[Scan-DC] Article from 1987 about "mystery plane" circling Fairfax

[Albert LaFrance]

Thanks, David! I like the quote "It probably will be there for a while".  He
sure got that right; I'd say 23 years counts as "a while"!

Albert


-----Original Message-----
From: scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David Schoenberger
Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 10:59 AM
To: Albert LaFrance
Cc: scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Article from 1987 about "mystery plane" circling
Fairfax

Here's the full text of that article.

Dave

FAIRFAX CITY ABUZZ OVER NIGHTLY VISITS OF MYSTERY PLANE
Washington Post - Friday, August 28, 1987
Author: Patricia Davis ; John F. Harris , Washington Post Staff Writers
It's a bird, it's a *plane* , it's . . . it's a *plane* , all right, but
nobody's saying why it's circling over *Fairfax* City every night.

Residents in the Halemhurst area of *Fairfax* City say that for the last
three weeks or so a single-engine *plane* , possibly operated by a
government agency on a surveillance mission, has been flying a tight circle
about 1,000 feet above their neighborhood.

"It's like a mosquito *buzzing* in your ear all night long," said Harry
Fitzwater. "I don't know what the hell is going on up there."

Fitzwater said when his annoyance reached a peak he called the control tower
at Dulles International Airport to inquire about the mysterious *plane* . He
said he was told the *plane* belonged to a government agency -- and that no
more information could be released.

Numerous agencies contacted yesterday added to the mystery with a chorus of
no comments.

"All I can say is . . . I can't say anything about it," said Federal
Aviation Administration spokesman Fred Farrar.

The FBI: "My comment is 'no comment,' " said special agent James E. Mull.

The Drug Enforcement Administration: "I doubt it's us. We're better than
that -- we wouldn't be seen," said special agent Robert O'Leary.

Art Harrison, air traffic manager at the Dulles Control Tower said, "It
probably will be there for a while." So he knows about the *plane* ?
"Perhaps."

*Fairfax* City Police Department: "We are aware of it, but it is a matter I
could not discuss," said Capt. John J. Skinner.

Fitzwater, who lives at 4124 Orchard Dr., says he knows more about the *
plane* than he cares to. He notices it mostly between 8 p.m. and midnight.

But not everyone is complaining. Fitzwater's neighbor, Lois Rusche, said her
family has been more intrigued than annoyed.

She said they first noticed the *plane* circling low one evening a few weeks
ago when they were swimming in their pool. "We have lights on the pool, and
I said, 'Gosh, I hope this guy doesn't think it's an airstrip.'

On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 10:47 AM, Albert LaFrance <
albert.lafrance at coldwar-c4i.net> wrote:

> As a matter of fact, he's up there right now, over Falls Church!
>
>
>
>
>
> From: Albert LaFrance [mailto:albert.lafrance at coldwar-c4i.net]
> Sent: Friday, September 10, 2010 10:32 AM
> To: 'scan-dc at mailman.qth.net'
> Subject: Article from 1987 about "mystery plane" circling Fairfax
>
>
>
> I finally found a reference to the article I remembered from long ago,
> about
> (presumably) the FBI aircraft we're seeing so often.  It's just an excerpt
> on a pay site, but it gives the source: The Washington Post, August 28,
> 1987:     http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1340155.html
>
>
>
> Albert
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Scan-DC mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
______________________________________________________________
Scan-DC mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/scan-dc
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html