³ÉÈËXÕ¾

DAVE ROSS

What was that military plane doing making lazy circles over Seattle?

Aug 7, 2017, 8:13 AM | Updated: 8:34 am

surveillance plane, military...

This Casa 235, used for transport by the U.S. military, is similar to the model seen flying above Seattle. (Department of Defense)

(Department of Defense)

There have been a lot of planes flying over Seattle recently, but one plane has drawn extra attention.

It’s a surveillance aircraft that Tyler Rogoway with The Warzone (Time. Inc) as “highly-modified for the special operations surveillance role.”

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…

You can see an close-up photo of the plane .

The plane, which goes by the call sign “SPUD21,” according to Rogoway, was flying over the Greater Seattle area and Portland for more than a week. It’s last flight departed and arrived at Boeing Field. The plane circled Seattle numerous times before landing — similar patterns are seen for most trips.

Rogoway told Seattle’s Morning News that the plane could have the capability of wide-area aerial surveillance. The kind of technology used to track enemies overseas for days on end.

Though Rogoway had trouble getting any kind of official statement about the plane, he was eventually told it was part of special operations command training. That’s about all anyone would tell him, however.

It’s unlikely the plane is meant to track anything nefarious in the area. Rogoway says the plane’s crew could be taking advantage of the Puget Sound region’s unique geography to train.

“Seattle is a great place to test this,” he said.

Listen to the entire interview here.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • to ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

Image: From left, Chris Sullivan, Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien stand together in the ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradi...

MyNorthwest Staff

Dave and Colleen’s final ‘SMN:’ ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ colleagues, politicians say their goodbyes

"Seattle's Morning News" on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio will soon have a new sound. On Thursday, Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien will host their last show together after a decade of co-hosting.

5 months ago

Classical literature on bookshelves. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images)...

Dave Ross

Dave Ross as you’ve never heard him before: ‘I like fat books and I can’t deny’

"This song, inspired by one of my first interviews when I started my talk show, which was Sir Mix-A-Lot," Dave Ross said.

5 months ago

national debt...

Dave Ross

‘Don’t cut a cent:’ Dave Ross on why the national debt never gets under control

The national debt now exceeds $36 trillion, and every president says it has to be under control. And yet, it never is.

6 months ago

voters hormone...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters weren’t just voting for change, they were voting for a hormone

The more I read the post-election analysis, the more I’m convinced voters weren’t just voting for a change – they were voting for a hormone.

6 months ago

ross o'brien - Seattle's Morning News...

Frank Sumrall

Dave Ross, Colleen O’Brien departing after co-hosting ‘Seattle’s Morning News’ for a decade

Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien, the co-hosts of "Seattle's Morning News" on ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Newsradio are both leaving the show.

6 months ago

election day...

Dave Ross

Dave Ross: Election Day and Decision Day are two separate things

Tomorrow is Election Day – that’s what the calendar says. But there are two problems with the term "Election Day."

7 months ago

What was that military plane doing making lazy circles over Seattle?