Sonic booms, afterburners, and strange contrails: Juniper MOA is active!

[DemoTex]

Man, the USAF burned up some fuel today. Right in my backyard. I heard them before I saw them. Afterburners do get my attentions.

The exercise was in the Nellis AFB Juniper (North and South) MOAs (military operation areas). These two MOAs extend up from Nevada into the Oregon desert, with the closest point of Juniper North MOA about 30 miles to my east.

At one point this morning, four flights of four must have gone super-sonic. I heard thunder claps in a clear blue sky for almost a minute. Nick freaked out.

The contrails were only visible for about 15 minutes, then upper atmospheric conditions favored the F-22s (?). But I heard the noise almost all day long.

I saw a similar display in 2009. But last year was quiet in the Juniper MOAs.


Strange speed changes involved here. This is one flight of four.


Notice the very faint contrails (flight of four) below the long contrails to the upper right. It was an intercept exercise in the making.


A very fast pair of fighter jets

[originalpckelly]

1. That weird contrail is probably thrust vectoring.

Sounds like an F-22, as you suspected. :P

[Blue-Jay]

2. How do you protect yourself against the mind-control chemicals?

I usually find that running clockwise around a tree while juggling carrots works.

[DemoTex]

3. I yodel - opera.

Usually Wagner. That helps.

[Blue-Jay]

4. I'll add that to my routine.

I know most of the words (phonetically) to "O du mein holder Abendstern", and I have a nearly-decent baritone voice. I hope it doesn't upset my running and juggling, though.

Cool pics, by the way.