B
B1ackwater
Guest
CNN
EMMITSBURG, Maryland (AP) -- The skies were empty at a charity air
show after participants were escorted out of the area by F-16 fighter
jets sent up because President Bush was in town.
The president's security no-fly air zone was extended Sunday and
included the Hagerstown, Maryland, event, but at least four pilots of
antique airplanes who were supposed to join the charity show were
apparently unaware of the Federal Aviation Administration
restrictions. They were intercepted by F-16s and escorted out of the
area, federal officials said.
Bush was speaking at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in
Emmitsburg, Maryland, about 26 miles from Hagerstown.
Several pilots headed to the benefit for the Experimental Aircraft
Association and the Hagerstown Aviation Museum apparently were unaware
of the security measure in part because their antique planes carried
no radios.
A dozen planes flew into the area, causing the North American
Aerospace Defense Command to scramble its fighters. The four antiques
intercepted were escorted to nearby airports and forced to land. The
others were warned off.
Meanwhile, at the annual event, attendees were staring at an empty
sky, wondering when the show was about to start. Suddenly, according
to an account in The Washington Post, the crowd saw a little propeller
plane buzzing along with a sleek fighter jet flying circles around it.
It was hair-raising, said Tracey Potter, owner of Hagerstown Aircraft
Services Inc. "The F-16 is an evil, menacing scary sound, and at the
same time -- amazing."
Laura Brown, a spokeswoman for the FAA, said the pilots would not have
had the problem if they had been using radios. She said all pilots
have a responsibility to check the agency's notifications.
The pilots, who were being interviewed by the Secret Service, could
face penalties, including suspension of their license, Brown said
- - - - -
Amazing they didn't shoot-down anyone.
What's this crap about losing licences and being "interviewed"
(does this include 'water-boarding' ?) by the Secrets ? It was
a recognized, pre-publicized, charity air show. Since "W" had
not made it clear to all that he was gonna visit, they had as
much right to the sky as he did.
Maybe the Secrets were worried about "W" being attacked by
a Sopwith Camel eh ? Probably flown by a beagle ...
Sooner or later, probably sooner, this terrorist paranoia is
going to result in a VERY nasty incident. Lots of people will
perish because some triggerhappy yahoo was told to protect us
against "terrorists". An airliner or Fed-Ex plane will get shot
down over NYC or somewhere and plunge into a crowded square.
EMMITSBURG, Maryland (AP) -- The skies were empty at a charity air
show after participants were escorted out of the area by F-16 fighter
jets sent up because President Bush was in town.
The president's security no-fly air zone was extended Sunday and
included the Hagerstown, Maryland, event, but at least four pilots of
antique airplanes who were supposed to join the charity show were
apparently unaware of the Federal Aviation Administration
restrictions. They were intercepted by F-16s and escorted out of the
area, federal officials said.
Bush was speaking at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in
Emmitsburg, Maryland, about 26 miles from Hagerstown.
Several pilots headed to the benefit for the Experimental Aircraft
Association and the Hagerstown Aviation Museum apparently were unaware
of the security measure in part because their antique planes carried
no radios.
A dozen planes flew into the area, causing the North American
Aerospace Defense Command to scramble its fighters. The four antiques
intercepted were escorted to nearby airports and forced to land. The
others were warned off.
Meanwhile, at the annual event, attendees were staring at an empty
sky, wondering when the show was about to start. Suddenly, according
to an account in The Washington Post, the crowd saw a little propeller
plane buzzing along with a sleek fighter jet flying circles around it.
It was hair-raising, said Tracey Potter, owner of Hagerstown Aircraft
Services Inc. "The F-16 is an evil, menacing scary sound, and at the
same time -- amazing."
Laura Brown, a spokeswoman for the FAA, said the pilots would not have
had the problem if they had been using radios. She said all pilots
have a responsibility to check the agency's notifications.
The pilots, who were being interviewed by the Secret Service, could
face penalties, including suspension of their license, Brown said
- - - - -
Amazing they didn't shoot-down anyone.
What's this crap about losing licences and being "interviewed"
(does this include 'water-boarding' ?) by the Secrets ? It was
a recognized, pre-publicized, charity air show. Since "W" had
not made it clear to all that he was gonna visit, they had as
much right to the sky as he did.
Maybe the Secrets were worried about "W" being attacked by
a Sopwith Camel eh ? Probably flown by a beagle ...
Sooner or later, probably sooner, this terrorist paranoia is
going to result in a VERY nasty incident. Lots of people will
perish because some triggerhappy yahoo was told to protect us
against "terrorists". An airliner or Fed-Ex plane will get shot
down over NYC or somewhere and plunge into a crowded square.
