The Martha's Vineyard Times

F-15 fighter jets will be visible over Island skies

September 12, 2012

Photo courtesy of USAF

An F-15 in action.

F-15 fighter jets from the 104th Fighter Wing in Westfield join an alert exercise on Wednesday, September 12, from 10 am to noon, in the air over Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard, according to a press release.

"F-15 fighter jets will be conducting training with the Civil Air Patrol, which will be flying low-speed civilian propeller aircrafts (Cessna 182 and GA-8). This exercise, in partnership with the Eastern Air Defense Sector, is conducted to facilitate training for alert pilots on intercept procedures, ensuring the Massachusetts Air National Guard is prepared to defend the Northeast airspace against any airborne threat," Major Matthew T. Mutti of the 104th Fighter Wing said in a press release.

"These exercises are carefully planned, closely controlled and include exercising airspace restriction violations, hijackings, and responding to unknown aircraft. Communities in and around Cape Cod and the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard may experience increased aircraft activity during the duration of this exercise."

Additional training exercises are scheduled for Wednesday, September 19 and Wednesday, September 26, in the mid-morning and early afternoon hours.