Posted on 01/04/2002 2:41:29 PM PST by psalm37
About 30 Minutes ago, 6:10-ish Eastern Time I was outside and noticed three aircraft flying South. I'm inside the Beltway, in Northern VA (about 10 miles from DC); I'd guess these aircraft were not actually over DC, but close.
The lead aircraft was lit up like an airliner at low altitude, the other two were definitely CAP aircraft, with just white blinking beacons (one each). The CAPs came up behind the airliner at high speed then backed off to match speed with it. Then the CAP to the left sped up and came so close to the airliner that I could not distinguish which was which. I never heard any engine or other noises because they were all too far away, and at this time of evening, rush-hour traffic is in full swing - lots of ambient sounds.
Next they all started turning to the left and straightened out heading North-Eastward. At this time either the airliner or the CAP closest to it showed a new light, which was very intense, and looked yellow/orange. At this point I would have been looking at them from the rear and left. I watched this scene, including the new, intense, yellow/orange light for another 10-15 seconds before I lost sight of them in the trees.
At first I wondered if this was a mid-air re-fueling, with the brightest light being used for visibility purposes, but I wonder if they would re-fuel like that at such low altitude, and over such a highly populated area.
I am in the Air Force (5 years to retirement!) and witnessed the very thing that Psalm37 witnessed over Houston on my way into work at Ellington Field. I thought the very same thing at first..."who are they intercepting?". They were flying west and low (about 5000') and banking towards to south. Of course...I have a source of info that Psalm37 doesn't...my office is right outside the Wing CO's office. So...they first thing I did was ask him and he told me it was CAP being refueled.
BTW...the guys flying CAP now over NYC and sometimes DC are from Houston...the same unit that escorted Bush back from FL on Sept 11th.
I care not whether the thread survives or otherwise. I saw something unusual, reported it, gave further explanations, done.
Now if it WAS something newsworthy, and IF we ever hear about it in the news, I'll be able to say (mostly to myself), "Hey, I saw some of that happening!".
Not everything going on has to do with Andrews AFB or DCA.
I work at a large airport as crash fire rescue, and it amazes me sometimes
how they seem to be running into each other at night, and yet they are 5 miles apart!
Sometimes the military aircraft land in pairs, side by side, with another pair right behind them,
then do a combat takeoff almost straight up and shoot away.
In fact, the guys covering the DFW area come here to refuel if its quicker than going to the base.
But where you are has got to be the one of the hot places for coverage. Theres no telling what was going on.
This type has an extra identification light, about the size of a landing light. It is mounted on the left side of the nose, pointing left slightly fwd and slightly up. The light allows the F-16 pilot to intercept another aircraft and slide in behind and low, out of veiw from the other pilot. The F-16 pilot then turns on the ID light and can get a good look at the tail markings and numbers of the intercepted aircraft.
You probably did see an intercept as the Washington area is a very high security area under constant airborn CAP. Aircraft are intercepted and identified on a routine basis. You probably saw the ID light reflected off the intercepted aircrafts' tail.
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