Posted on 05/14/2005 1:49:56 PM PDT by AZHua87
WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- One of the F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots who intercepted a private plane that strayed into restricted airspace here May 11 said he was prepared to use force if necessary to prevent a potential attack, and expressed confidence in the security system protecting the nation's capital.
Lt. Col. Tim Lehman, of the District of Columbia Air National Guard's 121st Fighter Squadron, said he was surprised when the Cessna's pilot did not initially respond to signals meant to change his course.
Colonel Lehman's F-16 fighter jet made three passes by the plane, dropping warning flares to get the pilot to veer west, away from the White House and Capitol, he said. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the Cessna came within three miles of the White House before turning away.
While acknowledging that he was prepared to shoot down the plane if necessary, Colonel Lehman said that decision comes from higher-level authorities "outside of my cockpit."
The Washington, D.C., area has "multiple layers" of defense against terrorist attacks, including ground-based assets capable of engaging "targets of interest" if necessary, he said.
Colonel Lehman said he is convinced these defense layers "would have stopped an aircraft" before it was able to hit.
Colonel Lehman's unit is part of the 113th Wing, an Air National Guard unit that has served on rotational duty supporting Operation Noble Eagle since shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Not really, the sidewinder's warhead isn't all that big. But it would knock out the engine, probably kill both pilots, or it would blow off a wing or the tail, depending on what was closest when the proximity fuse went off.
If the F-16 pulled in front and turned on afterburners, the Cessna would cease to exist.
Yeah but the engine would remain intact and end up smashing into an elementary school at which point the Democrats would wet themselves in glee.
I wonder how far the F-16 would have had to have stood off in order to take the shot? F-16s are notoriously bad at slow flight. Also, I wonder if the media would have covered the casualities on the ground since three miles north of the White House is about Georgia Avenue (those who know DC understand).
My tin foil hat is vibrating that this was a planned attempt by someone to make the sheeple afraid, so that some new law or restriction could be planned.
Anyone else sensing this?
Because a lot of "instructors" are nothing more than CPLs who can fly an airplane to PTS standards from the right seat.
The only sense I'm getting is a story heard on FNC where the kid was telling his dad that he was worried about the flight because they would be so close to the NFZ and he didn't want to wander into it.
The pilot of this Cessna was NOT (repeat NOT) a CFI (Certified Flight Instructor, for those non-aviators out there) - he was simply a private pilot, flying with a student pilot. I use past tense because the FAA has pulled his ticket.
I'm figuring these guys were both simply woefully ignorant of the D.C. ADIZ restrictions. They didn't file a flight plan, their radio was marginal, they weren't monitoring appropriate frequencies. It seems unlikely this was intentional penetration of the ADIZ as such action would be essentially 'suicide by shootdown'.
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