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Military Aircraft Flights

Adirondack Park Region

While visiting the Adirondack Park or North Country region of New York State, it is not uncommon to see or hear military aircraft traveling to or from training areas, or conducting training in and around the park. If you have a question or concern about military flights in the Adirondacks, you can contact the 174th Attack Wing Public Affairs Office in the following ways:

Phone Contact the 174th ATKW by calling 1-800-228-3567.

Please have the following information on hand before you call. It will help the office address your issue:

  • A description of the aircraft, if possible
  • Where you were when the aircraft flew over
  • The time and date the aircraft flew over the area
  • A summary of your specific concern
Contact Form
The Adirodack Park

While high-performance military aircraft train over northern New York, the New York Air National Guard does not operate aircraft that may generate high noise levels or sonic booms.

Aircraft from the Vermont and Massachusetts Air National Guards do regularly operate over northern New York.

The 158th Fighter Wing (Vermont):

F35 Lighting II stealth fighter PhotoF35 Lighting II stealth Fighter

The 158th Fighter Wing of the Vermont Air National Guard, based at Burlington Air National Guard Base, operates the F-35 Lighting II stealth fighter that is designed to conduct both air superiority and ground attack missions.

Questions about the wing’s operations can be referred to the Vermont National Guard Public Affairs Office at 802-338-3000 extension 3 and then 1 for “questions, comments and concerns”

You can also use the online question submission form found here: https://vt.public.ng.mil/Contact-Us/ (Select “Public Affairs”)

The 104th Fighter Wing (Massachusetts):

F-15 Eagle PhotoF-15 Eagle

The 104th Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, based at Westfield-Barnes Regional Airport, operates the F-15C Eagle, an improved single-seat all-weather air superiority fighter.

Questions about the Wing’s operations can be referred to the 104th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office at 413-568-9151 extension 698-1299.

You can also use the question submission form here: https://www.104fw.ang.af.mil/Contact/ (Select “104th Fighter Wing Public Affairs”)

The following information may help you to better understand military flight operations in the Adirondack Park:

Air National Guard and Air Force pilots need to train consistently in order to effectively conduct air defense and ground attack missions. Pilots need to develop skills in air-to-air combat as well as the techniques involved in approaching a target at lower levels and then popping up to conduct an air to ground attack.

Aircraft from throughout the Northeast use an air-to-ground range at Fort Drum, N.Y., for this type of training and often times fly over the Adirondacks and North Country as they make their approaches. Low-level approaches negate enemy radar and anti-aircraft weapons.

Military aircraft cross the airspace over the Adirondacks and North Country using Military Training Routes. These are aerial corridors and are the result of a joint venture between the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense to provide for high-speed, low-altitude military activities.

Training in aerial combat normally takes place at higher altitudes. You may hear the aircraft but not see them.

The skills exercised here at home can save American lives overseas.

For more information about the Adirondack Park, visit the Adirondack Park Agency website.

© NYS DMNA: Military Aircraft Flights - Adirondack Park Region
URL: https://dmna.ny.gov/community/adk_aircraft/
Page Last Modified: 02 Dec 20