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A US Spy Plane Has Been Flying Circles Over Seattle For Days (thedrive.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the eye-in-the-sky dept.

turkeydance shares Thursday's report from The Drive: A very unique U.S. Air Force surveillance aircraft has been flying highly defined circles over Seattle and its various suburbs for nine days now... The aircraft, which goes by the callsign "SPUD21" and wears a nondescript flat gray paint job with the only visible markings being a U.S. Air Force serial on its tail, is a CASA CN-235-300 transport aircraft that has been extensively modified... It is covered in a dizzying array of blisters, protrusions, humps and bumps. These include missile approach warning detectors and large fairings on its empennage for buckets of forward-firing decoy flares, as well as both microwave -- the dome antenna behind the wing and flat antenna modification in front of the wing -- and ultra high-frequency satellite communications -- the platter-like antenna behind the dome antenna. A communications intelligence suite also appears to be installed on the aircraft, with the antenna farm on the bottom of its fuselage being a clear indication of such a capability. But what's most interesting is the aircraft's apparent visual intelligence gathering installation...

This particular CN-235, with the serial 96-6042, is one of six that researchers commonly associated with the Air Force's top secret 427th Special Operations Squadron... The 427th occupies the same space with a host of other "black" U.S. military aviation elements, most of which are affiliated to some degree with Joint Special Operations Command and the Intelligence Community... [I]f the military placed the aircraft under civilian control to some degree and with an appropriate legal justification, the U.S. military could possibly fly it in support of a domestic operation or one focused on a foreign suspect or organization operating within the United States... It's also entirely possible, if not probable, that the aircraft could be involved in a realistic training exercise rather than an actual operation... The area could have simply provided a suitable urban area to test existing or new surveillance technologies, too, though this could spark serious privacy concerns if true.
Friday an Air Force Special Operations Command public affairs officer confirmed that the plane was one of theirs, describing its activity as "just a training mission," according to Russia Today.

110 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. Sources by sheramil · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "According to 'Russia Today'"? Really?

    1. Re:Sources by ckatko · · Score: 3, Insightful

      100% right. Everything from a Russian newspaper is propaganda.

      Unlike our own press which is never propoganda. Also, the Iraq war never happened.

    2. Re:Sources by LostInTaiwan · · Score: 4, Funny

      My thought exactly. Of all the news outlet available, we resort to citing RT for USAF activities. C'mon, we should be better than this . . . . We have plenty of domestic conspiracy theory news source, no need to rely on Putin's mouth piece.

    3. Re:Sources by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't trust Russia Today on anything concerning Russia, but they are probably more accurate in their reports on other regimes than publications from that country.

    4. Re:Sources by Boronx · · Score: 1

      They will probably be accurate about the presence of an aircraft. They will probably be highly dishonest in their follow on analysis.

      --
      Play Command HQ online
    5. Re: Sources by oshtur.vishanti · · Score: 1

      no mystery, they modify and install the equipment for those planes at Boeing field in Seattle.

    6. Re: Sources by sysrammer · · Score: 1

      Oh, come on tovarishch, you can do better than that. I guess it does become boring after a while, though.

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
    7. Re: Sources by lars5 · · Score: 1

      You can't buy homeowner's insurance after the house burns down, so why should insurance companies be forced to pay for pre-existing conditions? Neither healthcare nor insurance is a right. Read up on the Constitution.

      --
      Don't Panic.
    8. Re:Sources by mjwx · · Score: 1

      My thought exactly. Of all the news outlet available, we resort to citing RT for USAF activities.

      Why not... I mean if I want maps of Russia the first place I'd go is the CIA.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    9. Re:Sources by eric_harris_76 · · Score: 1

      Nobody said anything like that, but for real anyone working hard to defend the legitimacy of Russia Today is probably a traitor.

      Nobody was working hard to defend the legitimacy of Russia Today, Anonymous Coward.

      Rather than go down that infinite regress, why not address the topic at hand: The U.S. government seems to be surveilling the holy hell out of Seattle.

      Good thing? Bad thing? WTF?

      --
      There's no time like the present. Well, the past used to be.
  2. Drone volunteers needed by AndyKron · · Score: 3, Funny

    Someone needs to send a drone up there and check it out.

    1. Re:Drone volunteers needed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Is this a joke?

      Flying a civilian drone over 400 feet is illegal. Get caught close to an airplane and at best you'd get jail time and could potentially be charged with attempted murder. The FAA doesn't take drone lawbreakers lightly.

      It's using civilian airports so just go check it out with some binoculars.

      Besides all that what would you want to see? We already have pictures.

    2. Re: Drone volunteers needed by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

      You need a telescope, not a drone.

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  3. very unique by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Howe much more unique can it get.

  4. North Korea Military Action Soon? by jrmcferren · · Score: 5, Interesting

    This sounds exactly like the kind of equipment you would want overhead in a major combat operation. Both visual and communications intelligence along with the means to detect missiles and possibly defend itself are all capabilities you want during major combat operations.

    Why have a drill over a major American City if they aren't trying to spy on Americans? Major cities have a large quantity of communications systems all over the spectrum. Police, Fire, Ambulance, Taxi, and even Amateur radio operate in the ranges of interest. They will be able to receive both local and distant broadcast stations that will change based on position and atmospheric conditions. This is simply an exercise in how to operate the equipment to find and decode various communications. Add a ground component with training signals intentionally generated by the military and this becomes more realistic.

    As for privacy concerns, this is very valid and you should remember that no telecommunications network can be completely secure. It is also important to note that any communications intercepts of civilian communications will be concerned with capabilities, not content.

    --
    sudo mod me up
    1. Re:North Korea Military Action Soon? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      most definitely sounds like a shake-down mission before deployment to the skies over the sea of japan to support existing naval fleet already there.

    2. Re:North Korea Military Action Soon? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Why have a drill over a major American City if they aren't trying to spy on Americans?

      Both because cities are cities in many respects, and because they might want to spy on Americans later.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:North Korea Military Action Soon? by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 4, Funny

      most definitely sounds like a shake-down mission before deployment to the skies over the sea of japan to support existing naval fleet already there.

      They wanted to test it over a city with the same Internet penetration as Pyongyang.

    4. Re:North Korea Military Action Soon? by PopeRatzo · · Score: 5, Funny

      This sounds exactly like the kind of equipment you would want overhead in a major combat operation.

      Well, only 8% of Seattle voted for Trump, so he may be looking for the 92% of Seattle voters that obviously must have committed voter fraud.

      http://www.seattletimes.com/se...

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    5. Re:North Korea Military Action Soon? by MangoCats · · Score: 1

      The submarine hunter aircraft fly regular missions over all of North Florida - like I'd see one three or four times a week out my window over 100 miles away (inland) from the base where they are stationed.

      We can assume it's training, since there aren't many submarine to hunt in the lakes and rivers around there.

    6. Re:North Korea Military Action Soon? by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 3, Informative

      Boeing Field is where a lot of mods for military plane are done. Operational flights do not take place from Boeing Field. Most likly what's going on is the plane is undergoing mods and they are testing these mods in the local area. See my informed post below, I work in Mission Planning at McChord.

      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    7. Re:North Korea Military Action Soon? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

      Don't underestimate Ze Germanz!

      --
      Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
    8. Re:North Korea Military Action Soon? by deadwill69 · · Score: 1

      I participated in an event like this many years back. We played a group of "unlikeables" and hide out in an old semi-abandoned project in an industrial part of town. The unit was doing a workup to deploy and the city i was in was of a similar composition. They used their capabilities to find about a dozen locations we were hiding in and then proceeded to take out the necessary targets. It took about two weeks. There were lots of calls to the local police and FBI about the activity. I don't know if it ever made it to the local media. Man it freaked some people out.

    9. Re:North Korea Military Action Soon? by mjwx · · Score: 1

      Why have a drill over a major American City if they aren't trying to spy on Americans?

      This can easily be explained by bureaucracy.

      Operations programme A gets X dollars for operations each year, part of that cost is jet fuel. Programme manager realises that he's only used three quarters of this years fuel budget and if he doesn't use up the rest he wont get the same amount next year. So he sends a plane up to burn fuel to ensure his budget isn't slashed.

      Or it could be that Boeing's Everett plant is near by and it's a plane undergoing testing before it's released to the USAF.

      Or it's just bullshit, considering the source.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  5. If by "for days" you mean by RightwingNutjob · · Score: 1

    flying for a few hours and then landing and then taking off again, for several days straight, I suppose I could buy that. But if you mean it's been in the air for several days straight, then you're wrong.

  6. Could very well be training/testing by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Joint Base Lewis-McCord is less than 50 miles from Seattle, as the drone flies - so the city is convenient. Heck, Boeing Field is only about 4 miles away from downtown, if there are problems. Plus Seattle is remote enough from Washington DC and New York (not to mention smaller) that the country is less likely to freak out now that the surveillance drone has been outed.

    Not to mention that Seattle is a liberal bastion which the current administration probably wouldn't mind messing with a bit.

    --
    #DeleteChrome
    1. Re:Could very well be training/testing by Nutria · · Score: 2

      now that the surveillance drone has been outed.

      Unless it's not a drone.

      Not to mention that Seattle is a liberal bastion which the current administration probably wouldn't mind messing with a bit.

      Well, it is close to lots of military facilities... (But that would make this perfect for training, especially since it takes off every morning and lands every afternoon.)

      --
      "I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
    2. Re:Could very well be training/testing by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Not to mention Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. There's a LOT of civilian and military air traffic around here. I'm having a hard time picturing most native Seattlites being all that concerned about this. And I'd imagine the current administration has better things to do than to order military flights to mess with the Seattle populous.

      I'm not sure why people are surprised by this. SIGINT is part of the the modern military's war-fighting capabilities. Yes, they're probably monitoring Seattle's communications to practice interception of and analyzing said traffic. That they'd be training their people seems like a perfectly plausible explanation to me.

      What next, people freaking out that out in the desert somewhere, the military is practicing with guns, bombs, rockets, and other weapons that can kill large numbers of people? Or that the military flies simulated bombing runs over civilian targets? This is what they're paid to do - preparing for all aspects of warfare.

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    3. Re:Could very well be training/testing by dyslexicbunny · · Score: 1

      Or that the military flies simulated bombing runs over civilian targets?

      Was a regular thing at the Scout camp I worked at for four summers. Used our old mess hall as a target.

    4. Re:Could very well be training/testing by boskone · · Score: 1

      not to mention we also had a HUGE airshow this weekend with the blue angels, and had the airspace effectively shut down. they may have been providing security for that event. who knows?

    5. Re:Could very well be training/testing by RyoShin · · Score: 1

      What next, people freaking out that out in the desert somewhere, the military is practicing with guns, bombs, rockets, and other weapons that can kill large numbers of people?

      Actually, and sadly, yes.

    6. Re:Could very well be training/testing by Dutch+Gun · · Score: 1

      I should have figured. /facepalm

      Someone should ask the leader of those nutjobs (a retired firefighter) if he thinks it's nefarious that firefighters go around intentionally burning houses down. What? Yep, houses that are scheduled for demolition are occasionally burned down by the fire department. Because, you know... they need to actually practice their craft under as realistic circumstances as they can manage. It's sort of a win-win, as it saves on demolition costs for the owner in addition to helping train local community firefighters.

      It's the same thing here. The military and firefighters are perhaps a bit similar in that they don't typically have enough real life "on the job" training, and when it happens, it's very dangerous. So, they need to do a lot of training and simulations to prepare professionally as best they can.

      --
      Irony: Agile development has too much intertia to be abandoned now.
    7. Re:Could very well be training/testing by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      When aircraft fly simulated bombing runs, they're not hurting anything (at least when they do it correctly). When a SIGINT aircraft is around a metro area, it's probably practicing its intelligence-gathering capabilities, because anything else can be done elsewhere. If the data it picks up isn't destroyed, it's the US military invading the privacy of US civilians. That does have the capability to harm civilians.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  7. It's probably just looking for a parking space. by drfishy · · Score: 5, Funny

    nt

  8. Training for poor visability in an urban center? by kevmeister · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Perhaps the Air Force is taking advantage of the heavy smoke covering the area for training on techniques for imaging under such circumstances. In actual military use in a shooting war, smoke and dust from combat are likely to make optical observation more difficult. I would assume that on-board tech could enhance this, but it may require real-time tuning by the crew.

    The current conditions may provide an excellent opportunity for real-world experience.

    --
    Kevin Oberman, Network Engineer, Retired
  9. Re:Messages from your (fake) leaders: by k6mfw · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    it is difficult follow all this. Many say RT is fake news. But if RT says a particular report is fake news but then that means it is not fake news. But wait, it is. Or is not? Kind of like the Star Trek TOS "I, Mudd" episode when androids figure everything Mudd says is a lie. Mudd then says he is lying and the androids go nutzoid and meltdown.

    --
    mfwright@batnet.com
  10. Comparison by JBMcB · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Find an RT article highly critical of Putin.

    Now, find a mainstream US news article highly critical of Trump.

    Guess which one is easier?

    Crap, I'll find you a dozen Fox News pieces criticizing Trump.

    --
    My Other Computer Is A Data General Nova III.
    1. Re:Comparison by globaljustin · · Score: 5, Insightful

      > MSNBC, CNN, WaPo, et al piece that's highly critical of clinton or any other feminist figurehead...

      First, ALL OF THOSE HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF HILLARY

      2nd, and more importantly, Hillary Clinton is not a "feminist figurehead". To call her that shows you are ignorant about why people support Hillary and ignorant about what feminism is.

      Feminism is the 'radical' idea that men and women should be treated equally.

      Hillary's policy positions are to the right of Bernie Sanders, Barrack Obama, and most of the voting populace nationally. She is a left leaning centrist

      --
      Thank you Dave Raggett
    2. Re: Comparison by JBMcB · · Score: 2

      http://www.thewrap.com/11-time...

      Still waiting for one RT criticism of Putin.

      --
      My Other Computer Is A Data General Nova III.
    3. Re:Comparison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      The articles published by RT are shaped to support Putin's policies. The articles published by the major US media are shaped to bring about the downfall of the Presidency while ignoring the consequences of their success. Those trying to do anything in their power to bring down Trump can look forward to facing the same animosity and never ending attacks from here on out. The US government is already comprised of liars, thief's, morons, and incompetent assholes who never contribute anything positive to the US. The legislative members are fully owned whores who carry out their marching orders after someone buys them an election. Who donates millions of dollars to a candidates election campaign and doesn't expect a ROI? With all investigations that pop up every day why don't they investigate the lobbying 501c groups that bypass the federal election laws and create a loop hole that enables unlimited amount of money to be funneled to current and wannabe politicians? Oh that's right! Congress has passed laws where the parties and individuals cannot be the subject of any public investigation. There will never be a public hearing where a Senator is asked to explain why a 501c entity would donate millions to his election campaign.

      None of the major US news outlets are any more trustworthy then Russian media.

    4. Re: Comparison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Poopjuggler- your name says everything anyone needs to know about you.

      Good way to make your point though, no refutation of the points made, just name calling. Careful there, people might get the correct idea that you're full of shit.

    5. Re:Comparison by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Feminism is the 'radical' idea that men and women should be treated equally.

      Strangely, the *only* people I've met who have supported treating men and women unequally have been feminists.

      We have a word for treating people equally. It's 'egalitarianism', and it's not the same thing as feminism.

    6. Re:Comparison by geekymachoman · · Score: 1, Insightful

      > Feminism is the 'radical' idea that men and women should be treated equally.

      It was. Long time ago... now it mutated to something very rotten.

    7. Re:Comparison by Kiuas · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Feminism is the 'radical' idea that men and women should be treated equally.

      The word you're looking for is egalitarianism.

      I have no problem with there being people who identify as feminist and focus on issues faced by women. And there's a large group of feminists who are indeed also egalitarian. But to say that equality between sexes (or races, or any other groups) is a solely feminist idea, or that all feminists support total equality between the sexes is demonstrably wrong. As an example: here in Finland due to our small population size, having Russia right next door and us not being in NATO, all men have a constitutional obligation to enter the armed forces for basic training lasting between 6-12 months. Those that do not want to can enter into 'civillian service' which is essentially doing work in different kinds of public services (museums, ministries etc) for a year. If they do neither and are not relieved of this obligation for a medical reason, they'll face some jail time.

      Women can enter into the Finnish Defense Forces since the 1990s, but very few of them do, Now, if the only legit interpretation of feminism was 'equality between the sexes', all feminists would have have to either oppose the current mandatory military service for men altogether, or be for expanding it to cover all women as well, as is the case for example in Israel.

      This is not the case however. I have read Finnish feminists who are for expanding it to cover women as well, but many of them are quite fine with the status quo. Other such examples can be found as well. There are feminists who are for mandatory quotas of women in corporate boards, some are even for those in parliaments. The egalitarian position is that sex should be irrelevant when selecting board members or voting because a person's sex is not indicative of his/her abilities or competence. Nevertheless a certain subgroup of modern feminists seem to not realize or care about this and are essentially about trying to force a '50-50" gender split for the sake of 'equality', not caring that such an approach by itself goes against the equality of sexes by making sex a selection criteria. In a simplified case if 10 positions are open and you have 15 male and 5 female applicants, such a person would say that the 5 female applicants must get the position purely to achieve equality of sexes, which in turn disqualifies some men purely because they're men.

      Again: the point here is not to say all feminists are like this, or to demonize all feminists or say that it's wrong to be a feminist, it's not. The point is that the phrase 'feminism is the 'radical' idea that men and women should be treated equally' is not always indicative of all people who identify as feminists, nor is feminism a requirement for holding that belief.

      --
      "It is the business of the future to be dangerous" -Alfred North Whitehead
    8. Re:Comparison by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 2

      Now find an article in the mainstream media that was as critical of President Obama as they are of President Trump. Just becaise RT toes the party line in Russia because of potential blowback from the Kremlin does not mean our own media becomes passive lapdogs of a President they like because of a few of his claimed political stances (never mind he broke just about every promise he made when campaigning).

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    9. Re:Comparison by LynnwoodRooster · · Score: 2

      First, ALL OF THOSE HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF HILLARY

      Really? When? I mean they reported on potential investigations of Hillary! but then went to GREAT lengths it assure us it was a big nothingburger and simply evil GOP tactics. That she was completely blameless in her illegal server, that her lies about her past were simply not relevant, and that her defense of a self-admitted sex offending husband were all normal and on the up-and-up (the last being great hypocrisy given the supposed women's rights she pushed; rights for them to be abused by her husband, perhaps...)

      --
      Browsing at +1 - no ACs, I ignore their posts. So refreshing!
    10. Re:Comparison by DanJ_UK · · Score: 1

      Fox news...? ...really?

      --
      - Dan
    11. Re:Comparison by azcoyote · · Score: 2

      Feminism is the 'radical' idea that men and women should be treated equally.

      No, feminism is a complex and varied thing; it does not mean the same thing in all cases, and it's really not possible to give an absolute definition of it. What matters in this case is simply that Hillary self-identifies as a feminist. To that extent she can be said to be a "feminist figurehead," i.e. inasmuch as she sees herself as precisely that.

      --
      Incipiamus, fratres, servire Domino Deo, quia hucusque vix vel parum in nullo profecimus.
    12. Re:Comparison by houghi · · Score: 1

      The reason is that the US has been in a situation where it doesn't matter what the people think and they know it. "We are spying on US citizens, so fucking what?"--CIA, NSA, FBI and everybody else.
      "I tell secrets to others, so fucking what" --Potus
      "We cheat and steal, so fucking what" --Big US companies
      I am sure people will know of much more and better examples.

      Why would they try to hide it as the result is the same? As long as there is no accountability, it won't change.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    13. Re: Comparison by KGIII · · Score: 1

      I fully support equal rights. However, no group of women are willing to come protest with me. See, I want to get equal sentencing in domestic violence cases. There is well studied disparity in sentencing within the criminal justice system. Women are regularly treated unfairly, and given shorter or suspended sentences - for the same offenses, up to and including murder. So, we should start with domestic violences and work our way up.

      We do want equality, right?

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
    14. Re:Comparison by AnthonywC · · Score: 1

      That's because the MSMs are conducting propaganda campaigns against Trump, find me an article from MSMs that is NOT highly critical of Trump (or even acknowledge the facts that many of Trump policy was no different than Obama).

    15. Re: Comparison by unrtst · · Score: 1

      Um... I'm sure there's an article somewhere on Fox News that does so, but the link you sent was not to any articles (at least not as far as I could tell - I didn't follow the clickbait through every page).

      For those not wishing to click that link, the headline is, "13 Times Fox News Hosts Criticized Donald Trump (Photos)".

      If you stuck to US media in general, you could have provided loads of examples, but it's a bit more difficult if you limit yourself to Fox News or Trump TV.

    16. Re:Comparison by unrtst · · Score: 1

      I can't find an article in the mainstream media that was as critical of Mother Teresa as they were of Hitler, but that's due to a useless qualifier ("as critical").

      There were articles that were VERY critical of President Obama, and there are articles that are VERY critical of Trump. Are you claiming the former didn't exist, or are you just saying they weren't quite as critical of Obama? There's a big difference between those.

    17. Re:Comparison by unrtst · · Score: 1

      http://lmgtfy.com/?q=trump+pol...

      First link, MSNBC, "Trump wants America to be 'energy dominant.' Here's what that means" ... "Trump and Obama: Not so different?"

      Second link, MSNBC, "Trump sticks to Obama’s ISIS plan, but hopes it looks different"

      There's a bunch more. You're simply wrong, sorry.

    18. Re:Comparison by Shadow+of+Eternity · · Score: 1

      You're joking, right? A core part of both of her two previous campaigns was trying to astroturf the narrative that everyone opposing her was just a misogynist "Obama Boy/Bernie Bro", and this most recent campaign heavily relied on the astoundingly self-entitled "It's Her Turn" narrative. None of those outlets have remotely been meaningfully critical of Hillary, and they've all gone to extreme lengths to astroturf for her down to the level of enforcing a media blackout on actual liberals like Sanders or pushing fake narratives in favor of her.

      Secondly any claim that a particular thing is the total embodiment of "equality" or "freedom" or "good" is the mark of a cult, because it makes it literally impossible to criticise something. You can't criticise "equality" or "good", you can't disagree with it, you can only be a heretic and an unbeliever.

      The reality is that feminism has and is doing truly awful and repugnant anti-equality things like spending millions opposing equal custody rights, passing laws that turn half of all victims of domestic violence into literal second class citizens, and completely erasing half of all rape victims to preserve its ideologically driven narrative about rape being somehow uniquely and inherently male behavior.

      Feminims isn't "the radical idea men and women are equal", it's the belief that men are inherently and irredeemably evil and need to be controlled and repressed to protect pure and inherently good women.

      --
      A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
    19. Re: Comparison by Rujiel · · Score: 1

      And you seriously expect to give toothless western media a pass by comparing all of them collectively to one outlet under a dictatorial regime? Wow, that is sad.

    20. Re: Comparison by Rujiel · · Score: 1

      You think WaPo and CNN weren't pro-hillary? I think you must've been observing this election from another planet if you think either of those outlets didn't do whatever they could to help her win, especially in the primaries with their many hit pieces on Sanders. Delusional.

    21. Re:Comparison by tinkerton · · Score: 1

      Don't mix up things. I only sample them but on RT and Al Jazeera I have seen some of the best journalism available. There is a simple reason:there is little room for critical journalism in western mainstream and the Russians (and Qatar) think it's in their interest to give it a platform. The motivations of the Russian government may not be benign, or they may be a mixed bag (the soft power business can benefit from openness ) but on the foreign front the result is good.

      Personally I think the state of the western media is terrible. They're a business and it does not fit the business model to scrutinize power. Unless it aligns them with bigger power. In the old model media weren't allowed to say things. Now we have a media system that doesn't want to say things. In some respects it's worse because it covers up the problem.

    22. Re:Comparison by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      First, ALL OF THOSE HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF HILLARY

      Really? When? I mean they reported on potential investigations of Hillary! but then went to GREAT lengths it assure us it was a big nothingburger and simply evil GOP tactics.

      Errrm, considering even Donald "Lock her up!" Trump didn't do anything about her "terrible crimes", that's exactly what it must have been, don't you agree with the obvious?

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
  11. just guessing here... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    ...maybe testing capabilities, just in case something is sent over from North Korea?

  12. Seattle - Boeing by williamyf · · Score: 1

    Doesn't Boeing, a Major US Aerospace contractor has a Big Factory and other research facilities in Seattle?

    Perhaps this training excersice over this particular city has something to do with something the guys in the Lab what to measure first hand? As in Reverse-Engineer-hand?

    Because the CASA CN-235-300 is a joint development of Spain (CASA) and Indonesia (IPTN)

    Just saying...

    --
    *** Suerte a todos y Feliz dia!
    1. Re:Seattle - Boeing by bongey · · Score: 1

      No Boeing might have a follow on contract to add new gear/ avionics/radar/super secret squirrel gear.

    2. Re:Seattle - Boeing by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Doesn't Boeing, a Major US Aerospace contractor has a Big Factory and other research facilities in Seattle?

      Perhaps this training excersice over this particular city has something to do with something the guys in the Lab what to measure first hand? As in Reverse-Engineer-hand?

      Because the CASA CN-235-300 is a joint development of Spain (CASA) and Indonesia (IPTN)

      Just saying...

      Errhumh. So why would Boeing now want to test reverse engineer a plane that first flew over 30 years ago? Especially when the USAF bought that particular plane used from a private US air cargo carrier before the turn of the century?

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    3. Re:Seattle - Boeing by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      Old aircraft are often retrofitted to make use of newer technology, saving a lot of budget vs. creating an entirely new aircraft. I've seen testing periods that lasted weeks.

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
    4. Re:Seattle - Boeing by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

      Old aircraft are often retrofitted to make use of newer technology, saving a lot of budget vs. creating an entirely new aircraft. I've seen testing periods that lasted weeks.

      So your claim is that Boeing either borrowed or stole the plane from the USAF to re-engineer the changes the USAF mad to it? Okay.

      --
      Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
    5. Re:Seattle - Boeing by dcw3 · · Score: 1

      I made no such statement, particularly in this instance because I'm not familiar with it other than through this article. I made a general case comment. OEM manufacturers don't steal or borrow. The military sends them back to the OEM for this kind of work. Get it? Okay?

      --
      Just another day in Paradise
  13. Russia Today by asjk · · Score: 1

    HeT! No

  14. How is this news!? by robert.piskule · · Score: 1

    Seriously, does /anyone/ do research anymore? I simply googled "Drone" and "Seattle", and the Seattle Times came up first and front row explaining that Trump is going to be there for golf. And here you all are speculating about secret test missions and North Korea? Has everybody gone insane? Here's one. I'll talk about Matt Daemon. He is was found in Boston this weekend. Perhaps he stealing classified military projects from MIT for the drone that's flying in Seattle.

    1. Re:How is this news!? by pslytely+psycho · · Score: 1

      Hahahaha, yeah, Trump golfing in a city where he only got eight percent of the vote. And Kim Jong Un took a stroll through Seoul this morning as well....

      Thanks, needed a good laugh after work today!

      --
      Donald Trump, on a crusade to make Nixon look respectable
    2. Re: How is this news!? by bestweasel · · Score: 2, Funny

      Requires the Bourne shell, of course.

    3. Re:How is this news!? by sysrammer · · Score: 1

      The only place Trump can stay among his 8% *is* at the golf course.

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
    4. Re: How is this news!? by unrtst · · Score: 1

      I prefer the sequel, Bourne Again Shell

  15. Re:Training for poor visability in an urban center by geekymachoman · · Score: 1

    As long as we're playing a guessing game, I say something like this:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

    Just wait 20 years for it to be added to the list.

  16. Phyrric victory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    My side won, and your side LOST.

    By "my side" do you mean Russia? Because this really isn't the victory US Republicans should have hoped for.

    1. Re:Phyrric victory by sysrammer · · Score: 1

      Without the data dumps and the constant trolling, there would have been no hedge to bet.

      --
      His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
  17. Something suspicious at the Boeing Defense ramp by Geodesy99 · · Score: 1

    Hmmmm ... Fake News'? Looks like Fake Houses at that location ... what are they trying to hide?
    http://www.seattletimes.com/bu...

  18. happened over Boston some 2-4 years ago by DulcetTone · · Score: 1

    a less-sophsticated effort was conducted south of Boston a few years ago. The aircraft was a Cessna-like plane with little to make it appear special, but its routes were so continuous that it attracted attention. Finally, the local authorities said it was collective data pertaining to law enforcement, and no other details. It was later explained more fully, and I think it was terror-related, but frankly I've forgotten the details.

    Can anyone nail this down and refresh my memory? A casual Google query wasn't easy to compose, apparently

    --
    tone
    1. Re:happened over Boston some 2-4 years ago by DulcetTone · · Score: 1

      Found it. It was part of the tail to the Tsarnayev story.

      https://www.boston.com/news/lo...

      --
      tone
  19. Re:Training for poor visability in an urban center by Arkh89 · · Score: 1

    USAF has used SWIR (Short Wave Infra-Red) sensors for a long time already.

  20. Blue Angles by darkain · · Score: 1

    The Blue Angles were also in Seattle this weekend for an air show, along with the week prior for practice. Any coincidence here?

    One possibility is that they were testing their tracking of F16s at lower altitudes like what the Blue Angles fly at.

    1. Re:Blue Angles by R3d+M3rcury · · Score: 3, Informative

      1. Blue Angels
      2. Blue Angels fly F-18s. Thunderbirds fly F-16s.

    2. Re:Blue Angles by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      Its for Seafair. All the interesting people will be looking up.

      The US will be looking down into any electronic devices they have powered on all the time.
      As a big flying Dirtbox collecting it all with all the new ELINT upgrades. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
      Any visiting dignitary and their entourage is going to have all their electronic devices collected on.
      Any protesters with working cell phones, wireless are going to be collected on.
      All voice prints are going to be collected on and a nice updated database created. Faces connected to cell phones use, to voiceprints that the USA can trust it collected.
      All interesting people in that part of the USA are going to be collected on.
      Anyone 4 hops from US mil/gov/clandestine/political staff in the area are going to be collected on.

      The US mil/gov fears meetings between visiting nations and their own US gov/staff/elite.
      Two people stopping to meet in a cafe or park bench? One is US mil/gov cell phone detected? Extra collection time.
      Extra software upgrades pushed out for interesting people and any of their electronics.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  21. Most Likely Scenario by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 4, Informative

    Boeing Field is where a lot of mods for military plane are done. Operational flights do not take place from Boeing Field. Most likly what's going on is the plane is undergoing mods and they are testing these mods in the local area.

    If this were an operational flight, more likly the plane would be down at McChord Field, where I work. We do have the 22 Special Forces here at McChord, but spy planes, usually the big 135 mods, fly in and out of here all the time. Sometimes they stay a few days, who knows what they are up to.

    It's interesting that someone spotted this, but the whole "spying on Seattle" thing is a joke. That's not what's happening.

    --
    If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    1. Re:Most Likely Scenario by jittles · · Score: 1

      Boeing Field is where a lot of mods for military plane are done. Operational flights do not take place from Boeing Field. Most likly what's going on is the plane is undergoing mods and they are testing these mods in the local area.

      If this were an operational flight, more likly the plane would be down at McChord Field, where I work. We do have the 22 Special Forces here at McChord, but spy planes, usually the big 135 mods, fly in and out of here all the time. Sometimes they stay a few days, who knows what they are up to.

      It's interesting that someone spotted this, but the whole "spying on Seattle" thing is a joke. That's not what's happening.

      I'd honestly be very surprised if Boeing did any upgrades on equipment right out of that particular facility, though I could be mistaken. I know that they modify Navy aircraft to the latest hardware revisions down in Florida. I've been to the facility personally. They modify certain Army helicopters in Arizona. They have facilities all over the US that specialize in specific aircraft and, to my knowledge, only do the commercial stuff out of WA.

    2. Re:Most Likely Scenario by supertall · · Score: 1

      Yes, Boeing's Military Flight Center is located at Boeing Field. I worked on their AEW&C (mini-AWACS for export) planes and that's where they did test flights.

    3. Re:Most Likely Scenario by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 1

      I'd honestly be very surprised if Boeing did any upgrades on equipment right out of that particular facility, though I could be mistaken. I know that they modify Navy aircraft to the latest hardware revisions down in Florida. I've been to the facility personally. They modify certain Army helicopters in Arizona. They have facilities all over the US that specialize in specific aircraft and, to my knowledge, only do the commercial stuff out of WA.

      First, yes, Boeing does work on the 135's at Boeing Field, drive by sometime.

      Second, this isn't a Boeing plane. There are other things going on there. It's named "Boeing Field", but there are a number of small and large companies operating out of Boeing Field.

      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
    4. Re:Most Likely Scenario by bhiestand · · Score: 1

      If this were an operational flight, more likly the plane would be down at McChord Field, where I work. We do have the 22 Special Forces here at McChord, but spy planes, usually the big 135 mods, fly in and out of here all the time. Sometimes they stay a few days, who knows what they are up to.

      Yes, perhaps you can help us learn more. Can you share more about their flight schedules and post pics (inside and outside if possible)? If posting online is too difficult, I'll mark the sidewalk with chalk so you know where to leave the info.

      --
      SWM seeks new sig for a brief fling
  22. N.Korea now a credible threat? by seoras · · Score: 1

    That was my first thought and the summary has " These include missile approach warning detectors ".
    Seattle supposedly came within range as of NK's previous missile test. The most recent one is thought to cover the whole of N.America.
    Then there was also the news headline last week of "We're not your enemy," by Rex Tillerson

  23. Probably just some atmospheric testing by BoogieChile · · Score: 1

    You know, with some perfectly harmless Bacillus globigii, or Serratia marcescens.

    Or whatever the current iterations of those two completely harmless bioweapons are.

    But, I jest, of course. The US government would never do that to its own citizens.

  24. Re: If you break the law, there's a price to pay. by PoopJuggler · · Score: 1

    He's just a dickhole who can't stand when people get treated with compassion, because his mommy didn't love him.

  25. Re:What's the problem? by execthis · · Score: 1

    Why worry if you have nothing to hide, Seattle?

    Eric, is that you?

  26. "very unique" by pr100 · · Score: 1

    Reminds me - one of the salesman at a place I used to work described one of our products as "almost totally unique" :/

  27. Seafair by Obliterous · · Score: 1

    Its Seafair weekend. LOTS of aircraft shows (including the Blue Angels), hydro racing, and a ton of other events.

    All of it adds up to LOTS of radar targets and a bodacious quantity of radio traffic with all of the spectators and their FRS/GMRS or licensed amateur radios. Most of the area repeaters have gotten a serious workout this weekend..

    I actually believe training mission.

  28. Didn't anybody spot the real mystery? by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1
    The plane flew 3 times from Boeing Field to Renton Muni. on Juky 24th and 25th, without flying back in between.

    Anyway, according to this https://medium.com/war-is-boring/the-u-s-air-forces-most-secretive-squadron-c6bacc520562

    Arguably the most secretive flying squadron in the whole U.S. Air Force owns a bunch of small Cessnas and medium-size transports that look pretty much exactly like civilian aircraft.

    But the 427th Special Operations Squadron’s mission is anything but mundane.

    ...

    The CN235, for one, “is believed to be used to insert [Special Forces] personnel at small airfields for covert counter-insurgency operations,” according to the Spyflight forum.

    So don't worry guys, they aren't spying on you, they just want to deploy Special Forces in your neighborhood.

    --
    Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
  29. Re:Messages from your (fake) leaders: by Plumpaquatsch · · Score: 1

    Not everything a liar says is a lie - but everything he says is intended to deceive you, even if it is technically the truth. And that's what RT's job is.

    --
    Of course news about a fake are Fake News.
  30. Stepping aside from all the frothing from BOTH. . by Salgak1 · · Score: 2

    . . . .sides here. The objective fact is that Donald Trump is the current President of the United States. No matter whether you love him or loathe him.

    Please try arguing your points rationally, without flinging epithets.

    Those of us who are thoroughly tired of BOTH sides demonizing each other would appreciate it. . . . .

    Thank you. . . .

    . . . the rest of us

  31. Very unique by Paradise+Pete · · Score: 2

    Sheesh, any time someone writes "begs the question" the peoples they go nuts, but write "very unique" and nobody bats an eye?

  32. Training mission? by Holi · · Score: 1

    So now the use training missions to spy on US Citizens?

    They are flying a a hi tech spy plane over a major US population center for training? Sounds questionable in it's legality.

    --
    Sorry, teleporters just kill you and then make a copy. A perfect, soul-less copy.
  33. Very unique by BenFenner · · Score: 1

    "A very unique..."

    Tell me how that works again?

  34. SPUD21, hee hee I get it by TheHawke · · Score: 1

    Big, lumpy, has eyes on it, a little grey though, but a potato nonetheless.

    --
    First rule of holes; When in one, stop digging.
  35. Resinated optics... by Type44Q · · Score: 1

    Resinated optics can be a bitch...

  36. Re:I'd be more impressed if it flew for days! by dcw3 · · Score: 1

    So, don't move next to a military airport? Got it, check.

    --
    Just another day in Paradise
  37. Re:It's hot in Seattle for once by dcw3 · · Score: 1

    Yeah, I'd be aiming for a Republican city...they have all the hot women.

    --
    Just another day in Paradise
  38. Not to worry by hAckz0r · · Score: 1

    If the Russians say its Ok then surely Trump must have approved it.
    /s

  39. Russia worried we are on to them by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

    Dude, we are not just in the building, but we're in the skies.

    Note the Seattle and King County councils and police always refer to their own surveillance. The feds, state, ports are all exempt and do in fact spy on you.

    Dirty little secret we tend not to admit.

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  40. Reciprocity... by bodog · · Score: 1

    Maybe Mr. Bezos should have thought more carefully about annoying the Commander in Chief...

  41. Re:Stepping aside from all the frothing from BOTH. by sysrammer · · Score: 1

    ditto

    --
    His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
  42. Re: If you break the law, there's a price to pay. by sysrammer · · Score: 1

    "So are you a federal power grab guy. Or a states rights guy? I suspect that answer changed about nine months ago."

    Yeah, I haven't heard the usual crowd chanting "states rights" for a while, now. It's almost like it's just something some people say when it's not their guys in charge.

    --
    His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
  43. Re:funny by sysrammer · · Score: 1

    Huh. Went to the google to prove you wrong. Sadly, I found that apparently none of the major US news media have picked this up yet.

    --
    His ignorance covered the whole earth like a blanket, and there was hardly a hole in it anywhere. - Mark Twain
  44. If the fake news is real.. by innovatetocreate · · Score: 1

    If the fake news is real, and the real news is fake - which real fake news should I reference as part of a potential upcoming reality check?