Airspace violated over Obama's Chicago home

[47of74]

Source: CNN

The North American Air Defense Command scrambled a pair of F-16 fighter jets Sunday afternoon over Chicago when a Cessna 150 aircraft violated a temporary restricted flight zone near the residence of President Obama.

The aircraft was intercepted and instructed to land at Lewis University Airport in Romeoville, Illinois, where it was met by local authorities, Maj. Mike Humphrey of NORAD said. No other details were immediately available

Read more: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/05/30/fighter-jets-scrambled-near-obamas-chicago-home/

---

And as usual, people in the comments section of the story are staying classy.

[Dr.Phool]

1. Cessna 150. Probably a student pilot.

[rasputin1952]

6. One that most likely had to change his drawers after that...

;)

[Titanium-Salute]

2. I'd like to know how two F-16s

Try to keep the planes at the cruise speed of a C-150. I think the stall speed of an F-16 is higher than the max speed of a 150.

[izquierdista]

3. I'm also wondering

How can you have two F-16s zipping through the O'Hare TCA? Just because they are high and mighty, normal traffic is not getting out of their way. It's like some VIP asshole thinking he is going to get through rush-hour gridlock by flashing his lights and sirens.

When Reagan used to go to his Santa Barbara ranch they would post a prohibited zone, too. But they made it low because the Santa Ynez VOR was on one corner of the ranch and it was one of the usual holding patterns for the Santa Barbara airport.

[rasputin1952]

4. Pre-9-11, and long before the idiot that crashed his plane

during the Clinton years, or that moron that crashed into the IRS offices.

[troubledamerican]

13. September 11, 1994: Plane crashes at White House.

Foreshadowing, huh?

http://tinyurl.com/2crdsbr

[troubledamerican]

14. September 11, 1994: Plane crashes at White House.

Foreshadowing, huh?

http://tinyurl.com/2crdsbr

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

11. unlike when the Shrub was in Texas

and several airports had to close because of the 30 mile no-fly zone around Crawford.

[undeterred]

12. Obama's home in Chicago is in Hyde Park

which is due east of Midway Airport, maybe 9-10 miles.

[rasputin1952]

5. If they passed that Cessna and kicked in the afterburners...

they would have roasted him.

[TheWraith]

8. A really good pilot can keep an F-16 stable at around 130 miles per hour.

The "never exceed" velocity of a Cessna 150 is 162 miles per hour, and cruising speed is 120 or so. So, not easy.

[Titanium-Salute]

10. I used to own a 152

I can't begin to imagine getting close to the Vne. I barely would cruise above about 100 without a tailwind. I know the manual says 120 or so but it was never that fast. I used to tell people I fly a chainsaw with wings.

[catnhatnh]

7. I saw an intercepted craft forced to land...

in Rochester NH while Bush was visiting the "family compound" in Kennebunkport Maine..These 30 miles TFR's are common during all presidential visits and events. As to the F-16s, I doubt they were as scary as the two Blackhawks with door gunners that accompanied our strayed pilot in...

[avaistheone1]

9. Perhaps it is Netanyahu

He thinks he can do any frigging thing he wants.