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.

FMI: www.nato.int/terrorism/fs-awacs.pdf