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 can always count on the Marines to knock their fellow service members. Let's see, what have the Marines done lately? Well, they occupied an airfield and an embassy in Afghanistan that had been previously secured by the U.S. Army. As for Marine Corps Air power factoring into the defeat of the Taliban in Afghanistan, it's about 70% Air Force, 28% Navy and maybe 2% Marines to make them feel good.
I do not think that the devastatingly lethal and effective U.S. Air Force appreciates being referred to as the Air Farce. Grow up.
Ohhhhh yer gonna get whacked for that was comment Pooh. Drop and give me twenty !.... No one ever ....."was"..... a Marine.......
Stay Safe !
Stay Safe !
Whenever this occurs here, I wonder what it was like in Germany during WWII, when hundreds were flying over. They have a deeper meaner low pitched rumble, slowly growing in volume as they approach.
I swure wouldn't have wanted to be on the receiving end of that. Kinda like being in Hell.
Stay Safe !
Hi, my name's Poohbah, and I'm a Jarhead!
HI, POOHBAH!
I work in aviation in STL and couldnt agree more.
Thats what I thought.
1. I'm not your pal.
2. Since you didn't contest anything I stated in my post (#41), then I will assume that you either agree with it or you are incapable of intelligently responding to it.
3. You lost your composure. As a former Marine, you should be ashamed of yourself.
You have never seen me lose my composure. Maybe the Air Force defines "losing one's composure" differently from the USMC--violating your sense of political correctness isn't "losing my compusre."
As a former Marine, you should be ashamed of yourself.
As a former Marine, I would be quite rightly ashamed of myself if I were to ever base a decision to be or not be ashamed of myself on your uninformed opinion of same.
On the contrary, when someone calls the Air Force the Air Farce, I will respond, forcefully and proudly. I would expect nothing less of anyone wearing Air Force blue.
I grew up in eastern North Carolina, underneath the low-level train routes used by the F-105s on their way to the Dare County bombing range and the B-52s flying low-level (There’s something awesome about watching a Buff coming toward you trailing 8 fingers of black smoke.) Anyway, I grew used to the sudden arrival of high-speed aircraft over our riverside cottage at any time of the morning or evening.
HOWEVER ...
After losing her mind and marrying me, my wife and I spent our honeymoon at that self-same cottage. The next morning, we were rather …… engaged …… when two Strike Eagles announced their arrival overhead with no warning. My wife screamed “WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT !?!” When I pulled myself off the ceiling after being forcibly thrown there (don’t ask), I explained it was the sound of Freedom.
Needless to say, she wasn’t very amused and refused me permission to invade her airspace until after nightfall. Eventually, though, she grew used to the noise and fury. Oh, and the planes too.
True story, so help me!
IMHO one of the prettiest sights in the night sky is F15 doing a max-performance take off. Man, them blow pipes put out a long flame!
Aw, you had to go and spill the beans!
Shucks and all that.
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