[Cyber Liberty]

I dunno. Sounds like the end of the world to me. I better stock up the old bomb shelter with plenty of cheese and wine.

[Lazamataz]

If we hear about a forced landing later, then FR will have its crown as the Breaking News forum, what with 50,000 or more pairs of eyes all over this land, watching, watching, watching....

[be-baw]

and a CAP is what? Civilian Air Patrol?

[Dog Gone]

If you're inside the Beltway, you're not a normal American and we can't trust your observations. Sorry.

[eniapmot]

CAP doesn't fly interceptors. Maybe Guard.

[dts32041]

are you referring to civil air patrol or a combat air patrol

[Cagey]

I was outside and noticed three aircraft flying South. I'm inside the Beltway....

Now, I'm confused.

[ctonious]

You will soon be visited by sinister men in black who will very slowly but forcefully insist that what you saw was a flock of geese heading south.

[aculeus]

Some Friday night drunk caused a problem.

CAP is costing us big bucks but it's worth it.

[DainBramage]

Maybe they were running an escort with a VIP Military plane.

[longshadow]

but I wonder if they would re-fuel like that at such low altitude, and over such a highly populated area.

Refueling is typically done in standard refueling "tracks" where the tanker flies around a large, four-cornered "race-course" shaped trajectory in the sky whilst thirsting aircraft line up to be "serviced."

It makes no sense for this to be done over a populated area, or at low altitude, except in some unusual emergency situation.

[SamAdams76]

It could well be mid-air refueling. The Boston Herald printed pictures a couple of weeks ago showing mid-air refueling over Manhattan. Apparently F-16s are patrolling the major cities 24/7 these days.

[Lady Jag]

The intense light was probably a landing light. Are you near the airport?

[Chad Fairbanks]

I hope we don't hear about any cattle mutilations on the eastern seaboard... that would be too weird... ;0)

Just kidding. I wouldn't be surprised if it was, A. a refueling, or B. some drunk on a flight, & pilot asked for an escort... :0)

[Ligeia]

I read earlier it's the Virginia Air National Guard that's providing air cover around here.

[rwfromkansas]

hate to be stupid...but what is Cap?

[rwfromkansas]

I am expecting the moderators to go all delete happy like they always do on threads like this so I have saved your post on my comp in case this occurs.

[Tennessee_Bob]

I'm betting you saw a in-flight refueling. It may have been a practice intercept combined with an IFR. We see them here in the Knoxville area quite often (they fly KC-135's out of Knoxville)

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Sounds kinda weird. If we hear about an airliner in your area being intercepted on the news tonight, we'll know you probably saw it happen.

[fivetoes]

You did not see anything. It was just your imagination. Go back to what you were doing.