Saw a strange airplane in the sky
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From: Bakersfield, CA, USA
It will be interesting to see if PA calls back to confirm the Mirage and which of the nine Countries who have the Mirage participated.
At the very least they will know that the general public has an eye on the skies and they just can't omit and not get called on it. If a military jet that my tax dollars didn't buy, flies over my house I should at least be able to ask about it.
The worst that can happen is I will get audited...for the next ten years.
At the very least they will know that the general public has an eye on the skies and they just can't omit and not get called on it. If a military jet that my tax dollars didn't buy, flies over my house I should at least be able to ask about it.
The worst that can happen is I will get audited...for the next ten years.
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From: the moral high ground
This is the release from NORAD:
The key phrase is, "may hear and/or see NORAD-controlled fighter jets"
So, I guess we own a Mirage or we had visitors who shall remain nameless.
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - The North American Aerospace Defense Command will conduct exercise flights today as they practice intercept and identification procedures. Exercise flights will take place over Southeastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina. Although they are scheduled for early morning, the exercise flights could be delayed due to weather concerns.
Those in the areas of Hampton, Newport News and the Eastern Shore of Virginia as well as the city/towns between Roanoke Rapids North Carolina and Wakefield Virginia may hear and/or see NORAD-controlled fighter jets in close proximity to a military or military contracted aircraft, which will be taking on the role of Tracks of Interest (TOI).
In order to test responses, systems and equipment, NORAD continuously conducts exercises with a variety of scenarios, including airspace restriction violations, hijackings and responding to unknown aircraft. All NORAD exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled.
NORAD has conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout Canada and the U.S. since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command's response to the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.
NORAD is the bi-national Canadian and American command that provides maritime warning, aerospace warning and aerospace control for Canada and the United States. The command has three subordinate regional headquarters: the Alaskan NORAD Region at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
Those in the areas of Hampton, Newport News and the Eastern Shore of Virginia as well as the city/towns between Roanoke Rapids North Carolina and Wakefield Virginia may hear and/or see NORAD-controlled fighter jets in close proximity to a military or military contracted aircraft, which will be taking on the role of Tracks of Interest (TOI).
In order to test responses, systems and equipment, NORAD continuously conducts exercises with a variety of scenarios, including airspace restriction violations, hijackings and responding to unknown aircraft. All NORAD exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled.
NORAD has conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout Canada and the U.S. since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command's response to the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001.
NORAD is the bi-national Canadian and American command that provides maritime warning, aerospace warning and aerospace control for Canada and the United States. The command has three subordinate regional headquarters: the Alaskan NORAD Region at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska; the Canadian NORAD Region at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg, Manitoba; and the Continental NORAD Region at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
The key phrase is, "may hear and/or see NORAD-controlled fighter jets"
So, I guess we own a Mirage or we had visitors who shall remain nameless.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Cabot, AR
They're probably in good shape too since they have even less wear than the French ones do. The French got to blow up a few trucks in Libya and then film some good videos of them skimming the desert. The Greeks were too broke to fill the gas tanks.
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From: the moral high ground
The Air Force finally got back to me, I guess first they had to confirm I was a taxpayer.
When they discovered how much tax I actually paid, it was "Yes, sir!" and "No, sir!" after that.
Anyways, what I saw was an old KFIR, the local company calls it an F-21.
http://www.atacusa.com/
When they discovered how much tax I actually paid, it was "Yes, sir!" and "No, sir!" after that.
Anyways, what I saw was an old KFIR, the local company calls it an F-21.
http://www.atacusa.com/
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Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 1,506
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From: Bakersfield, CA, USA
Anyways, what I saw was an old KFIRhttp://www.atacusa.com/
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Certified Goat Breeder
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From: the moral high ground
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAI_Kfir
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,165
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From: Cabot, AR
I went with the newest of the Mirage line assuming it was a joint training event of some type. That is a stripped down version of a Mirage III. The smartphone in the pilot's pocket has better avionics than that old tub. I would hope that our pilots are getting better training tools than that. The only place that aircraft could hang with a modern fighter would be in a close quarters gun only battle. To bad he would be shot down way before he knew the US pilot was even in the sky.
FYI: I have actually been in most of the hangers where the old Mirages were assembled.
FYI: I have actually been in most of the hangers where the old Mirages were assembled.