News story on stolen Cessna and flares from F-16?

[Ken]

You guys rememeber the Cessna that hit the White House in 1994? Crumpled up against the wall. SUVs weigh more than a C-172.

[skydaddy61]

If you want to cross the border clandestinely, there are a LOT of better ways to do it than in a stolen 172.

This whole "dry run" foolishness was played out over on a conservative news site, mostly populated by non-pilots. (A few pilots were on hand to set the record straight about the "risk" posed by a GA bugsmasher. ) I'm a little surprised to see it here, where folks are generally informed and sensible.

I had read a report that the fellow had taken a few lessons. Obviously he hadn't gotten to the lesson on what to do if you are intercepted by law enforcement, Customs, or the USAF.

[skydaddy61]

You guys rememeber the Cessna that hit the White House in 1994? Crumpled up against the wall. SUVs weigh more than a C-172.

There was the 15-year old in Florida in 2002 that flew a 172 into the side of an office building. Killed himself, destroyed the airplane, broke some glass and rearranged some of the office furniture.

[A2C]

This whole "dry run" foolishness was played out over on a conservative news site, mostly populated by non-pilots. (A few pilots were on hand to set the record straight about the "risk" posed by a GA bugsmasher. ) I'm a little surprised to see it here, where folks are generally informed and sensible.

So what if it was an operation to detremine a test response? Then they could use something heavier and faster and try it again?

[skydaddy61]

So what if it was an operation to detremine a test response? Then they could use something heavier and faster and try it again?

Dude. NORAD was set up specifically to detect, intercept, and if necessary shoot down a fleet of Soviet bombers.

[CAPFlyer]

Also, remember that NORAD, in order respond to a fleet of Soviet Bombers, it's first job is to IDENTIFY, CLASSIFY, and RESPOND to any and all aircraft operating without permission within US or Canadian Airspace or their ADIZs. The first two determine the third. NORAD was made aware of the Cessna almost immediately after takeoff. They then identified it's location, classified its threat, and then responded. As a Cessna 172 is a fairly low threat, their response was determined by that.

The last thing we (US and Canadian Citizens) want is for NORAD to scramble all of the interceptors for a flock of birds (as almost happened on several occasions early on in NORAD's existence) and make everyone think there was a real attack occurring. They just need to respond with an appropriate level for the threat posed.