Test of Massive Air Force Bomb Set for Tuesday at Eglin AFB (Florida)

AP ^

[Semper911]

Mar 10, 2003

Test of 'massive' Air Force Bomb Set for Tuesday at Eglin

The Associated Press

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AP) - A conventional bomb so big that it's first name is "massive" is set to be tested for the first time at this Florida Panhandle base Tuesday.

Air Force officials Monday warned residents of communities surrounding the western half Eglin's 724-square-mile military reservation to be prepared to hear an explosion that sounds like thunder or a slamming door between noon and 5 p.m. CST although the blast will be miles away.

The loudness of the 21,000-pound "massive ordnance air burst," or MOAB, will vary depending on wind currents and some people may not hear it at all, Eglin officials said in a brief news release.

They added that the test will be conducted only under weather conditions best for minimizing the sound and inside a buffer zone to keep a shock wave and debris from the explosion inside Eglin's boundaries. The backup date for the test is Thursday during the same time frame.

MOAB is similar to but 40 percent heavier than the 15,000-pound BLU-82, billed as the world's most powerful non-nuclear bomb and known to send up a mushroom cloud similar to a nuclear weapon.

The BLU-82, nicknamed "daisy cutter," was developed during the Vietnam War to create jungle clearings for use as helicopter landing areas. It was most recently dropped in Afghanistan on caves where al-Qaida leaders were suspected of hiding.

In the Persian Gulf War, it was used to clear minefields. MOAB is expected to be ready for use this year if the test is successful.

Areas where civilians may be able to hear the blast are Mary Esther, Navarre, Holly, Holt and western Crestview.

[aruanan]

It just amazes me how many silly people believe so many stupid things!....And still post'em!

Hey, I knew about it a couple of hours before it was posted on AP.

[null and void]

Northrop is about 15 minutes away from me and very very busy. Hiring.

Do they need any MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) people?

[null and void]

No offence taken.

[AF_Blue]

BOOM!!!

It just went off! My windows and walls (steel frame building) rattled.

[finnman69]

Can you see a mushroom cloud?

[Joe Hadenuf]

Oh yeah!! Your not kidding right??

[AmericanInTokyo]

Mark the time. 2:03 p.m. Eastern time (probably right on the top of the hour).

[Joe Hadenuf]

I want video!!!

[AmericanInTokyo]

This man is not kidding. It was detonated.

[null and void]

Nothing on the USGS earthquake site.

[mhking]

It just went off! My windows and walls (steel frame building) rattled.

Cool!

[AmericanInTokyo]

2:07 p.m. Eastern Time

Note to self: Let's see how long it takes for the major news to flash this, even though freepers and eyewitnesses have been talking about the explosion for four minutes now.

[Joe Hadenuf]

How far are you away??

[AF_Blue]

Not from where I'm at. I'm on the other side of the installation, and this is a heavily wooded area.

[Quilla]

Wow, talk about breaking news! Thanks for the info.

[AF_Blue]

Why should I be joking about an event like this? I think it's pretty cool. As AmericanInTokyo posted, mark the time and watch the news.

[finnman69]

Hmm..CNN was reporting there could be a 10,000 foot high cloud

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/03/11/sprj.irq.moab/index.html

"The Tuesday test was expected to generate so much noise at the Eglin Air Force Base test site that nearby residents were warned in advance. A 10,000-foot cloud is expected to result."

[AmericanInTokyo]

Joe, read AF Blue's profile. He's legit. And he gave this story to the world on FREE REPUBLIC, with a earwitness report, probably 30 minutes to an hour before we see it on TV or running on tickers.

Fantastic.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Fox News reports that the test just happened.

[Centurion2000]

Hmm..CNN was reporting there could be a 10,000 foot high cloud

So where's the video ... we want pics :)