We had excitement in the neighborhood today.

[Kute Kitten]

It would freak me out.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

That's too bad that the pilot didn't survive.

We occasionally have some military air craft fly around here, usually Gryphon helicopters doing some low-flying practice in the fields, though one time I swore I saw a Hercules transport airplane fly over as well, a long time ago that was...as well as a couple water bombers on their way north to some fires up near Swan Hills and a bit further north... and I think Dad said there was a Chinook chopper that flew over the farm too.

Never had any fighter jets fly over, just jumbo jets thousands of feet above us flying the flight path that goes over the farm.

One time Dad got pictures of a tank going by on the road in front of the house...when I seen the pictures (still have them btw) I thought that was the coolest thing.

 

[Kute Kitten]

What are water bombers, WRB?

 

[Farmer Kitty]

What are water bombers, WRB?

They scoop up water to dump on the fires.

 

[Thewife]

I was running my hounds one night on the timber Co land and came across a bunch of military guys in their jeeps!
I think they were as shocked to see me, as I was to seem them!

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Water bombers are airplanes that suck water into their bellies and release the water onto the forest fires. They also can carry fire retardent (the red stuff you see dropped from the aircraft's belly) to prevent further spread of forest fires.

Edit: I see your mom beat me to it, Kute Kitten.

 

[Imissmygirls]

I grew up always looking at the sky.
My Pop loved planes and was a charter member of the PA Flying Farmers Assoc. ( yes there is a national assoc too.) He never got to OshKosh WI to see the experimentals but he wanted to go. He had many pilot friends and a private airstrip 1500 ft on the farm. One of the equipment sheds housed his small ragbagtaildraggin Piper Supercruiser and we occasionally were allowed to touch it. Pop worked very long hours on the family farm and seldom got the opportunity to actually fly but he loved it dearly. In his old age he had Parkinsons and couldn't climb into the plane but a buddy of his flew it and would give my kids rides in it. They all still love flying in the small planes.
Pilots are a tight group... just like farmers.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Water bombers are airplanes that suck water into their bellies and release the water onto the forest fires. They also can carry fire retardent (the red stuff you see dropped from the aircraft's belly) to prevent further spread of forest fires.

http://www.electronicaviation.com/images/uploads/Civil Aviation/32.jpg

Edit: I see your mom beat me to it, Kute Kitten.

Yeah, but, I didn't have a cool pic to go with it.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I grew up always looking at the sky.
My Pop loved planes and was a charter member of the PA Flying Farmers Assoc. ( yes there is a national assoc too.) He never got to OshKosh WI to see the experimentals but he wanted to go. He had many pilot friends and a private airstrip 1500 ft on the farm. One of the equipment sheds housed his small ragbagtaildraggin Piper Supercruiser and we occasionally were allowed to touch it. Pop worked very long hours on the family farm and seldom got the opportunity to actually fly but he loved it dearly. In his old age he had Parkinsons and couldn't climb into the plane but a buddy of his flew it and would give my kids rides in it. They all still love flying in the small planes.
Pilots are a tight group... just like farmers.

My uncle has a friend with a small plane and when I was growing up they would be out flying and buzz the house once in a while. I do mean buzz. Not sure what the plane was but, it reminded my of a large bee sound.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

I grew up always looking at the sky.
My Pop loved planes and was a charter member of the PA Flying Farmers Assoc. ( yes there is a national assoc too.) He never got to OshKosh WI to see the experimentals but he wanted to go. He had many pilot friends and a private airstrip 1500 ft on the farm. One of the equipment sheds housed his small ragbagtaildraggin Piper Supercruiser and we occasionally were allowed to touch it. Pop worked very long hours on the family farm and seldom got the opportunity to actually fly but he loved it dearly. In his old age he had Parkinsons and couldn't climb into the plane but a buddy of his flew it and would give my kids rides in it. They all still love flying in the small planes.
Pilots are a tight group... just like farmers.

Yes they are...my dad had his private pilots liscence and loved to fly...though he didn't have enough time to do any flying because of the work demanded from the farm. There are a couple neighbors around that have airplanes and fly around here. A friend of my family that had passed away a few years ago to cancer had an old airplane, and one of his sons flies it everytime he gets. I've been up in an airplane only once, just in a glider, and boy I'd do it again! I think flying is in our blood...I know my DB loves to fly when he can as well.