.

Anyone flown into Reagan lately? Do they still have the "the plane will break off approach if everyone is not seated and buckled in" rules in effect?

[El Gato]

How does an F16 go slow enough to escort a single-engine plane?

After making sure the flaps are down, just keep the power up and a little backpressure on the stick.

The F-16 *is* a single engine plane, it's just that the engine has around 25 to 30 thousand pounds of thrust, or maybe a tad more, depending on model and dash number.

[El Gato]

The jet seemed to have the ability to almost stall in place (reverse thrust?) as it monitored the prop plane.

The F-16 has an all digital, computerized, flight control system. It can hold an amazingly high angle of attack without stalling. However, high AoA also means high drag. Add that to having the flaps down for more lift, and you actually need more thrust in the "normal" direction. The FCS isn't quite able to hold the A/C vertical while balancing on the thrust, but almost(there would be no airflow over the rudder and elevators, so you'd have no control). The thrust to weight ratio for an F-16 with a moderate load of fuel and weapons is well over 1 to 1. That means it can accelerate straight up. Not the best position for formation flying though, with your tail dragging and your nose in the air. Still you'd prefer to circle a slow aircraft, but you could pace it for at least a short period, if you didn't get too close for comfort.

[El Gato]

poss. that the beacon transmitter may have failed. there was concern that if a plane were hijacked, the hijacker would have found a way to disable the beacon so they couldn't be detected

Pretty much the first thing the 911 hijackers did after taking control of the aircraft was to turn off the transponder (beacon). They already knew the way to do that, it's just a switch after all.

[Milwaukee_Guy]

"What happened today is pure, unadulterated, illogical PARANOIA!"

You may be on to something. There have been hundreds of civil aviation incusions into DC airspace without Code Red evacuations of the Capitol since 911.

Consider this,

Just a week or two ago there was an alert that turned out to be a "false radar echo" due to a high speed, unusually dense "cloud". Factor in yesterday's "device" episode in the former Soviet Republic of Georgia and todays "Air Con Red" mass panic "get the hell out of the building now" evacuation.

Something has changed recently and it is obvious by the reaction of the authorities. They have information, we do not have, and they are reacting in a -much- more defensive posture than they have since 911.

Again unrealized "threats" will always occur. It's apparent that our reaction has changed recently.

What is the perceived threat now?

[TexKat]

In this image made from video, A two-seater Cessna 150 sits on the runway at Frederick Municipal Airport in Frederick, Md. Wednesday, May 11, 2005. The U.S. Capitol and White House were evacuated Wednesday after the plane entered restricted airspace. Military jets scrambled to intercept the aircraft and fired warning flares. Two men in the aircraft were later taken into custody at the Maryland airport where the plane landed after a military escort. (AP Photo/WTTG)

[Quix]

My "friends are perpetual doom and gloom?"

Does that mean you and friends are perpetually blind?

There are several conditions that could result in the construction you offered on reality:

--there is no doom and gloom and we are looney toons.

--there is incredible doom and gloom on the horizon and you are blind.

--some other combination or unknown.

---

Given that the smartest, brightest, wisest, most in tune with God; most accurate in hearing God people that I've ever met or know agree with me

I'll stick with my construction on reality and that of my wisest friends.

[Quix]

LOL. I could imagine that!