Military test flights — and flares — over Hood Canal beginning Monday

Published 11:34 am Sunday, September 27, 2009

HOOD CANAL — Starting Monday and continuing through Oct. 15, Boeing will conduct seven flight tests of a military airplane over Hood Canal.

The plane will release flares in flight and will be closely followed by a chase plane.

The flights are to test a self protection system aboard a Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, a 737 with a large rectangular antenna mounted on the upper fuselage and Royal Australian Air Force markings.

The chase plane is a T-33 jet that will videotape the tests for later analysis.

The testing will occur in the morning and afternoon.

The flares burn out within five seconds — but anyone observing the plane may see white light and some smoke, a normal part of the activity.