Fighter Jets Patrolling The Skies?

[M34N]

I know it's not really Skyline related, but has anyone noticed that since around lunch time today (Sunday 12th), there has been continuous patrols of fighter jets across the metropolitan area in Melbourne?

I was on Bridge Road around 3pm today and could just hear the roar of jets going past, about 5 mins later I heard and saw what looked like 4 FA/18 fighters going directly south over the CBD/inner city, saw them at least 2 times after that again flying back and forth in a straight line formation. Everyone kept looking up to see what the huge noise was.

I live 35km from the city in the SE suburbs and for the last few hours have heard jets roaring back and forward at least 5 times now. why do jets need to be patrolling this far out of town for? I haven't actually seen them out here but you can tell it's them by the louder roar than standard commercial jets.

Commonwealth Games has the air force on full time sky patrols across Melbourne? must admit it's pretty awesome but scary at the same time lol feels like we're at war! never seen fighters patrolling the sky like this before

Edited March 12, 2006 by M34N

[justin911]

there training for intercepting hi-jacked planes etc i believe

[KamikazeR33]

its terrorism workin at its best. to keep the public in fear when it shouldnt

imho a hornet wouldnt b able to take down a jumbo.... bring back the tomcat woot

[justin911]

pfft, theyve had it on the news for the last few days so ppl like u wouldnt worry kam

[KamikazeR33]

i aint got anything to worry about, im 3 1/2 hrs from the epicentre of the atomic explosion wont effect me

[ABuSD]

Yeah last week they had military choppers patrolling the western skies @ nite. I saw them from far, but a friend told me that there was a guy hanging out the side with this massive machine gun(they were flying low over his backyard).

i was like WTF, and he said its all good prolly for he commonwealth games!

Sorry to sound like a bitch though, but that seems nice that the governmant only gives a sh!t about terrorism when we have visitors, what about your own people u pieces of sh!t!!!

[Amaru]

I remember when Mr Bush was in Canberra we had 4 or 5 F/A-18's a few km's apart each just flying a circle around Canberra. Pretty standard fair these days for high profile events, just in case a Laden supporting person manages to get their hands on a set of Boeing keys again.

[justin911]

yeah thats so true.

just like they have extra police now...

i realy hope the train system f**ks up teach em a lesson for making me late to work 75% of the time

Sorry to sound like a bitch though, but that seems nice that the governmant only gives a sh!t about terrorism when we have visitors, what about your own people u pieces of sh!t!!!

[Justin O]

The other day I was at Sandringham Yacht Club jumping off a tower out in the water when 4 Black Hawk's in formation went by.

[manage13]

imho a hornet wouldnt b able to take down a jumbo.... bring back the tomcat woot

DUDE! an FA18 can easily take down a jumbo. They can be equipped with AMRAAM missiles; a few of these missiles can bring even the largest aircraft down.

[Julzy]

yeah thats so true.

just like they have extra police now...

i realy hope the train system f**ks up teach em a lesson for making me late to work 75% of the time

i think you're both missing the point here.

If you were a terrorist, why would u bomb melbourne normally?? not too many other countries would be overly concerned. now that we have the comm games and are centre of attention, it's a gold mine for those terrorists to get attention. the chance of a terrorist attack would be a lot higher during the comm games than during any other part of the year if u ask me. and i'd personally rather our defence force be properly trained and equipped, rather than sitting there sinking the beer until theres an emergency.

[R31Nismoid]

Its all a part of the games.

There are 4 or 6 Black Hawk choppers based down @ HMAS Cerberus in Hastings.

Cerberus primarily is a training base, there has been a whole blocked cleared out for the SAS who landed down there around a week... maybe two ago and thats until the games have finished

They have been in serious training and preparation as have other parts of the Defense force.

I've also notcied a large amount of choppers doing dusk runs and the like around St. Kilda/Pt/Sth Melb... obviosuly getting familiar with where they are going to be around

There is no mucking around at all

[Amaru]

DUDE! an FA18 can easily take down a jumbo. They can be equipped with AMRAAM missiles; a few of these missiles can bring even the largest aircraft down.

Haha a newer F/A-18C+ maybe, our poverty pack F/A-18A's and B's are probably going to fall apart soon due to the air frame being so old, let alone be able to actually shoot down an air to air target (these air to air systems are almost identical to how they were in the late 70's, only air to ground has been upgraded comprehensively).

Defence Force is flogging 74 dead horses with our "fighters", they are the most primitive fighter on the market currently (except for the few countries still running with Mirages and MiG-21's).

[morgsj50]

would've though a few bullet holes would be enough to bring a passenger plane down..... f-18s are pretty weak though, as far as fighters go....

[Ronin 09]

Waste of taxpayers money...

closed lanes?

games only lanes?

closed roads?

heavy fines for non-compliance?

Bracks is a f*cking tool.

That is all.

[justin911]

if you were a terrorist why would you destroy the 2 towers in america normaly ?

or why would you blow up trains in spain normaly ???

I agree though, obviously the risk is greater now.. but if its so vital they practice over melbourne where have they been the last few years ?

btw.. anyone seen the gr8 job they didn cleaning up the trains.. now instead of seeing grafiti...

you see grafiti and huge black smudges on the walls... looks real classy....

If you were a terrorist, why would u bomb melbourne normally??

[RNGTR]

The F-18s have been taking off from the local RAAF base here, was about 2 every 90mins or so last night, the last at about 9.45pm or so..... I live not far away, they sound awesome on take-off.

[KamikazeR33]

the aussie spec FA/18 is about as deadly as a P51

[madbung]

I think the exclusion zone is a 75k radius from the MCG...most probably calculated to give the fighters enough time to intercept anything that enters this zone before it can reach it's target (MCG).

I just hope one or more of them dont fall out of the sky over Melb. I can't imagine the cost involved in this exercise, it must be enormous.

Edited March 13, 2006 by madbung

[KamikazeR33]

wouldnt suprise me if they used the old mini subs n did some explosive work up the yarra just outside crown