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The Michigan Air National Guard took off and landed several planes on a four-lane stretch of State Highway M-32 on Thursday, the first time a modern fighter jet intentionally landed on a U.S. civilian route, said the base of Selfridge.
Part of the M-32 near Alpena in the northwest of the state was closed for the training exercise, dubbed “Thunder Landing Zone (LZ)”.
“Thunder LZ gave pilots the opportunity to land in an austere environment to which they are not used,” said US Air Force Lt. Col. Brian Wyrzykowski, the mission commander, after the exercise. . “Our adversaries have advanced weapon systems and advanced technology that they can use against us, so we must be able to operate effectively in austere situations and acquire skills in those operations.”
THE AMERICAN NAVY QUICK REACTION FORCE DEPLOYED TWICE IN 30 DAYS TO DEFEND EMBASSIES
Four A-10 Thunderbolt II, which is a “simple, efficient and durable twin-engine jet aircraft” whose “short take-off and landing capability allows operations in and out of locations near the front lines”, took off and landed successfully on the highway.
Six crew members also took off and landed on a C-146 Wolfhound, which is a “twin-engine high-wing aircraft” designed to provide “flexible and responsive operational movement of small crews and cargo.”
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The Michigan Air National Guard has coordinated with local residents, utility companies, municipal emergency management agencies and others to make Thunder LZ a success.
“We have met these owners directly and the level of support we have received from direct interactions has been, in my opinion, unprecedented,” said Col. Jim Rossi, commander of the Alpena Combat Training Center on Thursday. “It’s such a patriotic group of Americans who are here, ready to support and as excited as we are to make this happen.”
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