Sun, Jul 27, 2003
GA Pilot Says He Was Buzzed By US F-15s
A Norwegian pilot
threatens to demand an investigation after a Norwegian pilot
reported a flight of two American F-15s crowded his single-engine
piston aircraft as all three were flying deep inside the narrow
Geiranger fjord. Arne Smaage claims the jets were less than 100
yards away when they sped past.
"I've been flying for a man's age and have luckily never
experienced anything like it," Smaage told the Oslo newspaper
Sunnmoersposten. His Swedish passenger, Lars Nordin, was
taking pictures of the scenic gorge at the time the Eagles appeared
behind them (right). A witness on a boat inside the fjord said the
fighters apparently didn't see Smaage until the last minute.
Finn Magne Grande said, "We first saw one, then another. They
had the same height, course and direction as the small plane and
both had to take evasive action when they overtook the plane. If
they hadn't, they would have collided with the Cessna." like Smaage
and Nordin, Grande estimated the distance between the planes at
their closest encounter at about 100 meters. "When you have the
mountain as a background -- like here -- it is relatively easy to
estimate the distance," Grande said.
The F-15s were apparently stationed at Norway's Oerland Air
Base. Norwegian defense officials say they're not sure if they
believe the claim, in spite of the photographic evidence.
Smaage is now considering filing a complaint with Avinor, the
Norwegian Civil Aviation Administration. "I hope that such
incidents can compel regulations demanding fighter jets to contact
civil aviation control," Smaage said.
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