Mysterious Secret Military Op in Skies Above Plano, TX? (probably an explanation but haven't heard)

[The Cleaner]

About 20 minutes ago I was outside in our parking lot here in Plano TX (north of Dallas). I noticed a large slow-moving plane circling until it finally circled nearly above us. It was of course a 4-prop military aircraft (C-130?).

I then noticed a stream of purple smoke that ejected from the plane. At its head was something, I couldn't tell until I realized it was a parachuter with a colored smoke marker. Then several other parachutists followed and quickly dropped. The plane continued circling until it finally left. It is amazing how much quieter it is than a commercial jet.

Anyway I thought this was strange, never seen anything like it. Why were they dropping here in suburbia? Why not above a military base?

Not tinfoiling, just wondering.
:shrug:

[BlackVelvet04]

1. It's the new

Domino pizza super fast delivery.

:9

[TomInTib]

2. I'll bet it was that vertical takeoff plane.

You know, the one that crashes all the time.

They used to test them over the Mid Cities, but the residents got too squirrelly thinking one was gonna come thru the roof.

So they took 'em to PlainOld, maybe.

[frylock]

4. they were flying em down here a few weeks ago..

running touch n goes at MCAS Miramar. It was just for a couple of days, and I haven't seen one since.

[dbt]

3. Please do not have the temerity to question what planes are doing!

1. You will immediately be derided and/or mocked as :tinfoilhat:

2. This is a Forbidden Topic, so secret that it cannot even be found in The Rules

:scared:

[Colorado Progressive]

5. I live near several miltary bases, including AFA and Norad, and

I see creepy stuff all the time too. Or even lately HEARING a really loud plane go right over your house, but you cant SEE it! Or seeing some bright, silent, floating orb that just hovers and puts off this amazingly bright light, then it just floats off. Or having what looks llike WW2 bombers fly in formation, really low, over your mountain home. Very strange. I doubt anyone bothers to report a thing around here.

Why were those parachutists holding smoke markers? I have never seen anything like that!

[Noonecares]

6. Its the FINA-CAF airshow!

I dont know how far Plano is from Midland, Tx but its probably performers from FINA-CAF airshow.

http://www.airsho.org/index.html

[seabeyond]

7. we have had a huge ass plane circling low for a couple years now

it is a couple times a week around noon time. real consistant. huge, low and moves slow. it has something ont he back end. i have checked it out on the net and look like one of the listening planes. we have a really long runway in amarillo texas and have military practice landings and take off and flying in palo diro canyon. but i have still not gotten a satisfying answer why this plane so often is flying over the town so low and so slow

we have never had anything dropping out that i have seen though