Posted: 11/16/2011 6:24:38 PM EDT
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Past few days, there's been a major increase of activity. Normally there will be an occasional plane or two. Past week, it's been a constant rumble of military aircraft. Few nights ago, it was lower flying C130s. Today, I've spotted what looked like flare canisters from 3 different locations around point.
Just curious if anyone knows what is up, or how long it is going to last. |
Last night in Appleton, say 2000, I heard what clearly sounded like military jets-much louder, faster than the normal leisurely commuter traffic coming into ATW. It was dark, so it was a challenge to see what was going on: but it appeared to be three of them and they circled for a while. My wife reported that some of her friends on Facebook saw what they described as 'lights' coming from the jets. I'm assuming the 'lights' are flares. Must be an exercise: but why pop flares over Appleton? 
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Last night in Appleton, say 2000, I heard what clearly sounded like military jets-much louder, faster than the normal leisurely commuter traffic coming into ATW. It was dark, so it was a challenge to see what was going on: but it appeared to be three of them and they circled for a while. My wife reported that some of her friends on Facebook saw what they described as 'lights' coming from the jets. I'm assuming the 'lights' are flares. Must be an exercise: but why pop flares over Appleton? In all honesty, out of the 3 objects I saw last night, two could easily be explained as meteors/falling starts/etc. The third was very much like a flare... 3 balls very close, at an angle that would not make sense for a meteor. 
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Rehearsing the UN led invasion of our cities.  lol... I fully expected a comment like that. 
But if it helps, I spent 9 years in the Air Force, and the buddy that heard the C-130s was in the Marines for ~6 years (i'm sure he'll post the exact number). WE've both had numerous trips to Iraq, and know the difference between commercial aicraft and military aircraft.
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...as for the meteors....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonids Doesn't explain the aircraft though..... |
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...as for the meteors.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonids Doesn't explain the aircraft though..... Meteors? yeah. shurrrre. ... Did it look anything like this? 
Maybe the military jets were interceptor aircraft? 
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Yeah, I noticed night time jet activity earlier this week at the Hardwood Bombing Range. Died off now though....must've been prepping the deer herd for this weekend :-) and I'm an hour or so from there. but I guess when you think about it, that's not much for an aircraft. |
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Does Hardwood still do their open house events? I loved those as a kid - seeing the A-10's make runs. Saw my first flying stealth fighter there as well. "Hardwood Bombing Range Off Hwy. F, South of Babcock 608-427-1509 Hardwood Air-to-Ground Weapons Range is one of fifteen Air National Guard ranges located in the nation. The range provides training for combat aircrews by presenting realistic targets for weapons practice. Although the planes don’t drop live bombs, the experience is as noisy and as thrilling as you’d expect. Grab a picnic basket, bring your earplugs, and prepare to be thrilled by flights above and explosions below. Visitors are welcome to observe activities during operating hours. A recorded message of the flight schedule is available by calling 608-427-1509." |
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Quoted: Quoted: Does Hardwood still do their open house events? I loved those as a kid - seeing the A-10's make runs. Saw my first flying stealth fighter there as well. "Hardwood Bombing Range Off Hwy. F, South of Babcock 608-427-1509 Hardwood Air-to-Ground Weapons Range is one of fifteen Air National Guard ranges located in the nation. The range provides training for combat aircrews by presenting realistic targets for weapons practice. Although the planes don’t drop live bombs, the experience is as noisy and as thrilling as you’d expect. Grab a picnic basket, bring your earplugs, and prepare to be thrilled by flights above and explosions below. Visitors are welcome to observe activities during operating hours. A recorded message of the flight schedule is available by calling 608-427-1509."  I know what the Mrs and I are doing sometime soon! I'll have to grab my camera and tripod, try to get some HD video (or atleast good stills). |
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Without being too specific, for OPSEC reasons of course, I will divulge that the 115th FW is doing night operations all this week. Nightly between 1800 and 2200 there are anywhere from 2-8 F-16's flying out. That would sound about right. Buddy swore he heard some herc....but if there's F-16s out there, odds are it's related, and I have no need to know. Thanks! |
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Yesterday as I drove into Rockford IL, I saw three tanker planes flying in a pattern wide enough that had to go into in WI. They were low enough to make out the windows and the fueling tail, but I couldn't make out if it was ANG or AF Reserve.
I know that here in IL, for the past 3 days, all responders were simulating a response to an earthquake on the New Madrid fault. |
| I concure with the 115th doing night/early evening ops lately. I work near Truax and get treated to the sights and sounds of the 115th all day long. Love seeing 4 F-16's in tight formation flying low overhead, then peel off single file to land. Haven't seen squat during the day for a couple weeks now, but a few weeks ago I saw a fast mover on approach. I stopped to check it out because something looked odd. As it flew overhead it was most definately not an F-16, but an F-18. Couldn't tell if it was Navy or Marines and I only saw one. |
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I concure with the 115th doing night/early evening ops lately. I work near Truax and get treated to the sights and sounds of the 115th all day long. Love seeing 4 F-16's in tight formation flying low overhead, then peel off single file to land. Haven't seen squat during the day for a couple weeks now, but a few weeks ago I saw a fast mover on approach. I stopped to check it out because something looked odd. As it flew overhead it was most definately not an F-16, but an F-18. Couldn't tell if it was Navy or Marines and I only saw one. They've been down during the day because of drill weekend, veterans day, and then prep for night flying. I love that random planes are always coming and going out of there. Any chance I get when a different plane comes in I try and go crawl around on it for aircraft "familiarization" even though it's just as much because I love planes. I have the pleasure of having the F-16's taxi less then 30 feet from my "office" on taxiway-G every time they go out. It rattles the whole place. Never gets old for me!
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