Faa Lear 35 Fly-by

[aero99]

Last week a lear 35 did a fly by down the runway, 50ft off the deck at the airport I office at. The runway is 3500 feet, and is a level 1(?) rated airport. (Someone told me the level 1 bit, though I hadn't heard of a rating system for airports.)

It is an uncontrolled field with no ILS. There are buildings within 50 yards or the runway, so I doubt it will ever have ILS.

My first thought when it came screaming by my window was, some bone head mistaked this airport for Alliance which is just down the road. When he got to the end of the runway he pulled nearly straight up, did a 180 and was gone.

Rumor around the hangers is it what some FAA guy. I know that the FAA flies approaches to grade the ILS systems, but why would he buzz a small GA VFR only airport in a Lear?

I know that if it was a non-faa pilot doing that here and that same FAA was on the ground there would be some investigating.

Or, are Lear fly-bys a normal procedure?

Either way, sure looked like a fun ride.

 

[bayoubandit]

Are you at Hicks Field? What is it T67?

 

[Traumahawk]

mmmmmm

See, now, if it was you or me, and they were on the ground.....good ol' operating in a 'careless or reckless' behavior. But they wouldn't catch us
T-hawk

 

[Orvilleflyer]

Half the time I see cops on the road, they are speeding, and otherwise not driving like the rest of us. Same deal here, most likely... If you've got the power, it occassionally gets abused simply by human nature.

 

[aero99]

No, but close...NW regional (52F).


Interesting enough, Looks like there is an acro box approved here today. A Yak and another acro plane just spent 20 min doing inside maneuvers.

Maybe the FAA fly by was to help approve the box for today. Don't know the details of getting a box approved, so just speculation.

Would love to learn acrobatics some day....has to be a blast.

 

[avbug]

I may be mistaken, but I don't believe the FAA utilizes any Lear 35's. Several 55's are in use, but it's hard to mistake a 55 for a 35.

 

[aero99]

Could have been. I also thought the FAA used King Airs for shooting approaches, but again, just the rumor mill around the hanger.

It was probably Ross Perot.

 

[Dep676]

Hey Orville,

Do you actually know why the cops are speeding? Just maybe they are going to a call. I am a reserve deputy in my county. They don't always run lights and sirens around here because they are only allowed to in certain cases. If it's not an emergency they aren't allowed. But on the other hand they do and try to get there as fast as possible. I know I have a lot more respect for the law enforcement and why it may take 2 or 3 hours to get to a call. That maybe you think is important but it's not as important as the guy shooting someone arcoss town. So ease up the next time you see smokey flying by you. Don't say there goes another cop speeding cause he can. They may just be on the way to your house because someone vandalized it and your weren't home but your neighbor called them. That wouldn't be a case for lights and sirens around here anyway. Ignorance can be a handicap sometimes. And comments like your demonstrates ignorance.

 

[Caveman]

Dep676,

What you say is probably true but I personally know a deputy sheriff that drives about 85 mph because he can. I asked him about it once. His response? "I've got a badge and a gun. Who's gonna give me a ticket?" Hopefully he's an exception to the rule.

 

[Orvilleflyer]

Hey Dep-

I understand your position, and I am not out to cop bash. Sorry, I didn't mean to come off the wrong way. But it is true about human nature. I have a fews friends in the business and just hanging around them I see what goes on sometimes. There may be a different mindset overall among cops in different parts of the country- Especially in Los Angeles where I live. I wouldn't want your job, but I respect your job. I hope this doesn't side trac the original post now.

 

[bigr]

Could have been. I also thought the FAA used King Airs for shooting approaches, but again, just the rumor mill around the hanger.

It was probably Ross Perot.

I saw a FAA lear doing ILS approaches at the Livermore,ca airport last week. Don't know if it was a 35 or 55 (not up on my models). It had the government light blue paint and I confirmed that it was FAA by listening to the tower and checking the "N" number on avweb.

 

[Pilotadjuster]

speeding

Dep - understand your position, but I see them all the time in Utah speeding in civilian clothes, with the family in the squad car (almost every department here allows them to take the vehicle home). Hard to believe they are on a call with the kids in the back seat and a t shirt on...

 

[KingAirer]

Does anyone know what the Govt's Gulfstream does "N1" I was out at TRI recently when the ILSs were down, there was a FAA kingair there as well as the Gulfstream doing touch and gos...Posisbly N1 does the Cat II and IIIs???

 

[tdvalve]

N1 is not a flight inspection airplane. It's one of a sizable fleet of FAA jets based at DCA. Their stated purpose is to transport the NTSB "go-team" to major accidents, provide for aviation research, and provide flight training for certain FAA Inspectors. In truth, all of them, and N1 in particular, are executive transports for high-ranking DOT and FAA bureaucrats. N1 is used extensively for boondoggles all over the world.

 

[ValkariaKid]

Last week a lear 35 did a fly by down the runway, 50ft off the deck at the airport I office at.

It's funny you mention this. I was at Valkaria airport (X59) on sunday afternoon and saw a Pan Am Academy Piper Warrior (?) do the very same thing about 3-4 times mixed in with a bunch of TNG's They would zoom by at 10-20' AGL flat out until the very end of the runway where they'd abruptly pull up to about a 70 degree nose up attitude.

They stopped after the first few and parked on the ramp where 3 instructors (in their uniforms) got out and walked around a bit. They climbed back in, and did a few more fly-bys before the finally left.

I don't know how smart it was, but it sure looked like fun!

-Paul

 

[avbug]

It's not smart and it's a good way to earn some enforcement action. Three instructors, especially young new ones, in the same airplane is seldom a good thing, either.

I was mistaken with the LR55's before. I believe they're 60's, but still very different from a 35. Did it have tip tanks?

 

[KingAirer]

Seems like the instructors would have gotten bored withit after the first two. How exciting is that?

 

[Dep676]

Orville and Caveman,

Yeah I see your points too. We all know that the LA cops have been not having the best reputation lately. I would never be a cop out there anyway. As far as taking the cruiser home. Our dep's get to take them home on the days they work too. But they never use them for personal use. That would cost them their job. I am not talking about a knuckle head that uses to shuttle is family around. That totally wrong and would never fly around here. As far as speeding in their personal cars cause they can. That happens here also. But one of my Sgt's were coming back from DC for the police memorial in a cruiser. Got pulled over for speeding in PA and got a ticket in a cruiser. So that always doesn't work they will find out the hard way. I am wasn't bashing you either. I was trying to shed a little insight to their driving for a legit reason. And yes there are abusers of power in every occupation. Just look at our government, full of abusers of power just because who they are.

 

[328dude]

Avbug.

The FAA does utilize 35's. I saw two parked in OKC last week.

White Blue and with Tip tanks. LOL

I'll get the tail numbers next time I see them.

 

[jetdriven]

lj 55 and 60 look similar with the fatter fuselage and winglets with no tiptanks. the 35 looks more like a streetched 23-24-25 model.