Russian aircraft skim Cali coast

[RoyGBiv]

Please define "coast of California" as used in this article.

If "Coast" = Inside US territorial waters, that's a provocation that demands a response.
If "Coast" = Over land... Why were they not intercepted and shot down?

[Zencyl]

Please define "coast of California" as used in this article.

If "Coast" = Inside US territorial waters, that's a provocation that demands a response.
If "Coast" = Over land... Why were they not intercepted and shot down?

I'm with you, I really hope if these planes came anywhere near the physical coast they would have been intercepted and shot down.

[philip964]

So does this have anything to do with the FAA computer system crashing on the West Coast because of a "U2 Spyplane" or is this just a coincidence.

[C-dub]

Please define "coast of California" as used in this article.

If "Coast" = Inside US territorial waters, that's a provocation that demands a response.
If "Coast" = Over land... Why were they not intercepted and shot down?

I'm also concerned about why NORAD or any ship or naval or marine aircraft base didn't pick up on this aircraft hundreds of miles off our coast and have it intercepted before coming anywhere near our coast. That shouldn't have had anything to do with anything at LAX. To me, this smacks of the USS Stark or USS Cole. Our guard was down and people died. Russia is sticking their toes in the water to see if it is okay to go in or not. Maybe they were aware of this aircraft's approach and were told to stand down here just like in Benghazi. IDK.

[oohrah]

Territorial waters and US airspace are two different things, and we have had Russian Bear bombers flying off our coasts forever. We always intercept them and escort them. Nothing new here. Old cold war stuff.

[jmra]

Territorial waters and US airspace are two different things, and we have had Russian Bear bombers flying off our coasts forever. We always intercept them and escort them. Nothing new here. Old cold war stuff.

I suspect we do the same.

[Oldgringo]

Do we care if they take Kalifornia?

[jmra]

Do we care if they take Kalifornia?

Not if they agree to keep the residents.

[C-dub]

Territorial waters and US airspace are two different things, and we have had Russian Bear bombers flying off our coasts forever. We always intercept them and escort them. Nothing new here. Old cold war stuff.

True enough, but due to Russia's activity in Ukraine and the increase in these flights around Guam and all the way to Kalifornia does make one wonder what they are up to.

[Keith B]

Territorial waters and US airspace are two different things, and we have had Russian Bear bombers flying off our coasts forever. We always intercept them and escort them. Nothing new here. Old cold war stuff.

I suspect we do the same.

We do. Have a couple of friends that used to fly reconnaissance missions from Japan up past the Bering Strait. They regularly would be met by Russian fighters or other aircraft. Most times the crews would take turns photographing each other out the windows while exchanging international gestures of goodwill (will leave it at that)

[sjfcontrol]

Territorial waters and US airspace are two different things, and we have had Russian Bear bombers flying off our coasts forever. We always intercept them and escort them. Nothing new here. Old cold war stuff.

I suspect we do the same.

We do. Have a couple of friends that used to fly reconnaissance missions from Japan up past the Bering Strait. They regularly would be met by Russian fighters or other aircraft. Most times the crews would take turns photographing each other out the windows while exchanging international gestures of goodwill (will leave it at that)

Did they do it inverted?

[Keith B]

Most times the crews would take turns photographing each other out the windows while exchanging international gestures of goodwill (will leave it at that)

Did they do it inverted?

Nah, the plane they flew wouldn't fly upside down. LOL

[Pawpaw]

Back in the 70's, I was stationed at Cape Lisburne, Alaska (look it up on a map). Every couple of weeks, Russian Migs would come across the straight and buzz our site. We figured they were seeing how long it took the F-4s to scramble out of Galena and get up to us. Of course, the Migs would be long gone by the time the F-4s arrived.

An F-4 burned so much fuel that by the time they got to us, running on full afterburner, the pilot had to make a choice:

1. Engage the enemy in aerial combat.

2. Shut off the afterburner and cruise back to Galena.

They didn't have enough fuel left to do both.

The F-4 was America's proof to the world that even a brick will fly if you put big enough engines on it.