Sonic boom Rattles Portland to Seattle

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by ViperTomcat

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!

Good to know our fighter pilots are staying sharp

[CamaroSkooter]

Well, what else do they have to do all day?

[v6sonoma]

Originally Posted by Iroczlover

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad some of you think this was a joke but it wasnt funny.

sitting here at the house Nothing on the TV nothing on the net about it until like 30mins or so. scarry as hell.

I tell you one thing. If I heard it I'd be making a B-line to my AR!

[ViperTomcat]

Originally Posted by Iroczlover

I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO glad some of you think this was a joke but it wasnt funny.

sitting here at the house Nothing on the TV nothing on the net about it until like 30mins or so. scarry as hell.

I guess its different for some of us..I lived in the approach and departure paths for Naval Air Station Point Mugu (now Naval Base Ventura County). The sound of sonic booms along with F-14's, F-4's and such was common.
Now I live within an hour of Kingsley Field, the second OR ANG installation where the 114th Fighter Squadron lives, also with F-15's.

Sonic booms are a bit startling, but if there was a very serious situation the news would have something at once.

[Wingsfan]

Before 9-11 at an air base I was able to go watch an f-16 take off on the runway. My whole body felt like jello when it passed by.