Anybody know why all these F18's have been flying around here lately?

fieldafm · December 11, 2010, 11:02:01 AM

They've been all over the place. Lots of jet engine noise has been coming out of NAS too for what seems to be for the last week... anybody know the deal? Is NAS getting a new wing attachment of fighter jets???

BridgeTroll · December 11, 2010, 11:24:59 AM

They are in town for a few weeks for training...

BridgeTroll · December 11, 2010, 11:27:48 AM

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-12-11/story/jacksonville-journal-extra-jet-noise-visiting-detachment

QuoteJacksonville Journal: Extra jet noise from visiting detachment
Posted: December 11, 2010 - 12:00am

Extra jet noise from visiting detachment

Residents living around Jacksonville Naval Air Station have new neighbors until Tuesday: the Navy's latest electronic counter-measure planes, base spokeswoman Miriam Gallet said.

A 10-plane detachment of EA-18 Growlers from the "Vikings" of VAQ-129 has been staging from the base since Nov. 30. The Growler is similar to the two-seat version of the F/A-18 Super Hornet jet fighter and likely accounts for the extra noise some residents have reported recently, she said.

The squadron is based at Whidbey Island, Wash., and its pilots are in Jacksonville to perform familiarity flights to various military bases in the Southeast, including Patrick Air Force Base in Brevard County and Pensacola Naval Air Station, Gallet said.

ChriswUfGator · December 11, 2010, 11:32:34 AM

I get a nice view of NAS JAX from my porch, so from my perspective these guys have been putting on a free airshow for me all week. I'm certainly not complaing!

CS Foltz · December 11, 2010, 03:00:33 PM

Small price to pay for being prepared! Does not happen all of the time and it will go back to, what is normal for this part of the world!

heights unknown · December 11, 2010, 04:48:50 PM

Getting ready to strafe and attack downtown; didn't you know?

"HU"

floridaforester · December 11, 2010, 06:00:47 PM

No such thing as an austerity plan for the military. Just keep growing it more and more and justify those expenditures with more overseas campaigns. Its a vicious cycle that Eisenhower warned us about.

02roadking · December 11, 2010, 07:26:28 PM

Growler flyover at the Jags game Sunday

fieldafm · December 11, 2010, 07:37:03 PM

Thanks Bridge. Didn't realize they weren't F-18s. It's been nice watching them fly around.

Ocklawaha · December 11, 2010, 07:39:14 PM

Quote from: floridaforester on December 11, 2010, 06:00:47 PM
No such thing as an austerity plan for the military. Just keep growing it more and more and justify those expenditures with more overseas campaigns. Its a vicious cycle that Eisenhower warned us about.

OR WE COULD SIT AND WAIT FOR ONE OF THESE FOOLS TO DELIVER ON THEIR PROMISES...

OCKLAWAHA

Ernest Street · December 11, 2010, 08:44:39 PM

I have heard some ground Afterburner testing lately...and that noise just excites me.

Ocklawaha · December 11, 2010, 09:50:34 PM

Was in the park with my grandson today and he heard the buzz of a prop job... Boy was it! A silver P51 flying south along the St. Johns River south of Green Cove. Cool as hell because he wasn't too high... Wonder where THAT bird lives?

OCKLAWAHA

NotNow · December 11, 2010, 09:56:29 PM

That is the sound of freedom!

Forester, when Eisenhower gave that speech, defense spending was more than 50% of the Federal budget. Last year, with two active shooting wars, defense spending was 19% of the Federal budget. I'm with Ock on this one, speak softly and carry a BIG stick.

Ocklawaha · December 11, 2010, 10:14:32 PM

Yep, HELL I'm stil pissed that we retired the Battleships... build new ones... ask ANY Arab if they know any words in English and every one of them can say "IOWA" and "NEW JERSEY". They might not be high tech, but for a shock and awe there is NOTHING like those 16 inch guns tossing Volkswagen size shells 23 miles out. It's like the gift from hell that Lucifer himself would duck.

You realize you might have just come across ONE THING that you and Stephendare probably agree on!

OCKLAWAHA

Ernest Street · December 11, 2010, 10:31:39 PM

Ock, There are several Full sized.(not stunt 3/4) vintage P-51's at Kermit Weeks' Private Airport south of Disney on I-4. it might have been one of them.
http://www.fantasyofflight.com

We did a Laser show there for his grand opening in 1995 and he had a stunning collection of stuff in the garages that he let us explore...
WWII Spotlights next to Stearman biplanes,next to original Willy's Jeep..you get the picture..There was an original Japanese "ZERO" in a hallway!..with the rising sun still visible on the side albeit faded! I swear it could only hold a 5' man and no more..
When we were loading out the next day, we had the pleasure of watching a Gentleman pull up to his Mustang in a Jaguar and pull the exhaust plugs out.
That got my attention.
This V-12 Packard motor...just started and Idling,was vibrating our truck sides so we couldn't talk..When he raised the RPM's and taxied his bird,it was 5 times louder with those open pipes. take off and his circles were awesome. This is Good Stuff if you ever get the pleasure of getting close to a Rolls Royce Merlin V-12..or this Packard licenced copy.
Even if you are a Peace Advocate this is Awesome Engineering for 1940's.Rumored to have been fast tracked to 120 days development.