Document text
CLEAR Temp: 77 °F Wind: WNW at 4 mph Friday, August 15, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 4, 2003 Since You Asked Air Force E-6 707 practices approach I have noticed in recent days a large white airplane circling over the Rogue Valley, low and slow. It appears to have large bulbous domes on varying parts of the fuselage. Its only marking that I have seen is a U.S. Air Force ‘bars and star’ on the aft starboard side. What is this plane and why is it looming over the Rogue Valley? — D. Philips, Medford After checking with our sources in the Pentagon, the CIA, the FBI and our agents at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, we think we might have the answer for you Mr. Philips — if that is in fact your real name. The jet is a Boeing E-6 707, which has a hardened air frame and a sophisticated communications relay system for strategic airborne command — to use military parlance. This particular version is designed to maintain communication links with nuclear submarines. Advertisement Of course, we’d have to kill you if we told you the real reason why the jet was looming over our humble valley. But, according to airport officials, it was practicing "low approach maneuvers," a fairly common event at the airport, which has a long enough runway to accommodate military jets. Now that you know the answer, Mr. Philips, we suggest you keep it to yourself. And in the future, please use the "cone of silence." Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times