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When you live near a F-15 squadron with an active NORAD component (which the 123rd FS, the Oregon ANG squadron in question, is) you have to expect that kind of thing once in a while.
The 123rd Fighter Squardon of the 142nd Fighter Wing maintains 2-4 F-15's on 5 minute alert at all times. Typically they are armed with a interception load of 2 Aim-9M/X Sidewinder (IR guided) missiles, two external drop tanks and 4 Aim-120 AMRAAM radar guided missiles. The pilots are never more than a minute away from the aircraft.
On scramble the pilots are expected to have the aircraft in the air within 10 minutes from arrival at the aircraft. Most well trained and drilled crews can do it in 7 minutes. Use of speeds in excess of Mach 1 are limited to genuine alert scrambles (in this case to protect the President).
In short, well done OR ANG!
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