Increased small aircraft traffic over SoWal?

[carriagehillsrealty]

Can anyone explain the airplanes flying over coastline recently?? I live in Santa Rosa Beach and have noticed an increase in small aircraft circling my home. Thought it was due to new airport, but planes are flying over later than airports latest inbound flights?? Is it due to oil? If so are they for county or out of Eglin??

 

[Will B]

If they are small and civilian, my guess is that they are flying the coast looking for evidence of oil. I'd wager that many of the news outlets have hired aircraft to take cameramen up to film and others may be being used for official purposes.

The new airport isn't going to change the amount of general aviation traffic over our area.

Also, you say "late". What is "late"? There could be military exercises going on.

 

[Uncle Timmy]

I have noticed the planes too.

Multiple planes, all small prop planes, circle overhead of Blue Mountain and slighly west for hours during the evening. I would say around 9pm to 11pm.

They just circle and circle.

I noticed them because the low frequency engine noise is really audible in the house when they pass over and I can hear them once every minute or two for hours.

 

[Will B]

Ah ha!

You may have just noticed it, but they have been doing it for a good long while. What you are hearing are T-6 Texans II's out of Pensacola NAS. I have heard them on numerous occasions mostly well after dark. The last time we (Delta) did an air show at Pensacola with the pink plane I talked to a couple of pilots who had one on static display. They are going up and flying huge racetrack patterns while working ground reference maneuvers and instrument training. Normally, they will be up there in pairs. No need to break out the tin foil hats just yet!

Here is what they look like...

 

[Mightyern]

Omg..I live in BMB as well and the constant buzzing at night is so freakin annoying!

 

[Will B]

The planes are very small, and they are flying at a really high altitude. You almost cannot see them when there is any sun out, but after dark you can pick out their lights and follow the tracks they are flying...

Being a pilot, myself, that has to be mindnumbingly boring what they are doing...

 

[30A Skunkape]

UFOs. Damn.

 

[Andy A]

The planes are very small, and they are flying at a really high altitude. You almost cannot see them when there is any sun out, but after dark you can pick out their lights and follow the tracks they are flying...

Being a pilot, myself, that has to be mindnumbingly boring what they are doing...

You got that right! As they say, flying is hours and hours of boredom, intermintent with moments of stark, raving terror.

 

[Uncle Timmy]

What you are hearing are T-6 Texans II's out of Pensacola NAS. They are going up and flying huge racetrack patterns while working ground reference maneuvers and instrument training. Normally, they will be up there in pairs. No need to break out the tin foil hats just yet!

Thanks!

Now I can put the tin hat away.

I'm sending a letter to NAS P'cola and offering to let them work on their aerial combat skills over my backyard - they are free to use those pesky yellow flies as targets.

..........some of those horseflies are big enough they may want to use air to air missiles!

 

[sarawind]

You got that right! As they say, flying is hours and hours of boredom, intermintent with moments of stark, raving terror.