F-16's fire flares at two private planes

[Guaranteed]

People in Lake Elmo say they saw a military aircraft fire something at two private planes.



"We saw bright lights coming out of the fighter jet like it was being, like a small aircraft was being fired upon," Anne Gelbmann said.



A local pilot, who was flying one of the planes to test a new oil filter, says he forgot about the President's visit and the flight restrictions. He didn't check with flight services, and flares were fired at his plane to get his attention and get him out of the area.



"I just flew between two of them, I don't know how to explain it. I just didn't want one falling, especially on my fuel tank, I've got 40 gallons on either side. Kind of made a mess out it, I didn't mean to mess those people up like that, cause all that trouble," the pilot, Larry Kuehn said.

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http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S3228.html?cat=1

[burrowowl]

1. St. Elmo's fire?

Always always check with flight services. Especially these days.

[Guaranteed]

2. Musta been scary as hell for that guy. nt

[burrowowl]

7. St. Elmo's Fire used to scare sailor too!

I wonder if the pilot is a repub? It is negligent not to check with flight services. And if he is white, repub, etc. I bet he thought he was immuned. I hope he has learned his lesson.

[Ezlivin]

3. He should be thankful his last name is not "Islam"

It would have been a very long time before any of us heard from him again.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Holy crap!

I saw that same F-16 this afternoon -- was driving down the highway in that general area, saw an F-16 fly over, was wondering why (I knew the Chimpinator was in town but didn't think he usually got a fighter escort). Damn thing must have scared the bejeezus out of that pilot. And he'll have his butt in a sling with the FAA, too, for violating the stupid TFR. Anywhere the Chimp goes, the airspace is restricted for 30 miles around him, nobody can fly.

[LiberalFighter]

5. Hmmm could they somehow have a device that gives an alert??

when they are in a no fly zone?

[maine_raptor]

Yup, called Radar

[LiberalFighter]

9. But that is for any plane in the vincinity

What about restricted zones regardless of whether there are other planes in the area?

[maine_raptor]

6. stupid double click

[Catch22Dem]

8. You can't "fire" a flare "at" something

They just pop out and fall. I'm sure the dude was shittin' his britches though.

[HereSince1628]

10. Are you implying tracer bullets were shot?

If so, just where the hell did they fall? Any reports of dead horses, goats, ...hikers??

[Turley]

12. WTF?

Did he say anything about tracers? Can you read? He said flares pop out and fall which is, as it happens, 100% correct.

[karlrschneider]

11. Kinda weird story..."testing a new oil filter"???

If I had any concern about a new oil filter, I'd sure as hell run up the engine on the GROUND & check for leaks (but I can't remember ever doing it)...hmmm, 40 gal each side. That's an awful lot for a single engine plane and not much for a twin.