F/A-18 Hornet at Hartsfield Jackson?

[VooDooXII]

I was dropping my sister at the airport around 8:30 this morning, and you know the part of the highway that planes fly over and you can look left and see the runway? Well I usually don't hear planes flying overhead, but I heard a LOUD roar while driving by. I looked down the runway and saw what looked like an F/A-18 Hornet. I'm no big expert on combat jets, but I saw two tail fins and round turbine outlets, so I could only assume that's what it was.

Bigger question though...can anyone here enlighten me as to why a fighter jet would land at a civilian airport? Did anyone else happen to see it?

[quickdodge®]

I was actually hoping that no one saw that. I was coming home from a business meeting. Later, QD.

[VooDooXII]

I was actually hoping that no one saw that. I was coming home from a business meeting. Later, QD.

You've been outed! Why would you pick the world's busiest airport man?

[Bacon]

Don't quote me on it but I didn't think the Hornet was still in use. May have been an F-22 or something. Regardless, QD probably needed gas or something or had some technical difficulty requiring a quick place to land.

[Echonova]

I'm no big expert on combat jets, but I saw two tail fins and round turbine outlets, so I could only assume that's what it was.

Lucky for you, I am an expert on combat jets.


Hmmmm... Could have been an F-15 Eagle...



Or maybe it was Maverick and Goose going to buzz the tower in their F-14 Tomcat...



Or it could have been the new F-22 Raptor, but it's a stealth fighter and you wouldn't be able to see it if it's cloaking device was on...



But if it looked like this then yes, it was a F-18 Hornet.

Bigger question though...can anyone here enlighten me as to why a fighter jet would land at a civilian airport? Did anyone else happen to see it?

They do it all the time. Usually it's to bring Chuck Norris in for a covert operation.

Chuck Fucking Norris doesn't fly first class, he only fly's bad-ass.

[Relentless]

Maybe it had something to do with the war in Libya

[1CleanEg]

interesting find, man i used to have a obsession with these as a kid. F-14 and F-15 FTW. Also interested in knowing the reason though.

[SHHHH]

Air Force Two(2-3 weeks ago) and other government aircraft have been known to use Delta's hanger for repairs. Possibly a tag along?

[jdmdb8itr]

af 2 is always at delta hanger for maint. and paint touch ups. every time it comes in or leaves you will see it being followed

Air Force Two(2-3 weeks ago) and other government aircraft have been known to use Delta's hanger for repairs. Possibly a tag along?

[mr.koupe]

We had an airshow this weekend in columbus. Willing to bet it was flying back home possibbly had to make a pitstop. Lol there are fiighter jets all over the place during that show. Even had the " flying wing " show up one year that was cool to see

[Sneezin]

maybe a-10 thunderbolt II


i just got station here at Aviano air base in Aviano, Italy. this is one of the air bases that they are using for all the stuff going on in Libya. Lots and Lots of fighter jets taking off

[ash7]

Bigger question though...can anyone here enlighten me as to why a fighter jet would land at a civilian airport? Did anyone else happen to see it?

It's almost routine for military aircraft to land at civilian airfields; a lot of times they even share airports to base operations from. (Birmingham International is a good example of this) We'd have to go TDY often to fetch our broken jets back when i was a crew chief in the 27th at Langley. Maybe the jet had too many hydraulic pumps fail, had an engine flameout, or maybe he was just a transient aircraft... there are all kinds of reasons. Of course everyone associated with that particular aircraft would prefer a military airfield - but sometimes the pilots don't have a choice.

Don't quote me on it but I didn't think the Hornet was still in use.

You'd be referring to the F-14.

-jonathan

[Bacon]

Thanks for that clarification, Jonathan. Wasn't sure if it was the Hornet or the Tomcat that wasn't used anymore.

[Mafdark]

Or it could have been the new F-22 Raptor, but it's a stealth fighter and you wouldn't be able to see it if it's cloaking device was on...

lol, oh and the F-22 is far from new.

[BanginJimmy]

lol, oh and the F-22 is far from new.

yea, we have been building them for a few years now.


Then again, most people thought the F-117's were new during he first gulf war.

[BanginJimmy]

I would imagine it was some kind of escort or an extreme emergency. If there was a way for him to make it to Dobbins or Robins he would have probably gone to one of those places.

[Bacon]

I would imagine it was some kind of escort or an extreme emergency. If there was a way for him to make it to Dobbins or Robins he would have probably gone to one of those places.

I'd imagine he landed there for a good reason. The trip to Dobbins in one of those is what 10 minutes? Not even that long?

[VooDooXII]

The tail fins were slanted outwards from their bases, so that picture confirmed that it's an F-18 that I saw.

Yea Libya was my first thought too, but then I couldn't really connect the two.

ash7 gave me all the answer I need though! Thanks guys. Getting buzzed by a fighter is definitely badass.

[Sneezin]

all i can say is IT'S ABOUT TO GO DOWN!!!! this morning, well night for ya'll but they brought in almost 50 f16's. they are taking off left and right. i wish i had my cam i would take videos and post them, they pull up right beside my room. not even 100 yards away, crazy loudness.