An Interesting Sight to See

[crokett]

Was headed into work this morning and saw a statie coming southbound, lights, etc. Took a few seconds to realize that the interstate was clear behind him for 1/2 mile or so. Then saw a flag car, then saw a truck pulling something big. Turns out it was a fighter jet with the Navy paint scheme. Twin engine, swept wing, can't remember how many tail fins so can't say whether it was a Tomcat or F111 - I think those are the two twin engine swept wing the Navy has. Wherever it was going, somebody wanted it to get there. Behind the fighter jet was another tractor not pulling anything, behind him was a 3rd tractor doubling as a flag car. Then two more staties holding the traffic back.

I can tell you a fighter jet looks ginormous sitting on a flatbed trailer.

[cabinetman]

You know what they say - no pics - didn't happen. Can't you catch up and snap a few? This will teach you to have your camera "ready". Too bad they didn't fire it up for some extra push.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[jseklund]

Very interesting. My girlfriend and I watch a lot of UFO "documentary" movies. I find them entertaining, and probably a waste of time. I am always amazed that people just jump to the conclusion that something with lights, in the sky, MUST be a UFO. They always say:

1. It was way to big to be something humans could put in the air! Probably the size of two football fields!

2. I've never seen ANYTHING like that in my life.

Those two things always get me because most of us never really see MANY of the fighter jets that are out there, never the less up close like you just did. So, I guess this means you have some more credibility with me when you see a UFO haha.

[scorrpio]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to just fly the thing over?

[TheRic]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to just fly the thing over?

Probably going somewhere without an airfield: Museum, VFW post, etc. Probably was stripped of it's engine, and about everything else.

We have BIG presses that leave our area every now and then. Sometimes they have extra tractors. Was told by the haulers mechanic that when they get to hills, entrance ramps, etc., the second one will push. They hook up the second tractor to the back of the trailer. Basically the driver just sits in the tractor with the pedal all the way down, not touching the steering wheel. The driver in the front controls the speed by how much power he gives it.

[LinuxRandal]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to just fly the thing over?

The tomcat has taken it's last flight for the Navy. I believe they are supposed to be F18's and F-22's now, with delivery of the F-22's ongoing for a while.

[WoodButcher26]

Tomcat just retired a few months ago, before they put one in a museum they have to "de-mil" it--take out all the avionics, fuel tanks, engine paraphenalia, etc. What you're left with is basically a metal shell in the shape of an aircraft. If they didn't take all that stuff out, you'd be trying to haul about 30 tons around--roughly the same weight as a medium tank.

The Tomcat was the only US swing wing plane left around, with the exception of the B-1 bomber, and the B-1 is about 150 feet long. Last F-111 retired about 10 years ago.

Here's a link to a good page on the Tomcat, also has some decent pics of the B-1B.
http://www.theaircraftgallery.com/planes/f-14/index.php

Kim

[Stormbringer]

Here's a link to a good page on the Tomcat, also has some decent pics of the B-1B.
http://www.theaircraftgallery.com/planes/f-14/index.php

Kim

Quite neat. Thanks,

Greg