Posted: 6/28/2010 9:12:44 PM EDT
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Who in the hell keeps dropping flares on us?
This is now the 2nd time in 3 nights, and I would say the pose a fire hazard, especially over occupied neighborhoods. Seriously, where are they coming ffrom, and please don't say UFOs. We are in the Far NW corner of the valley, Surprise near Wittmann.....yes I know where Luke is, and I know how close to Luke Aux1 I am. Where is the closest aerial gunnery range? The flares come out of the WNW headed to the ESE... Yes, I'm a geek, I called the Po-po to let them know what was going on in case they get other calls....then the fire dept (actually the Alarm Room) called me back to say the the tower at Lukesaid, "Its not us, but even if it was, we couldn't tell you." 
OPSEC gone a little too far if someone's house burns down. |
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Uhhhh, yeah.
I don't think so. Seriously, tonight there were at least 6 parachute flares coming down over my house. That is why I am ondering where the closest gunnery range is, cause these must have drifted a long way, or someone's aim was way off! And I didn't see you at the 3-gun match yesterday. |
| I'm stationed at luke and when I worked swing shift (3p-11p) I could see the flares out at hila bend and in other areas NW (more west than north) of the base. Gila bend is the closest range but there are other areas of military airspace where sorties take place. |
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Quoted:
I'm stationed at luke and when I worked swing shift (3p-11p) I could see the flares out at hila bend and in other areas NW (more west than north) of the base. Gila bend is the closest range but there are other areas of military airspace where sorties take place. That's fine, and like most on ARFCOM, I am fine with .mil training, but is there someone I can contact to let them know that their aim is off, or that the flares are drifting over residential areas? |
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Quoted:
I'm stationed at luke and when I worked swing shift (3p-11p) I could see the flares out at hila bend and in other areas NW (more west than north) of the base. Gila bend is the closest range but there are other areas of military airspace where sorties take place. There are two major training locations for the F-16 pilots, one being up north (and is closer) and the other being down south west at gila bend where there are 3 different aux fields. In either case I'm sure you are not seeing flares unless you are at one of the Aux fields when they are training. 
To the OP, you can call Public Affairs and notify them, they may be able to get you in contact with ground safety or somebody along those lines. Call the base operator at 623-856-1110 and ask for the extension to public affairs. You can replace the 1110 with the extension they give you. If you have any more questions shoot me a P.M. and I'll give you my cell number so we can talk more about the subject. 
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I just got off the phone with Public Affairs, and she is forwarding my info to Community Relations. Looking forward to a call back. At least they are listening to me and not blowing me off. This is good, if they start to ignore you, let me know. I know a guy over at PA. |
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Much better choice. Loved that guy! |
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I would also like to point out that the F-16's at Luke do not fly with any type of parachute flare loaded. And for the record the MJU-7 is not a parachute flare. That is true, we do not fly with LU-2 parachute flares here, but the MJU-7's do fall at a slow rate and could be mistaken for a parachute flare.
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There was for a fact something suspended above the flares themselves, and it was a small "dome".
It almost looked like a mini hot-air balloon, but in my mind I rationalize it as a parachute, especially since they were descending. PA and Community Relations were both in touch with me multiple times, and insist it is not them (USAF). I give them credit for following up with me. I was told the A-10s out of Davis-Montham do use parachute flares, but that should be up above Wickenburg, and they would have to have floated or drifted a good 30-40 miles to get down to where I am. Not likely. I was reminded by the nice ladies of CR that the F-16s use non-parachute flares as counter-measures. I was advised if I see then again to call the police. And no, I have not recovered any burnt out / spent flares. |
