Supersonic isn't probably something critically important to practice over populated areas anyway. They occasionally exceed it over populated areas, but that is a rarity. Heck, even subsonic can be strenous, however on buildings as evident in Goldsboro during the Wings Over Wayne practice. The courthouse actually sustained some damage and I think they pretty much contributed it to the airshow, but Goldsboro isn't going to find too much fault with Seymour Johnson. You don't bite the hand that feeds you and besides that, the base and the county have a very good relationship. That swampy area out near the coast is desolate and of course, there's always the ocean to practice over for supersonic flight. I'm hoping one day to get me a ride on a Strike Eagle. It would be one of those chances of a lifetime.
Phooey on the legality...I'd LOVE to have 'em bust the barrier over my house...those jets are cool! I'm in Southills and we occasionally get the C130's rattling the windows and more rarely the fighter jets will fly over...they all hang a left and follow 40 East. Did I miss the SJAFB air show this year? We went to those when I was a teenager and they were always good (and we got to go to Wilbur's...mm mmm!)
Usually SJAFB has their airshow in October. This year they had it in May to accomodate the first performance of the Blue Angels in Goldsboro which was a very big turn-out...over 100,000 people. Usually, it seems that most of the low flying smaller jets are the A-10 Warthogs. They are the tank killers and, aside from their missiles possess one of the most potent machine guns on an aircraft, which can turn an armored tank into swiss cheese. If I'm not mistaken, they actually have uranium-tipped ammo. Those jets are the slowest of the military jets but very nimble on the battlefield. I read somewhere that the larger tanker planes actually have to slow to near stall speed to refuel an A-10. I've always loved military jets! When I was young, I remember the B-52s and F-4E Phantoms at SJAFB. I was in junior high when it was made known that Seymour would become the first operational wing with Strike Eagles. To me, that was like a Christmas present to me. BTW... I think Pope AFB is having their airshow either this weekend (maybe tomorrow) or next weekend. Seems like its next weekend, but they will host the USAF Thunderbirds this year. They were at Seymour last October. This was my first year seeing the Blue Angels. I'll have to say that after seeing both shows, I think that the Angels' show is a bit more fascinating because of the F/A-18's larger size and twin engines. Just seems to exude more power. The Thunderbirds seem more graceful.
http://www.popebraggopenhouse.com/schedule.html It's next weekend.............we enjoyed the one in Goldsboro, might have to go to this one too.
The B-2 is going to perform?! Oh, darn. I wasn't planning on going, but I sure would love to see the B-2. Never seen it before in person. I also noticed no mention of Seymour Johnson's Strike Eagle demo team nor even a static display. Seems kind of odd.
They used to fly directly over my house and turn about 7pm..they were so low I actually saw a shark mouth and face painted on the nose a couple of times..too cool! Made me feel protected .Other countries take cover when they hear them coming.I can see where it would be scary late at night.
Thanks for the info about the Pope Air Show... Mr Britt's letting the Band have the weekend off (woohoo) so we might could go!
At the SJ show one year, I talked with a Strike Eagle pilot and was talking the F-15 about and the unusual noise they were making coming over McCalls and Wilburs...sort of a high-pitched spin up sound. I asked him what it was and he said it was probably the hydraulics spinning open the exhaust outlets controlling the power...basically. Anyway, he told me his "jet's number" basically like I could actually read it coming over the top of McCalls. Those pilots must have incredible vision for him to assume that! Anyway, those planes you describe are definitely A-10 Warthogs from Pope. They are the only attack aircraft that have faces painted on the nose. If they are that close, maybe you ought to wave at them the next time they come by.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/31/national/31planes.html?pagewanted=print Could have been the above. Anyhow, my family sleeps so soundly that anything could happen and they would snore right through it. We've had hurricanes and I have been up all night checking the domain while my family sleeps and asks the next morning what happened. Glad to know all of you are okay and nothing bad happened on our soil. Grace
I did 4 years in the USMC Air Wing. Primary MOS was Air Crew Chief (UH-1D & UH-1N) and my secondary MOS was Tactical Field LZ's NCO. While standing on the ground and viewing aircraft under 2000 feet I can give you the elevation within 100 +/- feet. It's basic trig. In surroundings with know base distances you can pinpoint their elevation. V22 Osprey .... Worst aircraft the USMC ever bought. I always thought the C42 (Chinook) was the worst flying coffin, till I saw this things record. The bad part is the squadrons here in NC are about to be deployed to Iraq. PS: The C5 and the C17 are easily identified. C17 has wing tips that turn up and the C5 has a round point at the top of the tail section. Both easily recognizable at low altitude and from the ground.
Sorry, I don't know what happened with that link. Here's another one of an article; http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/368680.html. Grace
