AIR FORCE ADMITS CITY BUZZ WAS A ‘LOW' MOMENT

New York Post ^ | 2/20/02 | http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/41954.htm

[Jasper]

"IMHO one of the prettiest sights in the night sky is F15 doing a max performance take-off."

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.

[Don Carlos]

F104. The original "pocket rocket". In '62, Moron AB, Spain, we had an ANG outfit from S. Carolina that flew the F104. One of the pilots was a BIG Captain. One day I asked how he ever got into the cockpit. He replied, "Get in, hell. I just strap it to my butt and take off".

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)!

[Don Carlos]

BTW, thanks again for the welcome. Nice talking to you again.

[NovemberCharlie]

Some/many NY'ers (along with all Americans) need to be reminded that 9/11 wasn't a freak incident, and that unless we all get on, and stay on, and pile on tons of pro-military appreciation onto the bandwagon, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

But I cannot think of a ruder way to remind them then to make them think it's already happening again.

[Jasper]

The pleasure's mine sarge, hope you're enjoying your tour here at the FreeRepublic.

FreeRegards,

/jasper

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

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!

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.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Reminds me of the hot dog B-52 pilot at Fairchild AFB a few years ago. During a ceremonial fly-by, he banked a little too hard and plowed into the ground. He killed all the crew on board and could have killed many more on the ground. After the fact, some of his fellow pilots noted that he was known for pushing the envelope a little too far.

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Do you mean this one?

[Taxman]

There is nothing quite so beautiful as an RA-5C Vigilante during a night catapult shot.

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.

[NovemberCharlie]

Sorry, but I think it's ruder to tell someone who is putting his life on the line for mine, "quiet down, you're disturbing my sleep!"

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.

[The_Expatriate]

A few USAF air force pilots stressed out and tired, yeah, maybe they want to... well let their hair down.

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.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I liked the look of the Vigilante too, was my favorite model airplane. Never got to see a real one.

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)

[Dinsdale]

Phsyc ops.

The NY liberals were starting to forget.

Well done.

[arm958]

Air Force/Air Farce .. who cares? Not this retired 22-year blue-suiter. I bet Cobra64 and Poohbah both have a grin on their face cuz they yanked ur chain!

Yeah, they yanked my chain, and I fell for it.

[big gray tabby]

I slept right through it (UWS,90's,) so I can't get too upset. During the World Series some jets buzzed Yankee Stadium from right over my crib--I about browned 'em that night!

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.