Solitude / Wilderness

[yknpdlr]

Choppers are most likely from Army Fort Drum, on the northwestern edge of the Adirondacks, east of Watertown. F35s are from Air Force Vermont National Guard. Previously A-10 tank killers could be seen training usually in pairs flying low level over the high peaks and through the valleys. Always fun to see as a surprise. F-16s previously flew out of Syracuse NG, now replaced by predator drones, never neen or heard (but they see you). You would never see the high altitude flights of them, same with the high flying invisible F-35s. Truly the training flights are not all that common, you have to be lucky to rarely hear any of them. there is an electronic bomb run target area near Fort Drum that B-52s and others rarely use anymore. I flew KC-135s from my bases in Ohio and Rome and would plan my mission navigation training legs to fly over my home in and near the Adirondacks wherever I could. All at 30K feet and above, you would never see us any more than you will on any day at any hour see and hear commercial airliners more commonly flying overhead at similar altitudes over as well as over any and all other wilderness areas in North America.
The military flights are all enjoyed as the welcome sights and sounds of freedom.

When paddling on the Yukon River race, I noticed several black dots on the horizon headed directly toward me. I waved my paddle to say "hi", and as they approached, 4 F-16s waved their wings in return and did an after burner "burning climb" directly straight up above us before performing a rejoin as they departed behind us. After the race I stopped at Base Operations at Eielson AFB to thank them for the marvelous show. Years earlier I flew out of Eielson to head over the North Pole while air refueling reconnaissance aircraft on our mission around the Arctic Circle.

 

[PaddleTime]

@stripperguy thanks, and looks beautiful.

Aviation is interesting - not exactly what I’d be heading out to see though. I’ve been overflown plenty, and it can range from somewhat interesting to not so great. I think for me it all depends on altitude, time of day, frequency, and purpose. Can’t complain about quiet though.

 

[yknpdlr]

Regardless of where you roam, wilderness or not, as a minimum you will always see numerous commercial airliners in clear skies overhead leaving streaks of contrails during the day and flashing lights at night. And they are not completly silent either. There is no escape.

 

[Keeled Over]

Choppers are most likely from Army Fort Drum, on the northwestern edge of the Adirondacks, east of Watertown. F35s are from Air Force Vermont National Guard. Previously A-10 tank killers could be seen training usually in pairs flying low level over the high peaks and through the valleys. Always fun to see as a surprise. F-16s previously flew out of Syracuse NG, now replaced by predator drones, never neen or heard (but they see you). You would never see the high altitude flights of them, same with the high flying invisible F-35s. Truly the training flights are not all that common, you have to be lucky to rarely hear any of them. there is an electronic bomb run target area near Fort Drum that B-52s and others rarely use anymore. I flew KC-135s from my bases in Ohio and Rome and would plan my mission navigation training legs to fly over my home in and near the Adirondacks wherever I could. All at 30K feet and above, you would never see us any more than you will on any day at any hour see and hear commercial airliners more commonly flying overhead at similar altitudes over as well as over any and all other wilderness areas in North America.
The military flights are all enjoyed as the welcome sights and sounds of freedom.

When paddling on the Yukon River race, I noticed several black dots on the horizon headed directly toward me. I waved my paddle to say "hi", and as they approached, 4 F-16s waved their wings in return and did an after burner "burning climb" directly straight up above us before performing a rejoin as they departed behind us. After the race I stopped at Base Operations at Eielson AFB to thank them for the marvelous show. Years earlier I flew out of Eielson to head over the North Pole while air refueling reconnaissance aircraft on our mission around the Arctic Circle.

Unsure as to what exactly what it was but the amount of noise made over LTL was remarkable. We looked all over but could never see it. Finally, just by chance I got a small flash WAAAYY up there - I mean a spec- and could see the plane climbing what looked like straight up. My brother an I were shocked something that far away could make that much noise right at campsite #12.