Falcon161 3 Posted July 9, 2009 I wanted to start this topic because of a couple of experiences I have had which are listed below. 1st. The first sighting happened in Raleigh NC around mid june or july of 2000 during the day through a pair of Binoculars. I was skanning the sky through a pair of high powered binoculars and something caught my eye a Gray Delta winged fighter plane doing a hard banking turn towards our apartment complex. Even though I was only 11 at the time I was pretty Knowledgable about Aircraft and helicopters especially Military. I did some research and found out that it was a Kfir (F-21 Lion), but I could not recognize any emblems on it, I know it was a star of some sort, it was shortly followed by an Flight of F-16C's. 2nd. About 3 months after the First sighting same place around 10 am. I was outside with a friend talking and we heard Jet engines, but as we were looking around 3 Fighters 2 F-15E's, and what I now know as an Su-33 flew over us close enough to shake the leaves of the trees around us. The Su-33 was Dark gray in color and carrying no weapons or pylons for that matter, it had no markings or even a tail number. 3. When i was at Parris Island We were Marching and some Helicopters flew over which I recognized as being Euro Copter Tigers flying with some AH-1Ws 4.This happened about 45minutes ago. I was laying down and heard helicopters, which is not an unusual occurrence over here, so I go out expecting to see the usual Black Hawk, Pavelow, Huey, Cobra, Chinook, or other Military Helicopter, but lo and behold my eyes see something I thought I would never see, two Mi-35's fly over I am still a little bit in shock about it and I am just trying to figure out what they are doing flying over here. So what are you Strange Aircrat sightings?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eraser_tr 29 Posted July 9, 2009 Mi-35s? and what was an Su-33 doing over the US? A few months ago I saw a low flying A-10 while I was walking my dog, no idea what it was doing in my area or as low as it was. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FastCargo 412 Posted July 9, 2009 I doubt what you saw was Su-33s. Now, please don't try to convince me you did...older and more experienced heads have made similiar mistakes. Now, the Mi-35s were probably Hinds owned by a group in El Paso that does private OPFOR operations. Wouldn't surprise me to see those. FC Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Caveman 1 Posted July 9, 2009 about 4 years ago i was driving by Buckley AFB and saw what looked to me like a An-124 parked there... no clue why Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Southernap 1 Posted July 9, 2009 The Kfir's are probably owned by a civilian aggressor company called ATAC, linky, who are home based out of Newport News-Williamsburg International Airport in Newport News, VA. They fly both the Kfir and the J-35 Draken. They have standing contracts to provide aggressor threats to any USN/USMC and USAF unit on the Eastern Seaboard. There is a Military Operations Area of the eastern seaboard of the USA titled the VACAPES. It streaches from the Chesapeke Bay down to around Charleston, SC. They also will show up from time to time at Fallon to provide additional DACM training. As to the Mi-35 and the Euro Tigers flying around, the best that I could think off whole be from some NATO allies who brought thier helicopters over for additional training in some of our military ranges. As to the Su-33 it was reported in Ukraine news papers that the US bought a pair of Su-27 Flanker A's for study and DACM. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
censored 0 Posted July 9, 2009 1st. The first sighting happened in Raleigh NC around mid june or july of 2000 during the day through a pair of Binoculars. I was skanning the sky through a pair of high powered binoculars and something caught my eye a Gray Delta winged fighter plane doing a hard banking turn towards our apartment complex. Even though I was only 11 at the time I was pretty Knowledgable about Aircraft and helicopters especially Military. I did some research and found out that it was a Kfir (F-21 Lion), but I could not recognize any emblems on it, I know it was a star of some sort, it was shortly followed by an Flight of F-16C's.. . . So what are you Strange Aircrat sightings?? As many of us know, a total of 25 Kfir C1's were leased by the US Navy and USMC to serve as Aggressor aircraft between 1985 and 1989. The Navy aircraft wore air superiority gray and the USMC aircraft were flown in a multicolor camoflage. The aircraft were labeled as the F-21A in US service. Since the end of the Cold War, however, the US Navy and USAF have been gradually cutting back on the number of aircraft dedicated to Aggressor and Adversary squadrons, and private contractors have been asked to step in to fill some of the gaps in dissimilar air combat training being made available to US National Guard and NATO allied units. The aircraft that you saw were most likely flown by one such contractor: a company called ATAC (Airborne Tactical Advantage Company) which operates out of Newport News, Virginia. ATAC provides training and test platforms for the US Navy, US Air Force, and US Air National Guard. They reportedly fly six Kfir C7 and two Saab Draken fighters. Note that their aircraft are of the later, C7 vintage - not the C1 variety flown by the US Navy and USMC decades ago. http://www.atacusa.com/sections/operations.html ATAC is not the only company that has stepped in to provide air combat training opportunities that were once offered by the Navy and Air Force. Another private firm, ATSI (Advanced Training Systems International) offers similar training opportunities flying the A-4 Skyhawk. http://www.atsifightertraining.com/index.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Falcon161 3 Posted July 9, 2009 At fast cargo I jsut recently contacted that friend I was with, his dad who had a friend In the Airforce stationed at Pope said that it was a Ukranian Fighter that was there for a "show and tell" Whatever the hell that means. It was an Su-27 not an 33 like I had guessed but it was pretty cool nontheless. The Hinds were green and tan camoflauge and they were pretty close to the ground so I got a damn good look at them! Saw a Mig-15 at an airshow which I thought was pretty cool as well! there are others which I will post as soon as I am comfortable Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FastCargo 412 Posted July 10, 2009 Now, see that makes more sense. Su-27s have done several visits. In fact, got a bud of mine who flew slick Eagles who actually escorted some of the first visits to the US of the Su-27. Got some real nice photos... FC Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+EricJ 4,244 Posted July 10, 2009 An-124 and either an Afghan Army or Polish Mi-8/24 at Bagram, but then again the cosmopolitan nature of that place... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+ST0RM 145 Posted July 10, 2009 about 4 years ago i was driving by Buckley AFB and saw what looked to me like a An-124 parked there... no clue why The US charters airlift more frequently than one would think. It's cheaper to use than our own airlift fleet and the An-124 can take outsized loads. SpaceCom uses them quite a bit. We get one in here every once in a while. It's usually Il-76s and An-12s. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Derk 265 Posted July 10, 2009 (edited) The US charters airlift more frequently than one would think. It's cheaper to use than our own airlift fleet and the An-124 can take outsized loads. SpaceCom uses them quite a bit. We get one in here every once in a while. It's usually Il-76s and An-12s. July 8th 2008 we had the giant AN 225 at Schiphol over here. Due to a steering fault the landing gear was damaged and it took 5 days to fly in replacement parts and repair things. Biggest plane in the world, 6 engines, twin tails, used for transporting the Russian Space Shuttle. Parked at the apron right next to the highway. Drove past it every day on the way home The Antonovs, especially the 124's, have been regular guests over here for years, also for flying out Air Force and Army stuff to Afghanistan and Iraq. Hou doe, Derk Edited July 10, 2009 by Derk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Jimbib 746 Posted July 10, 2009 Maybe not necessarily a "strange" sighting, but something that I won't ever forget seeing is this, from 2003 at RIAT... http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Air/L...hawk/0389641/L/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FastCargo 412 Posted July 10, 2009 July 8th 2008 we had the giant AN 225 at Schiphol over here. Due to a steering fault the landing gear was damaged and it took5 days to fly in replacement parts and repair things. Biggest plane in the world, 6 engines, twin tails, used for transporting the Russian Space Shuttle. Parked at the apron right next to the highway. Drove past it every day on the way home The Antonovs, especially the 124's, have been regular guests over here for years, also for flying out Air Force and Army stuff to Afghanistan and Iraq. Hou doe, Derk About 2 years ago, I saw that bad boy over in Memphis...we figured it was bringing in something outsized (we joked it was bringing in stuff for the ANG ramp that was being constructed...can you say irony?). FC PS Hey, I actually found out why it was here...http://www.memphisairport.org/notes/mem_2007_aug_an-225.htm. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JediMaster 451 Posted July 10, 2009 The funny thing is we carry the much larger STS orbiter on the back of a much smaller 747. I think the 225 was overkill for the Buran. A modified 124 should have been able to do it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Julhelm 266 Posted July 11, 2009 Off the top of my head: When I was a kid I saw a B-17 fly over my house. Not the most common thing in Sweden! The local skydiving club operates twin AN-2's, both of which have soviet markings on them with one in green camo. Then the other day I had a Sikorsky Skycrane fly over my condo at low altitude making lots of noise. I've also seen an AN-124 (several times actually - they tend to land at a local airport not far from here. If you have MSFS you can check it out - Sturup airport). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ONETINSOLDIER 2 Posted July 11, 2009 (edited) I was living in Battle Mountain nevada about the time the f-117 was released to public, but was still quite unknown. Battle Mountain sits at th northern edge of military air space and above that is commercial air space, and one day while helping a friend do some sheetrock I heard a strange howling/whistling kinda noise similar to an F-4 overhead. I looked around a bit and finally spotted a strange little triangle banking hard to head back down south. I scratched my head, thinkin, "I wonder wtf that was." It wasnt uncommon to be out at a mine site in the hills and have a couple of B-52's skim over the hilltops and scare the crap outta the guys on the drilling rigs. Edited July 11, 2009 by gwar Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Falcon161 3 Posted September 18, 2009 WEll I wouldnt call this one strange but about two or three days ago I was working when I got the urge to look up and I say clear as day a B-52 flying overhead...Now I live on the coast of North Carolina about 45minutes away from Wilmington so I am not used to seeing a Heavy Bomber around this area. F-16's, F-15's, F/A-18's, C-17's, C-130's, and the Occasional F-35 but never a BUFF until that day. It just struck me as odd. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+daddyairplanes 10,236 Posted September 18, 2009 here at kandahar get all kinds of traffic. tornado gr4, harrier gr7 until the Marines took over IL-76, An-224, contractor Mi-8 and 26, a DC-8 visits regular. Had Rafales pairing up with Mirage 2000 for a bit there some Sea Kings(you Tommies need some new gear seriously), hogs, though the one that made my eyes bug out was the day i saw a DC-3/C-47. not the turboprop upgrade the original piston engine variety. EricJ put perfectly when he said cosmopolitan nature yes Dave once again i've even see a C-5 take off every so often. but the noise they make, it doesnt sound like they're too happy bout it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hokum 0 Posted September 18, 2009 (you Tommies need some new gear seriously) Not seen any of our Merlins? The old Sea king HC.4's are still a good utility chopper. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Caesar 305 Posted September 20, 2009 Saw a strange aircraft landing at Vandenberg 3 days ago at lunch. A silver-painted B-17 Flying Fortress buzzed over us at around 1115 or so on Thursday. I couldn't believe it! Don't see them flying overhead too often, and then landing at Vandyland? Made my day, for sure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cali 6 Posted September 21, 2009 Saw a black painted F-5 take off from Luke AFB last weekend....I had flashbacks from my old topgun days when me and goose......oops nevermind. I really did see the F-5 though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
macelena 1,070 Posted September 21, 2009 Once i saw a Hornet and a Rhino flying over a neighbour city (Murcia) It was quite weird, I don´t know what could it have been doing there Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rotarycrazy 4 Posted September 28, 2009 the most wierd thing I have seing was a few years back I was on the roof of my house and saw 2 vapor trails very close together I instantly thoug, a couple of military jets so I got my vinoculars and took a look and they where 2 f-14's but that was not the weird part just begind them was a large aircraft I think it was a c-5 because of the camuflage, and just begind it was another pair of f-14's, I initially thoug that it was a kc-135 but it was camuflage, and I think the only 2 USAF big 4 engine aircraft that are camo are the c-17 and the c-5 why would a c-5 need F-14 scorts? Another weird thing that happeng to me was that I was vacationing in the beach town of isabela when a fisherman told us that he had found a "missile" and took it to shore, we took off to see this thing and when we got there it was a f-18 drop tank we where going to keep it but the fisherman had told the local dominican naval base and they impound it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FastCargo 412 Posted September 28, 2009 Saw a black painted F-5 take off from Luke AFB last weekend....I had flashbacks from my old topgun days when me and goose......oops nevermind. I really did see the F-5 though. Which version of the F-5? Single or 2 seater? FC Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Typhoid 231 Posted September 28, 2009 the most wierd thing I have seing was a few years back I was on the roof of my house and saw 2 vapor trails very close together I instantly thoug, a couple of military jets so I got my vinoculars and took a look and they where 2 f-14's but that was not the weird part just begind them was a large aircraft I think it was a c-5 because of the camuflage, and just begind it was another pair of f-14's, I initially thoug that it was a kc-135 but it was camuflage, and I think the only 2 USAF big 4 engine aircraft that are camo are the c-17 and the c-5 why would a c-5 need F-14 scorts? likely a KC-10 or KC-135 with drogue on a refueling exercise with the F-14's. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
