Fighter jets to fly over D.C.

Fighter jets to fly over D.C.

May 18, 2009 - 7:33pm WASHINGTON - A pair of F-16 fighter jets will fly over downtown Washington in a series of training flights Tuesday and Wednesday morning. The Air Force says the jets will cruise over D.C. with two Cessna Civil Air Patrol planes and a Coast Guard helicopter several times between midnight and 6 a.m. Tuesday. The same set of aircraft will perform the same exercise Wednesday.

Source



Seems odd for only 2 F-16, 2 Cessnas and a helicopter to be conducting exercises? Shouldn't there be more aircraft involved in an exercises/or training mission?

Could they be escorting or covering for the flight for some black project. Looks like it will be done when most are in bed.

What does everyone think?

reply to post by Djdoubt03


Well considering the Cessnas involvement I would guess that the F-16s' are practicing taking down light aircraft that are terrorist flown in secure airspace. The chopper is likely for recording the event.

reply to post by Djdoubt03


Interesting ...

Thanks for the heads up, I'll try to take some pictures if they come near me.

You know, I never thought that it could be training for taking down small craft. That thought never crossed my mind.

[edit on 5/18/09 by Djdoubt03]

Could be for taking down small aircraft as suggested.

Or.

The Cessnas are used for photographers.

Last week’s Falcon Virgo exercise was delayed until later this week. Civil Air Patrol’s National Capital Wing flies these missions every month to help ensure the security of our nation’s capital.

Exercise Falcon Virgo is designed to hone NORAD’s intercept and identification operations, as well as procedural tests of the NCR Visual Warning System.

These exercises are carefully planned and closely controlled to ensure NORAD’s rapid response capability. NORAD has conducted exercise flights of this nature throughout the U.S. and Canada since the start of Operation Noble Eagle, the command’s response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, NORAD fighters have responded to more than 2,100 possible air threats in the United States and have flown more than 51,000 sorties with the support of Airborne Warning and Control System and air-to-air-refueling aircraft.

NCR = National Capital Region

www.natcapwg.cap.gov...

Hope this helps.

[edit on 19/5/2009 by C0bzz]

reply to post by Djdoubt03


Well so far as I could tell it didn't happen last night, or if it did they didn't fly over NW DC.

I was up till 6:30 am, and other than the pretty birds, not a sound to be heard until National airport opened.