Hi all,

For anyone who thinks you can fly without any concerns...  I was shocked to hear military jets ripping the sky above my house.  I went outside to see two F-15 jets flying overhead about 200 feet up.  They came back several times, appearing to be flying an oval loop between my home town and the next town over.  They were literally doing U-turns OVER my house.  So I got out a DSLR and shot this image.  The black shape you see is the corner of the second floor of my home.

That is why you should always stay below 400ft!  
If you are too high then by the time you hear those it is too late to give way.

I had a C130 doing the same above my house last week, although they are normally closer to 800ft here.  At my parent's house you can sometimes look down on them.

Hi Mabo2, so who would get the blame if you were flying legally & your drone was sucked into the engines, did they notify you they were going to be in your area? I wouldn't think so, you don't get much time to react when these awesome machines fly over, Regards Eric

Wow, thats crazy, stay below 400ft it helps.

You must live close to an airforce base.  We have a vacation home in Mexcio Brach FL, and the F22 raptors out of Tyndall Do the same thing.

I fly on the New Jersey side of the Delaware Bay a lot. Routinely large planes from Dover AFB (other side of bay and 20+ miles) come into my area and are below 400 feet.....

Yeah... at the speeds those boys go, you don't get much time to move up, down, over.....

Did they report their flight patterns to the FAA and stay above 400 feet?

BrianKushner Posted at 2017-9-11 09:26
I fly on the New Jersey side of the Delaware Bay a lot. Routinely large planes from Dover AFB (other side of bay and 20+ miles) come into my area and are below 400 feet.....

How do you know they are below 400ft ?

They are a lot bigger than a Phantom, 400ft doesn't look very far for something that size.

The wingspan of the F15 is 42ft and 63ft in length, I doubt the aircraft in the OP is below 400ft...

Hi Guys,

These planes were absolutely lower than 400 ft.  I would put them closer to 200 ft.  I am a huge fan of the F-15 and have seen (on the ground) and photographed them many times over.  I am also just a human with a pair of eyes and watched (and heard) them fly overhead many times.  I could see the pilot when they were going hi-g turns.  It was crazy.  

Apparently the police department received hundreds, if not thousands of calls.

They were prepping for a flyover of the US open tennis tournament.  So they were practicing their maneuvers.  This is the first time in 12 years of being a CT resident that I have heard or seen airforce jets.  The sound was stunning... shook my house.

That is an F-15E Strike Eagle (aka Mudhen) I sincerely doubt they were at 200'AGL...missing some key details and info here...for starters why would they be operating above your home (i.e. residential area) at that altitude.  Today is 911 so it could have been for something to do with a fly-by, some kind of demo, or a military funeral or ceremonial, the list is not long but distinguished.  If it was a fly by, they were orbiting to control their timing for their run in.

All USAF aircraft are subject to FAA regs, except where waivers are granted due to military necessity etc. i.e. a fly-by.  Another possibility is your house sits below an MTR, but if you were you'd know it as it would happen more than this once.  Also, for MTRs aircraft are still supposed to climb over populated areas to avoid what you experienced.  You state they were orbiting, it may be that one of them was an IFE and they were doing equipment checks or getting a visual by #2 or both, before proceeding to land.  However, that's kinda low to be doing checks like that over a residential area, but may be they didn't have a choice either.  Are you near an airfield, bombing range, or any other military installation?  They may have been conducting an exercise or an airshow or a fly by over a sporting event or ceremony, where they had a waiver to be operating there at those altitudes too.  I think it was 911 related.  
Cool Pic either way, hopefully they didn't rattle the china off the shelf in doing their fly-bys

Edit: after seeing your update...obviously a fly-by...  They were not practicing, no need for something as simple as that, they were controling their timing for the run.  Again I doubt they were lower than 500'AGL, if they were then they fudged it.  If enough people complain (and they do) then those guys could be repremanded if it's found they did violate altitude restrictions.  ...and even if they had a waiver to do a 200 foot fly by that would only be for the run in, meaning they'd descend from 500 or 1000'AGL as they turned inbound.
Glad you enjoyed the show, I'm sure several up in the New England area had a different opinion of that demonstration of the sound and sight of freedom!

I filmed this a couple of weeks ago, I believe it starts off at 300ft, and never gets lower than 300ft while there are multiple aircraft, when there are only 2 aircraft it gets down to 100ft.
These are much smaller aircraft than an F15, only a 30ft wingspan.

Nigel_ Posted at 2017-9-11 05:06
That is why you should always stay below 400ft!  
If you are too high then by the time you hear those it is too late to give way.

Agreed on that point. Perhaps too close to some type of flight path?

heh... hi again guys.

The F-15s were practicing (or whatever you want to call it) for a flyover at the US Open.  They were two of four jets that were scheduled to appear.  Here is a link to a local article about the mayhem they caused in the area.  http://www.thehour.com/news/arti ... S-Open-12186894.php

Maybe the other two jets were flying a crossing path from another direction, I never saw or heard any more than two jets.  They were literally doing their 180 degree turns in the vicinity of my house and they were turning at nearly 90 degrees, which I'm sure is a hi-g experience.   Again, it was an impressive sight and those guys were definitely having fun.  I imagine at least one of them thinks they are "Maverick".  They came back around for 180 degree turns about 7 or 8 times, at about the same place each time, which is why I was able to photograph them.  After the third or fourth time, I realized I had something to photograph.

The 400mm lens I shot with was not able to focus at infinity, the jets were too close and the "at-infinity" focus overshot them and made em blurry.  Since they were flying so low and so fast, I was not able to get auto focus to work with my L-Series canon glass, so I had to depend on manually focussing.  Most of my shots were junk due to focus.  But I popped off a couple of good ones.

that would scare the crap out of me with all the craziness in this would today.

rwcreigh@comcas Posted at 2017-9-11 13:35
that would scare the crap out of me with all the craziness in this would today.

Pretty much did.  After the second pass (at that point I had no idea they were the same planes flying a circuit), I thought something terrible must have happened since I have never heard a military jet in the area and it seemed that they were patrolling for some reason.  It wasn't until hours later that it was published that they were practicing for the US Open.

rwcreigh@comcas Posted at 2017-9-11 13:35
that would scare the crap out of me with all the craziness in this would today.

You should feel protected when you have your own air force overhead, no reason to feel scared!

Mabou2 Posted at 2017-9-11 13:36
heh... hi again guys.

The F-15s were practicing (or whatever you want to call it) for a flyover at the US Open.  They were two of four jets that were scheduled to appear.  Here is a link to a local article about the mayhem they caused in the area.  http://www.thehour.com/news/arti ... S-Open-12186894.php

Very cool...always a treat to see your tax dollars at work and it was some skill on your part to have captured those pics as you did, nicely done!

Speaking of your tax dollars at work… considering these guys are trained to deliver bombs on target down to the fraction of a second, and considering they have literally millions of dollars in onboard technology at their fingertips to help them do their mission, and considering almost every training mission they go on practices those techniques, and considering the cost of fuel & maintenance...  I can absolutely assure you they were not practicing to perform a fly-by at a golf event where being within a few seconds would be thought of as perfect timing.  Yeah, they were eating it up too; you don't get opportunities like that every day or even every year.  It's always very cool to fly by the civilian areas and see the folks down below waiving, although from the sound of the article it doesn't sound like to many were.  You are probably correct, they did a cross pattern, or one had a maintenance issue causing an abort and his wingman would have followed him back.  Don't know why the 5th jet would not have filled the slot though, the 5th guy was an airborne spare and/or flying top cover as the control element i.e. to clear and maintain radio contact with RAPCON/TRACON or Center.


Agree that these days a much better job to warn the locals should have been done.  Part of the problem is most folks who are running an event like this don't comprehend that a display such as this takes up 10s of miles from its epicenter, can be as much as 50 miles or more.

I wonder when the F-15s get their firmware updates done  

Aardvark Posted at 2017-9-11 14:36
I wonder when the F-15s get their firmware updates done

I wonder if their obstacle avoidance sensors can pick up a drone in time to avoid a collision

Mabou2 Posted at 2017-9-11 13:36
heh... hi again guys.

The F-15s were practicing (or whatever you want to call it) for a flyover at the US Open.  They were two of four jets that were scheduled to appear.  Here is a link to a local article about the mayhem they caused in the area.  http://www.thehour.com/news/arti ... S-Open-12186894.php

do you live in norwalk?

Mabou2 Posted at 2017-9-11 13:43
Pretty much did.  After the second pass (at that point I had no idea they were the same planes flying a circuit), I thought something terrible must have happened since I have never heard a military jet in the area and it seemed that they were patrolling for some reason.  It wasn't until hours later that it was published that they were practicing for the US Open.

I was wondering if the FAA issued a Notam but it doesn't look like it.
That leaves uncertainty for sudden surprises:
http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.html

Looks like Air Combat Command provides this intel:
http://www.acc.af.mil/Home/Aerial-Events/Flyover-events/

Speaking of low flying aircraft in CT, and having them fall out of the sky...did you CT residents see this in Plainville?


Good News Pilot survived...

Genghis9 Posted at 2017-9-12 01:42
Speaking of low flying aircraft in CT, and having them fall out of the sky...did you CT residents see this in Plainville?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtcI-ObAml4

Yeah ... did that with my Cloud Rider drone last year. Much more careful with the Phantom. Damn trees! Very glad the pilot survived.

Genghis9 Posted at 2017-9-12 01:42
Speaking of low flying aircraft in CT, and having them fall out of the sky...did you CT residents see this in Plainville?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtcI-ObAml4

that would be me if my P4 had no GPS!!!  lucky Guy or Gal

Mabou2 Posted at 2017-9-11 13:36
heh... hi again guys.

The F-15s were practicing (or whatever you want to call it) for a flyover at the US Open.  They were two of four jets that were scheduled to appear.  Here is a link to a local article about the mayhem they caused in the area.  http://www.thehour.com/news/arti ... S-Open-12186894.php

If the above picture is taken with a DSLR with a 400mm the F15 was way above 400 feet.

This example is a FA18 taken with a full frame (20mpix) uncropped at 490mm and the jet is at 928 feet, see how the airplane is filling the picture compared to yours?



Taking your posted picture 2000 pixel wide with the 63 foot f15 taking ca. 523 pixel wide on a FF 400mm DSLR it would make the F15 at around 2600 feet..... on a 1.6 crop 400mm camera it would make the jet at 4280 feet....

To be at 400 feet the picture should have been taken with a FF DSLR arond 60mm or a 1.6 APS-C DSLR at 40mm not 400m but still above 400 feet....


Also not sure why you cannot use AF with jet because is one of the easiest thing to track...

You can get a good estimation of distance with this calculator: https://www.scantips.com/lights/subjectdistance.html

Would be interesting if you do the calculation and let us know

Palladous Posted at 2017-9-12 04:00
Yeah ... did that with my Cloud Rider drone last year. Much more careful with the Phantom. Damn trees! Very glad the pilot survived.

I'm starting to think trees are like spiders or spider webs either that or like the Ents in Lord of the Rings...they are drone grabbers...

Genghis9 Posted at 2017-9-11 12:05
That is an F-15E Strike Eagle (aka Mudhen) I sincerely doubt they were at 200'AGL...missing some key details and info here...for starters why would they be operating above your home (i.e. residential area) at that altitude.  Today is 911 so it could have been for something to do with a fly-by, some kind of demo, or a military funeral or ceremonial, the list is not long but distinguished.  If it was a fly by, they were orbiting to control their timing for their run in.

All USAF aircraft are subject to FAA regs, except where waivers are granted due to military necessity etc. i.e. a fly-by.  Another possibility is your house sits below an MTR, but if you were you'd know it as it would happen more than this once.  Also, for MTRs aircraft are still supposed to climb over populated areas to avoid what you experienced.  You state they were orbiting, it may be that one of them was an IFE and they were doing equipment checks or getting a visual by #2 or both, before proceeding to land.  However, that's kinda low to be doing checks like that over a residential area, but may be they didn't have a choice either.  Are you near an airfield, bombing range, or any other military installation?  They may have been conducting an exercise or an airshow or a fly by over a sporting event or ceremony, where they had a waiver to be operating there at those altitudes too.  I think it was 911 related.  

I think they were escorting a visiting dignitary from a near Galaxy... Far far away...
Yes, it was the representatives from Nuberu. Ha

Or, Perhaps they had heard, that you have a drone of your own... ;-)
You should have launched your aircraft, and did a fly by, just for fun. Chuckles



RedHotPoker

you in Maryland ? I believe we have an airshow this weekend or next and they do a lot of test flying a week or two ahead of time on practice runs.

They flew over my house in CT

Mabou2 Posted at 2017-9-11 11:46
Hi Guys,

These planes were absolutely lower than 400 ft.  I would put them closer to 200 ft.  I am a huge fan of the F-15 and have seen (on the ground) and photographed them many times over.  I am also just a human with a pair of eyes and watched (and heard) them fly overhead many times.  I could see the pilot when they were going hi-g turns.  It was crazy.  

Live in Trumbull CT

Epicdoom Posted at 2017-9-12 09:30
you in Maryland ? I believe we have an airshow this weekend or next and they do a lot of test flying a week or two ahead of time on practice runs.

Very True...
Airshows are a beast of a different color.
They practice for a few reasons
1) Pre/Arrival Shows help jinn up excitement for the show
2) Demo teams have an intricate set of maneuvers that rely on split second timing and that timing is determined in part by ground reference points.  Obviously, those reference points are different at every airfield.
3) Even solo performers must practice to ensure they work muscle memory, become familiar with ground ref points, and to practice the choreography of their routine.
4) Many performers have to work out altitude limits too, as each field is at a different elevation, and it is a good idea to do so prior to show day.
By comparison, a simple flyby only requires that they pass over the stage center point by a specific time or for events such as a football game they need to flyby at the end of the playing of the Star Spangled Banner.  In the later they rely on a ground control element to work out the timing of the song etc.
Think about it this way, you show up in a combat zone in an area you have never flown over before to drop weapons based on an ATO tasking by a specific time.  You wont be practicing that run over that target prior to the time you are tasked, and you don't need too as you've trained for it.  Side note, during mission planning for any sortie the crews work out coordination and review routing etc. using charts and intel imagery etc.

Good to NOT have your phantom up on that time.
The other day we had a LifeLiner (medical assistance helicopter) landing about 500m from our house. It felt like it touched the chimney passing over our house.

Here in NL we have a site that shows all the controlled movements of civil and military flights.
http://www.scannernet.nl/luchtvaart/militaire-luchtvaart

Montfrooij Posted at 2017-9-12 12:38
Good to NOT have your phantom up on that time.
The other day we had a LifeLiner (medical assistance helicopter) landing about 500m from our house. It felt like it touched the chimney passing over our house.

In our airspace there is more uncontrolled traffic than controlled, and most of the controlled traffic is way out of reach of a Phantom anyway.  So sites like that are fairly useless and certainly not to be trusted as guide to if it is safe to fly or not.

Nigel_ Posted at 2017-9-12 13:19
In our airspace there is more uncontrolled traffic than controlled, and most of the controlled traffic is way out of reach of a Phantom anyway.  So sites like that are fairly useless and certainly not to be trusted as guide to if it is safe to fly or not.

Yes, not all flights show up. But since we got rid of most of our airforce, there is not much in the skies anyway.

You dont see these every day.

Warloard Posted at 2017-9-12 09:57
Live in Trumbull CT

Warlord!  I live in Easton!  Whattup Neighbor?

gt3rs Posted at 2017-9-12 05:15
If the above picture is taken with a DSLR with a 400mm the F15 was way above 400 feet.

This example is a FA18 taken with a full frame (20mpix) uncropped at 490mm and the jet is at 928 feet, see how the airplane is filling the picture compared to yours?

Hey Gt3rs,

Well... I shoot with my full frame DSLR and my 400mm lens regularly (me, a professional photographer for 35+ years)...  No way in heck that a 63 foot item, shot from close to 1000 feet is going to fill the frame  (I hate to break it to you, but that image is cropped, or was shot on a small sensor camera with a 1.6 crop factor?, or some part of the information is incorrect).   A 400mm lens isn't a telescope.  Actually, it is a bit frustrating how it DOESN'T get close enough to the action.... even when I am shooting football.  

Not sure why you mentioned the autofocus being so easy... a bit insulting actually.  Unfortunately my 400mm lens is slow to focus and I literally only saw the F-15 for a split second at a time in between the trees and my house.  Since the bird was so close that setting the lens to infinity would go past the focus point (because the jet was so close), I had no choice but go manual focus and guesstimate the distance.  Would have been nice to be able to set the focus to infinity, but oh well.

Nigel_ Posted at 2017-9-11 11:14
How do you know they are below 400ft ?

They are a lot bigger than a Phantom, 400ft doesn't look very far for something that size.

Well because I was at 350 feet one time looking down at them..

Mabou2 Posted at 2017-9-12 15:42
Hey Gt3rs,

Well... I shoot with my full frame DSLR and my 400mm lens regularly (me, a professional photographer for 35+ years)...  No way in heck that a 63 foot item, shot from close to 1000 feet is going to fill the frame  (I hate to break it to you, but that image is cropped, or was shot on a small sensor camera with a 1.6 crop factor?, or some part of the information is incorrect).   A 400mm lens isn't a telescope.  Actually, it is a bit frustrating how it DOESN'T get close enough to the action.... even when I am shooting football.  

  

Everyone here is telling you that is really hard to believe that they were so low. Why would they go so low?

  

  

I did explain to you how you can calculate and not pure guessing the distance, but instead you come up with story that a 400mm is not a telescope, I was using a 1.6 camera, it is cropped, etc...

  

Why you didn’t simply use the calculator with your image and data and post the result here?

  

  

Anyway here is the download to my image with exif intact:

  

  

You will see that is taken with a 1Dx II with a 200-400 with 1.4x engaged at 490mm.

  

The 1Dx II uncropped image width is 5472 pixels. http://www.imaging-resource.com/ ... anon-1dx-iiDAT.HTM.

  

My image is 5472 pixel wide so it is uncropped. The FA 18 is 60 feet long https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_F/A-18E/F_Super_Hornet

  

The FA 18 takes 4695 pixel in width in the image.

  

  

So now do the calculation and see: https://www.scantips.com/lights/subjectdistance.html

  

   

  

  

You want a second proof: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-lenses.htm you will see that you need 490mm on FF to get the 60 feet long fa 18 filling the frame at 820 feet.

If the F15 was at 400 feet you will have the plane filling the whole frame on a FF DSLR at 228mm, you with a FF at 400mm and the plane being so small in the picture ....

If they were at 400 feet with your 400mm it would be something like this (this is actually how it would be at 522 feet):

So please do the calculation with your image and tell the people that those F15 were way above 400 feet so no issue at all for the drone.