Curious About Military Flyovers?

[MOMO3.2]

I live in Monrovia, Ca. Monrovia is located in the San Gabriel Valley just east of Pasadena.

Anyway, my neighbor was home on Columbus Day and stated that a twin engine propeller plane painted solid black flew over our neighborhhod and was immediately followed by 2 F-16's or F-18's. The black plane flew toward L.A., but the fighter jets circled in a pattern of maybe 20 miles at super low altitude for about 1/2 hour.

Yesterday, (Sunday 12/7) a Stealth Bomber repeated the same pattern for about 1/2 hour (or 10-12 cirucuits) at various altitudes and speeds.

It was so cool watching the Bomber. It really does look like a UFO.

I am curious about what kind of exercies might these have been?

Mike

[legion]

And I was always curious if NASCAR got charged for the flyovers at races, and if so, how much they cost?

[onewhippedpuppy]

We live very near the flight path for McConnell AFB. I get to see KC135s fly by all day long, often accompanied by the odd F16, F15, C17, etc. Occasionally a B2 flys in, that's always cool.

My in-laws live in central KS on the edge of a small town. They have a large house on a hill, and it's open around the house so it stands out from the air. We noticed that the fighters that practice in the area often would break and cross just over their house. Also noticed that the B-1s and B-52s that practiced in the area would make a turn to the north right over their home. Talking to a B-2 crew member at the McConnell air-show last year, it turns out that they use the house as a landmark when practicing bombing runs!

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

We live very near the flight path for McConnell AFB. I get to see KC135s fly by all day long, often accompanied by the odd F16, F15, C17, etc. Occasionally a B2 flys in, that's always cool.

My in-laws live in central KS on the edge of a small town. They have a large house on a hill, and it's open around the house so it stands out from the air. We noticed that the fighters that practice in the area often would break and cross just over their house. Also noticed that the B-1s and B-52s that practiced in the area would make a turn to the north right over their home. Talking to a B-2 crew member at the McConnell air-show last year, it turns out that they use the house as a landmark when practicing bombing runs!

Yup, my office was destroyed several times a day from the A-10s doing fast attack runs. I always wanted to mount a laser detector on top of one of the telescope domes, to see exactly how often they lit us up

I also had an A-10 decimate my truck with 30mm fire once while driving down the mountain, the bastard had me locked in and swooped across the road right over the deck about 50 feet in front of me at full throttle...it took everything for me to not drive off the road!

[slodave]

There is a small bit in the L.A. Times 'California Briefing', in the California section.

"PASADENA
Stealth bomber flies in memoriam

A B-2 stealth bomber from the 509th Bomber Wing performed a ceremonial flyover Sunday during services for Verne Orr, a former secretary of the U.S. Air Force who died last week at age 92."

Look at the bottom of the page:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-briefs8-2008dec08,0,4999043.story

[trekkor]

I was at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill, the last two days.

The race is sponsored by the US Air Force. No flyover?!?

I think they did something the first five years of this race.
It's gotta cost 10's of thousands to put anything in the air.


KT

[crustychief]

I was on the freeway at noon today and saw an f-18 crash into a couple of houses. I was going to the hobby shop for some H.O. train track but decided I would go back home instead.

[968rz]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/08/military.jet.crash/index.html

Always sad, hope everyone on the ground is ok.

[MysticLlama]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/08/military.jet.crash/index.html

Edit: a moment too late.

[crustychief]

I don't think there was anyone on the ground that was hurt, I think the house that took the majority of the energy from the plane was empty, it is owned by an older retired couple, I hope they were out shopping or something. A half mile away there is a high school and a medium/ large shopping mall UTC. I believe the pilot was trying to make Miramar air station. I heard he was experiencing difficulty out to sea and tried to make it back, I don't know the particulars on the condition of the plane before the crash but I would think that unless things just went wrong quickly before the crash a better choice would have been North Island. the runway is long enough for a no flaps landing and it is right on the coast. ( if I were coming from out at sea )

[Zeke]

Nope, 2 dead, 2 missing. The pilot ejected and is in the hospital. Only one pilot in a 2 seat plane.


????

[MOMO3.2]

Thanks Dave.

[MOMO3.2]

Bad news on the F-18 Crash in San Diego. This is a terrible tragedy for all involved.

Mike

[JavaBrewer]

San Diego UT Online

[rattlsnak]

Originally Posted by milt

Nope, 2 dead, 2 missing. The pilot ejected and is in the hospital. Only one pilot in a 2 seat plane.


????

F- 18 is a single seat. I think there are a few old dual seat trainers though.

[BReif61]

Originally Posted by rattlsnak

F- 18 is a single seat. I think there are a few old dual seat trainers though.

No, B/D/F models are all two-seaters. Still in regular use, the -F is brand new.

[rattlsnak]

OK, lets say, *most* of the dual seaters are trainers.

A/B
The F/A-18A is the single-seat variant and the F/A-18B is the two seat variant. The space for the two seat cockpit is provided by a relocation of avionic equipment and a 6% reduction in internal fuel; two-seat Hornets are otherwise fully combat-capable. The B model is used primarily for training.

C/D
The F/A-18C is the single-seat variant and the F/A-18D is the two seat variant. The D model can be configured for training or as an all-weather strike craft. The "missionized" D's rear seat is configured for a Weapons and Sensors Officer to assist in operating the weapons systems. The D model is primarily operated by the U.S. Marine Corps in the night attack and FAC.

E/F Super Hornet

The single seat F/A-18E and two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornets carry over the name and design concept of the original F/A-18, but have been extensively redesigned. The aircraft is currently in production and will eventually equip 22 squadrons. The EA-18G Growler is an electronic warfare version of the two-seat F/A-18F, which entered production in 2007. The Growler will replace the Navy's EA-6B Prowler.


Other US variants
RF-18D
Proposed two-seat reconnaissance version for the US Marine Corps in the mid-1980s. It was to carry a radar reconnaissance pod. The system was canceled after it was unfunded in 1988. This capability was later realized on the F/A-18D

X-53, NASA's modified F/A-18.TF-18A
Two-seat training version of the F/A-18A fighter, later redesignated F/A-18B.
F-18 HARV
Single-seat High Alpha Research Vehicle for NASA.

Export variants

F-18L
This was a lighter land-based version of the F/A-18 Hornet. It was designed to be a single-seat air-superiority fighter and ground-attack aircraft.

F/A-18A: Single-seat fighter/attack version for the Royal Australian Air Force.
F/A-18B: Two-seat training version for the Royal Australian Air Force.

CF-18A : Single-seat fighter/attack version for the Canadian Forces. The Canadian Forces' official designation is CF-188A Hornet.
CF-18B : Two-seat training and combat version for the Canadian Forces. The Canadian Forces' official designation is CF-188B Hornet.

EF-18A: Single-seat fighter/attack version for the Spanish Air Force. The Spanish Air Force designation is C.15.
EF-18B: Two-seat training version for the Spanish Air Force. The Spanish Air Force designation is CE.15.

KAF-18C: Single-seat fighter/attack version for the Kuwait Air Force.
KAF-18D: Two-seat training version for the Kuwait Air Force.

[scottmandue]

RE: Fly overs, often (not aways) USC home games have a F-18 flyover.

I alway wonder if/how much they pay for that.