A picture is worth a thousand words.
Do you mean this one?
Posted on 02/19/2002 11:42:33 PM PST by kattracks
| February 20, 2002 -- The Air Force admitted yesterday it goofed big-time when two low-flying F-16 jets jolted sleeping New Yorkers out of their beds earlier this week. A spokesman from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) told The Post it is investigating why the pair of jets buzzed Manhattan as they were making their way back to Atlantic City after a regular patrol. "The timing and location in this instance was poorly coordinated," said Maj. Donald Arias, a spokesman for the First Air Force/Continental U.S. NORAD Region based in Florida. "While returning from a CAP mission [Combat Air Patrol], two F-16 jets fighters dropped down to a low altitude before returning to their base in Atlantic City," he added. "They should not have been at that precise location at that particular time." Although stating the incident was still under investigation, Arias said the pilots did not break any regulations. The thunderous flyover left buildings shaking and windows rattling at about 4:30 on Monday morning. "I'm starting to wonder if it was two pilots joy riding," said one Manhattan resident who was awoken by the jets. "I appreciate their protecting the city, but I just hope they remember that ‘the city that never sleeps' isn't meant to be taken literally." They are temporarily based at the Air National Guard 177th Fighter Wing in Atlantic City, N.J. Arias said the planes were not flying at Mach speed - about 750 mph - which is breaking the sound barrier. The F-16's maximum speed is about 1,300 mph. Air patrol have been securing the skies over New York and Washington, D.C., since the terror attacks of Sept. 11.
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You got that right Sarge!
I'll bet you also remember that eerie moan that an F104 makes on a low speed approach. Used to send shivers down my spine. Man, that was (and still is) one hot fighter.
When one of those babies lifted up to about 20 feet, pulled up wheels and flaps and built up speed to climb out, spectators got a real treat! I still remember the BOOM and thump in the chest when they went supersonic!
Makes me all nostalgic. Think I'll go re-up (not)!
But I cannot think of a ruder way to remind them then to make them think it's already happening again.
FreeRegards,
/jasper
After seeing hundreds of take offs of mostly F-15's and FB-111's, I have to say the FB-111's evening and night take offs looks better. The FB had a much longer flame, about 3 times as long as an Eagle's, (of course they needed it to get off the ground) and a wider range of colors. Not to say the F-15 wasn't impressive.
A picture is worth a thousand words.
Do you mean this one?
For that matter, just seeing one of the damn things in the air was a sight to behold. The Viggie is perhaps the most beautiful airplane ever built, IMHO. A bitch to land on the carrier, though.
Not their sleep I was thinking of, but their peace of mind. This is only speculation, but I think someone hearing low-flying aircraft over Manhattan would be much less likely to think, "Thank God the Air Force is defending me from a repeat of 9/11" than "OMIGOD! It's another one!"
Buzzing Mannhattan is certainly not necessary to the mission and would hardly have the effect of making people feel more affectionate toward the military.
Yeah, I remember a few years ago two Marine aviators letting their hair down in Italy...and killing 20 local civilians when the plane cut the ski-lift cable.
Let the fly-boys get their jollies on their own time (and at their own risk), not ours.
Found a link for a video of the Fairchild B-52 crash, and a couple of others.
Click here, scroll down. ( can't vouch for the quality, my Windows Media Player doesn't work)
The NY liberals were starting to forget.
Well done.
Yeah, they yanked my chain, and I fell for it.
I'm still a little shell-shocked, but I need to remember my roots in tornado alley. That noise is frightening. The jets I can get used to.
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