Fighter Coverage over NYC Cancelled: Proposal--Scramblers

[MegalosSkylaki]

As you may know, the Dept. of Defense recently ceased it's daily fighter coverage over NYC (where da DOOG and da Boss Katt ) reside. (we could see them overhead since 9/11 and could hear them. They must have been flying low and slow.

This was very costly (1/2 Billion since 9/11) and was imposing considerable wear on the hi-performance machines.

Columnist Tom Gwynne, NY Post, Proposes the use of old Cold War base in nearby Long Island to protect NYC's airspace.

"with its runways and infrastucture still intact, Westhampton [a former Cold War fighter scrambler base] . . . are appropriate locations to ensure that New York's airspace can be defended quickly."

Tom Gwynne goes on to see the silver lining in the cloud:

"The threat is now profoundly different, but the needs are the same as those encountered during the days when we lived under a nuclear threat. The good news is New York still has the ability to support fighters inside its own borders to secure air superiority over a city that proudly stands against terrorism."

Tom Gwynne is Vice Commander of American Legion Aviator's Post # 743 and a former F-4 and F-14 pilot.

I agree with his suggestion --but I would go further.

Everywhere in America should be within reach of fighter scramblers--and on very short response time.

What do you think ?

DOOOG

P.S. Article entitled An Aircraft Carrier Called Long Island" (3/20/02) New York Post

[Richard Cranium]

Yup

[desmocat]

We are lucky to have the Ft. Worth Naval Joint Reserve Base in our back yard. It used to be Carswell AFB a while back.
It's home (almost )to our very own NavyDood, who does a most excellent job of keeping the F-18's up and going that are based there.
We also have the 301st fighter wing of the Air Force reserves based there, and they fly the F-16.
When a couple people flew kind of close to the prez's ranch down around Waco while he was there, they got a visit from the F-16s out of Carswell.
I love to see and hear all the guys coming up out of there in their hot rods, that roar is the sound of freedom..

[MegalosSkylaki]

Kool !

It was actually both scarey and reassuring to see the Fighters (over Manhattan !) after 9/11.

My GF was fascinated by them , so we couldn't walk anywhere as she just kept stopping and looking up. YIPEs !

Actually thought then the key was to first "make" an dangerous intruder and then scramble real fast. Kept hoping that this was NOT just for public relations.

But damn, Where are the s-e-c-u-r-i-t-y measures for aircraft six months later. Pilots seem to want handguns and seems to make sense for small arms for piots. Have they even installed camaras to watch the area behind cockpit ?

DOOOOG

[Warthog]

I think that every major area, NOT just NYC should be within "easy" reach of fighter aircraft. Just investing in NYC security is being very narrow minded and hopefully someone in that big ol place down yonder called our Capitol, realizes it

[Richard Cranium]

What is wrong with taking Israel's stand, posting a top notch military dude on EVERY plane with the special weaponry to take out hyjackers.

If we knew the truth, there is prolly more than one of them, the others dressed in civillian clothes.

My thoughts is to bust Hijackers, if they want to meet Allah then who are we to stop them ''

[CERuppel]

And whats wrong with the airlines? Saw an article about one airline DENYING seating to federal air marshals...

Glad I don't fly.

we live on a hill - in canada - and we use to see all kinds of stuff getting up -- mostly big stuff - guppies and the like. AF base about 40 miles northwest of us.
we knew someone had better be afraid- wiz

[Toadman]

Why not just set up Hawk SAM missile batteries or even Patriots around potential targets? If air traffic controllers catch any flight deviations, they can alert the SAM radars to track and lock onto the aircraft. From there would be the tuff call though...

think that every major area, NOT just NYC should be within "easy" reach of fighter aircraft. Just investing in NYC security is being very narrow minded and hopefully someone in that big ol place down yonder called our Capitol, realizes it

Don't think the dudes in the Capitol heard of Woodstock.

'sides, those terrorist dudes won't dare anything now after they seen the way the AL Quida got decimated.

'atleast at I hope so.