Hard to believe…

I was just standing outside of my office here in Eagan when we watched an F-16 take off, and do several loops around MSP International airport. Did anyone ever think we would see military aircraft doing recon around our area in the US? I was just in Germany, and this is an everyday occurance there. I commented that we never have to worry about that back home. I would imagine with Prarie Island and Monticello nuke plants close by, there will be a lot of that happening for a while. You could be fishing pool 4 today, and see fighters in the sky. Comforting, yet concerning…

Tuck

Very well put bud!!!!!

I live in Burnsville and have my screen door open and heard the plane it made me jump out of my seat. Especially because there aren’t suposed to be any planes in the air. I couldn’t see it and didn’t know what it was because I had never heard a plane so loud in my life I thought it was another one going down and I couldn’t see it. Last night at about 11 to 12 midnight I could see high in the sky about 20 planes flying in the night sky. Another scary thing. I can’t wait until I feel safe hearing and see planes again.

When you hear the sound of these jets, they are well by you. You have to look way ahead to pick them up. It’s quite a sight.

I just saw a chopper and some jet trails too. Its kind of cool to see things I have only seen a couple of times in air shows and on TV.

I know when they buzz Mille Lacs out of Duluth its amazing the speed they can attain.

Hook

If you’ve ever been on Lake Sharpe or any of the reservoirs in SD, you know what the lay of the land is like. One day while skiing up on the lake, we could here them coming, but couldn’t find them in the sky. All of a sudden they buzzed the dam, I’m sure they were at a safe altitude, but it seemed like they were right on top of us. The buzzed the lake one more time giving me us all a huge thrill. You can’t hardly turn your head fast enough when you’re less that close to them. I was impressed to say the least.

Each year before the Chicago Air and Water show a brokerage firm that we work with charters a 50′ scooner type working sailboat on Lake Michigan. From 2-5pm the Thunderbirds and last year the Blue Angels go through their pactice runs. Amazing! Watching them disappear behind the skyline, being able to follow them across the sky with an unobstructed view from the boat, seeing all 6 buzz the boat—talk about feeling the thunder!

I have also witnessed the planes going over Mille Lacs. They seem to be about 500′ above the water and then make a big turn back toward Duluth. Quite a sight and sound.

Have seen them over reservoirs in ks as well. Pop up over the dam and cruise the lake. We wave to em, and have even had one or two give us a lil wing wave…kinda cool. Kind of a lil whistle when heading towards us then the whooosssshhh of the jets when they pass…..

I live near Mitchell International, so you can immagine what I get to see some times. Occasional F-16`s, sometimes warthogs, but the most awesome display is when the air refuelers are doing takeoffs and landings. One after another, 30 seconds apart, out over Lake Michigan for a quick bank turn…and as the last one takes off, the first one is heading back to land. They`ve got some huge transports doing the same thing from time to time….air ballet.

This summer we got to see some new enormous transport a couple times. This thing dwarfs everything else, but when it comes in to land, it goes so slow you would think it would fall right out of the sky.

Son, as you know I have seen them to, only they were in Nam. I hope for all of us, I, our freinds here at FTR, and especially you and your brother none of us ever see or experience that kind of air show agian.

God Bless America and the families and friends of those who have perished.

SKPIKE

I used to the see the C130’s rolling into Ft. Lawton and wonder, How do those things stay in the air going that slow? I wonder how fast they are actually moving???

Hey Tuck,

Man I gotta call you! I just moved to the Wisconsin/UP border. New contact info.

Anyway, I always liked fishing down on Pepin when the ANG was flying. On Pepin you have a long enough time to hear the jets coming. You get a real good look as they buzz the lake at 500 to 1000 feet up.

But now, they are flying for a real sobering reason. It is indeed strange to see them up their protecting instead of training.

Talk to you soon……R

Around 1980 I was stationed in Korea where I saw an airshow put on by the Military, I suppose to show the Koreans what we had. Anyway we were standing around waiting for it to start when all of a sudden the jets were right on top of us. They had taken off somewhere else and flown up and over some nearby hills at better than the speed of sound and no one heard or saw a thing untill they were right over us. It was obvious that we wouldn’t have had a chance at getting away from them. I really hope Bin Laden enjoys seeing first hand what modern fighters are capable of.