low over congested area near AFB?

All,
This seems a little strange to me. I live in the OKC area,
specifically Midwest City. The other morning while walking my dog in
the park, I heard an approaching small plane (you know I ALWAYS look
up!). I thought this was strange as the airspace in that area belongs
to Tinker AFB and that to be able to hear it that well it would have to
be at 1000 AGL or less. I look up as it came overhead, appeared to be a
high wing four place, sounded "stronger" than your average 172.
Well this plane was less than 1000 AGL, more like 500-700, headed
roughly ESE about 1.5-2 miles directly north of TAFB. Because of the
low altitude it quickly disappeared behind the tree line, BUT, it
reappeared maybe only 10-20 seconds later now heading WNW. This guy had
to turn around quick, waaaaay beyond standard rate.
Ok, low altitude, with a quick turn, right north of an Air Force
base? With no place to land within that short short gliding distance he
had, all over an extremely congested area (MWC, Del City residential
areas)?
Now I have seen and been allowed to overfly Tinker at a reasonable
altitude just to pass through, but this guy was up to something else.
I'm thinking he had to be some sort of government (city, state, fed)
plane doing some sort of checking or something. Way too many risks
associated with what they were doing to be unimportant.
It might have been considered a base to 17, however, they would have
never made it without power.
I though it was an anomaly until this morning, while at the doctors
office parking lot, north of the park about 1/2 mile, I saw a similar
situation, actually exactly the same thing but from half a mile away
instead of directly underneath. Plane flew low to the east, until a
little past what is Midwest Blvd, did an extremely quick 180 and headed
out.
Couldn't see if they climbed out as offices and trees obscured my
vision. This was about the same time as the other event, and it may
have also been early in the week.
There is a VOR on the north side of Tinker, but that is a lot (1-1.5
miles) farther than where the plane turned around.
Anyone in MWC see this occur? Any others see similar situations where
they live? I'm sure that something official is occurring, just
wondering what it could be.
There are no other nearby airports the he could be maneuvering for,
and those types of maneuvers would not be tolerated in any pattern.
Strange stuff, no matter what it is I wouldn't want to be the pilot if
ye ole fan stopped turning. He was what I would say might be a low
cruise speed (maybe 100 knots), so he could trade some AS for altitude,
but not much.
Jesse M.

PP-ASEL
A&P

Most likely a powerline or pipeline patrol.



--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


wrote in message
oups.com...
| All,
| This seems a little strange to me. I live in the OKC
area,
| specifically Midwest City. The other morning while walking
my dog in
| the park, I heard an approaching small plane (you know I
ALWAYS look
| up!). I thought this was strange as the airspace in that
area belongs
| to Tinker AFB and that to be able to hear it that well it
would have to
| be at 1000 AGL or less. I look up as it came overhead,
appeared to be a
| high wing four place, sounded "stronger" than your average
172.
| Well this plane was less than 1000 AGL, more like
500-700, headed
| roughly ESE about 1.5-2 miles directly north of TAFB.
Because of the
| low altitude it quickly disappeared behind the tree line,
BUT, it
| reappeared maybe only 10-20 seconds later now heading WNW.
This guy had
| to turn around quick, waaaaay beyond standard rate.
| Ok, low altitude, with a quick turn, right north of an
Air Force
| base? With no place to land within that short short
gliding distance he
| had, all over an extremely congested area (MWC, Del City
residential
| areas)?
| Now I have seen and been allowed to overfly Tinker at a
reasonable
| altitude just to pass through, but this guy was up to
something else.
| I'm thinking he had to be some sort of government (city,
state, fed)
| plane doing some sort of checking or something. Way too
many risks
| associated with what they were doing to be unimportant.
| It might have been considered a base to 17, however, they
would have
| never made it without power.
| I though it was an anomaly until this morning, while at
the doctors
| office parking lot, north of the park about 1/2 mile, I
saw a similar
| situation, actually exactly the same thing but from half a
mile away
| instead of directly underneath. Plane flew low to the
east, until a
| little past what is Midwest Blvd, did an extremely quick
180 and headed
| out.
| Couldn't see if they climbed out as offices and trees
obscured my
| vision. This was about the same time as the other event,
and it may
| have also been early in the week.
| There is a VOR on the north side of Tinker, but that is a
lot (1-1.5
| miles) farther than where the plane turned around.
| Anyone in MWC see this occur? Any others see similar
situations where
| they live? I'm sure that something official is occurring,
just
| wondering what it could be.
| There are no other nearby airports the he could be
maneuvering for,
| and those types of maneuvers would not be tolerated in any
pattern.
| Strange stuff, no matter what it is I wouldn't want to be
the pilot if
| ye ole fan stopped turning. He was what I would say might
be a low
| cruise speed (maybe 100 knots), so he could trade some AS
for altitude,
| but not much.
| Jesse M.
|
| PP-ASEL
| A&P
|

Lots of air force bases have flying clubs with civilian planes, and under
certain conditions it is also possible to land at air force bases in
non-military planes on official business.

Pipeline - powerline
State Police
County Police
AFB security
DEA pot patrol
BATF
Secret Service
NSA
CIA
FEMA
HSA
Commercial photo company
Land Survey company
CAP training or seach flight

lots of authorized flight possiblities

denny...

Viperdoc wrote:
Lots of air force bases have flying clubs with civilian planes, and under
certain conditions it is also possible to land at air force bases in
non-military planes on official business.



There are also many "joint use" bases.

"Denny" wrote in message
oups.com...
Pipeline - powerline
State Police
County Police
AFB security
DEA pot patrol
BATF
Secret Service
NSA
CIA
FEMA
HSA
Commercial photo company
Land Survey company
CAP training or seach flight

lots of authorized flight possiblities

How would any of those get exempt from the congested-area altitude
requirement of 91.119b? The only exception mentioned is for takeoff or
landing.

--Gary

The first word in Part 91 is except. To the job, the FAA
will waive any rule if you have a valid reason.



--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm
See http://www.fija.org/ more about your rights and duties.


"Gary Drescher" wrote in message
...
| "Denny" wrote in message
|
oups.com...
| Pipeline - powerline
| State Police
| County Police
| AFB security
| DEA pot patrol
| BATF
| Secret Service
| NSA
| CIA
| FEMA
| HSA
| Commercial photo company
| Land Survey company
| CAP training or seach flight
|
| lots of authorized flight possiblities
|
| How would any of those get exempt from the congested-area
altitude
| requirement of 91.119b? The only exception mentioned is
for takeoff or
| landing.
|
| --Gary
|
|

Sometimes military fields will allow civilian planes to do practice
approaches (no landing). But really, it's just a guess. Could be a lot
of things (some have been mentioned).

Case in point Altus AFB, OK. "PRACTICE APPROACHES MUST TERMINATE IN A LOW
APPROACH"

On 18 Feb 2006 22:32:42 -0800, "Doug" wrote:

Sometimes military fields will allow civilian planes to do practice
approaches (no landing). But really, it's just a guess. Could be a lot
of things (some have been mentioned).

GeorgeC