USAF Fighter Wing Asks Public to Stop Lasing Aircraft

A fighter wing at RAF Lakenheath sent out a request to the public to please stop lasing their aircraft. Mover, Gonky, and Wombat discuss! www.businessinsider.com/us-fi...
Join the channel to watch LIVE every Monday at 8PM ET or to see full episodes of The Mover and Gonky Show. You can also join in on LIVE Q&As with the Mover Mailbag: / @cwlemoine
Every Monday at 8PM ET, Mover (F-16, F/A-18, T-38, 737, helicopter pilot and wanna be race car driver) and Gonky (F/A-18, T-38, A320, dirt bike racer, and awesome dad) discuss everything from aviation to racing to life and anything in between. Send your topic ideas to cwlemoine at cwlemoine.com! Featuring Wombat (E-2, F/A-18, A320, Mustang Driver, and Bestselling Author).
www.cwlemoine.com
www.trmatson.com
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
Views presented are my own and do not represent the views of DoD or its Components.

[@MrTizzl]

In the early 2000’s a Belgian F-16 sqn had the same problem. The squadron set up a nice trap for this annoying behaviour. Had 1 F-16 fly high cap and another flying down low around the base. When the low Viper got lased he called in the location and the high flying Viper located the individual with the targeting pod. Base ops relayed this to the police and the suspect was apprehended. Nobody ever did it again.

[@verticalflyingb737]

My immature arse thought the higher Viper would drop a Paveway on the suspect

[@jameson1239]

@@verticalflyingb737paveway has to much potential for collateral damage and SDB would do fine

[@superfamilyallosauridae6505]

The only way to correctly handle it

[@niuniuhhh]

@@verticalflyingb737 GBU24

[@95Civic]

@@verticalflyingb737 not immature, but rational

[@TedConingsby]

As a respected and much loved Military Aviation channel, when we are live streaming, especially at RAF Lakenheath, WE ALWAYS state the house keeping rules such as do not block crash gates or emergency routes, do not use drones, take your litter home, do not use flash at night and WE STATE DO NOT USE LASER PENS AND LIGHTS at aircraft. I hope you do not see this as promoting my own channel, but would like to mention that it IS A PROBLEM at RAF LAKENHEATH and we as a channel do our very best to state this. Lasing pilots can be fatal, can cause crashes and hurt people. WE LOVE OUR AIR FORCE and do not want o see anyone causing harm to them. Thanks for the video and bringing this up. Thank you Sqn Ldr Ted Coningsby

[@SteveKasian]

"I can still ask where their parents are." Wombat - Always a couple steps ahead in any conversation. lol

[@emmakai2243]

I imagine these people have the same mindset of those that throw rocks from overpasses.

[@robd2184]

Spot on

[@cliffcampbell8827]

Exactly.

[@CSharpDCS]

total dumbasses

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

More likely, it's people who haven't been able to sleep because numpties are doing the wrong things at the wrong times in airspace that they're not supposed to be in. Rocks on overpasses is usually a spur of the moment type activity. Lasing requires planning, such as to buy the laser and learn how to aim it, and that will be occuring over all the time that they're being affected by the aircraft.

[@MeppyMan]

@@PiDsPagePrototypesthat sounds like you’re trying to justify it.

[@AmericanAbsolute]

Hey Sir,, collectively speaking...I'm stoked to see you addressing the issue of laser pointers targeting aircraft! I recall sharing a tweet about the USAF's plea to cease this hazardous activity, and I'm thrilled to see it resonated. It's unfortunate that some individuals tarnish the beauty of mach loops in the Nevada Sierra Mountains and other ranges by engaging in reckless stunts, treating it like some video game. Stricter consequences, including automatic jail time without plea bargaining, are essential to deter those who recklessly endanger lives. Publicizing such measures can serve as a strong warning to those who mistakenly view laser tracking as entertainment.

[@johnkelly90]

I can imagine Hot Shots. part 3 would have a fighter pilot turn his side view mirror to reflect the laser back into their own eyes.

[@andrewcopple7075]

We need a Hot Shots 3. I would also hope for it to modernize the comedy to 90s or 2000's at least. 1 & 2 haven't aged the best.

[@railfanningstuff8333]

I was in a star-watching group that would use lasers in 10 - 50mw power range to align their telescopes but they scheduled the event 5 weeks in advance and all aircraft were routed around that area of the sky for 3 hours.

[@cliffcampbell8827]

I've done some dumb things in my life too but I only endangered myself because of those dumb things. Never in my life did it cross my mind to attempt to blind a pilot...or anyone for that matter.

[@Veritas1992]

I fly single pilot 99% of the time and I’ve been lazed several times and it infuriates me every time it happens. It’s especially frustrating when I do pinpoint the location (particularly at my home base where I’m familiar) and neither the local PD or marshal’s office are not remotely interested in pursuing the offender.

[@scrimmo]

Why not go public with this information? Or file a complaint with FAA? Is that the American body who enforces regs?

[@Veritas1992]

@@scrimmo You can report lazing events to ATC as well which I do. It’s up to the local agencies if they want to do anything about it. I highly doubt the FAA cares unless it actually results in an accident. That’s just how this industry works unfortunately.

[@IlPinnacolo]

​@@scrimmothis is so common that it would be like going public with your bad customer service experience at McDonald's. I was lased 4 times in a row on my very first night flight during my private pilot training. It sucks but is very common.

[@scrimmo]

@@IlPinnacolo interesting. Doesn’t happen as often here (Australia). But high powered lasers are banned from import

[@MeppyMan]

@@scrimmoyeah was just thinking that as much as I hate the ban as it means I can’t do some fun physics experiments, it does mean it rarely happens here. It still happens but would be national news if it does.

[@C420sailor]

Mover, I pulled this off in Japan. We had a serial laser under the pattern in Atsugi. I went flying one night with a clear visor on my JHMCS to drop a quick designation, went to TV mode on the ATFLIR to sweeten it up, switched to IR to get some nice footage (and coordinates) of the guy on his balcony. Was able to get an address on Google Earth. Japanese police showed up, tossed his house, and found a green stargazing laser on a tripod. Arrested. Of note, LEPs only work against the wavelength they’re “tuned” for. Ours were for the wavelength of the IR targeting laser. They had no game against visible lasers. You can get LEPs that will filter out a green or red laser, whatever you want, but then you will also filter that color out completely. Bad, for obvious reasons…

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

Did you find out what motorvated his actions? Was it repeated noisy passes by aircraft outside of the boundaries and times allowed for that location?

[@MeppyMan]

@@PiDsPagePrototypesstarting to see a pattern to your comments on this topic.

[@RevFilmore]

Thanks to wasting my days playing DCS I understand all the techno babble. Why don't I do something useful with my time like learn a language or cooking, they won't let me near a real jet anyway :D

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

@@MeppyMan Good. Because the three hosts never bothered to try to address the motivations, only dismissed the actions and used knee-jerk responses. Sure, some of the occasions of lasing are dumb kids being idiots, but the time taken to obtain a laser to do this, especially in the way described on this comment thread, are premeditated and considered actions, which is almost always a response to the acts of those around them that are negatively impacting on the life of the person making the drastic response.

[@verticalflyingb737]

​@@PiDsPagePrototypesIf the plane route existed before you lived in the area, deal with it or move. If the plane route existed after you lived in the area, file complaints. Escalate to a lawsuit if required. It's not difficult to see that lasing planes doesn't solve the issue and instead spreads anger.

[@ilikegliding]

"I can still ask where their parents are.." LOL

[@user-pj3ch8ou2h]

Wombat is a funny dude😂

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

Equally as likely, is that it is the parents, because they're sick of the noise that keeps waking thier kids up at night.

[@StephenAngelico]

Once my brother and I were cycling home from work around midnight, and there was a police helicopter in the air over what you might call a "bad neighbourhood". As we were passing, I got lased by a green laser pointer by some dude at one of the houses we passed. At the time I had a mirror on my bike so very briefly the laser hit my face, but fortunately they couldn't track me enough to cause further harm. Idiots. Idiots for committing that crime, damned idiots for endangering the safety of innocent bystanders too. I can only presume they lased the chopper too, and it never happened again so I hope they got caught.

[@AlexRian_]

Laser safety glasses that protect against the most powerful green and blue lasers would also make green HUDs and Green instrument screens invisible.

[@daCHuNKY1]

"Mines were in my bag when I got lased!" xD

[@thepilotman5378]

Sounds like we need to develop ATG munitions that follow the Ground-based laser.. oh wait... Imagine a F-16 flies by and drops a precision guided message that says "MY EYE"

[@deanchivers6396]

Grew up near Lakenheath and Mildenhall, absolutey disgusted by this behaviour.

[@nathanwells4809]

I can say for certain the times I've been lased if i got my hands on who did it, the following news article would be a big deterrent

[@Sil3ntB87]

Parenting for most of the people that are mid 20s and younger, was being given an electronic device usually with a screen and then ignored and left with little to no guidance. It's a really sad and f'd up world now.

[@danh6720]

Yeah, I got lased in 2005 though. This isn't new or a "kids these days" problem.

[@alobowithadhd6191]

Lasing at aircraft is a federal crime. You can blind a pilot when doing this putting the lives of everyone in the air at risk.

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

When you sell powerful green lasers that can be seen for miles to an ignorant public, what do you think is going to happen? Anyone who is here at Mover's channel would NEVER lase an aircraft. So, who was your target audience for your PSA? The ignorant savages who are the losers doing this are not here. You should post your PSA on some channel that have known idiots as viewers. I can think of a dozen right off hand

[@rywright1]

This is a UK fighter wing, apparently. I assume they have similar laws, though.

[@Kungfookenny3008]

Thanks for repeating what was already said in the video.....

[@-108-]

@@Kungfookenny3008 ikr?

[@DeltaEntropy]

It’s important to note since the UK doesn’t have federal crimes.

[@captainsnarky6949]

Best thumbnail ever haha

[@ohioflyer_12]

I was lased at night flying from KSSI to KEZM and needless to say I was definitely disoriented. Luckily, I was with my flight instructor at the time. My best recommendation would be to turn off your lights for the minimum necessary time to leave the area.

[@myhemi5423]

Lol the Thumbnail is hilarious

[@bearmegmoo]

It’s criminal offence in Australia also.

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

I keep wondering, what about the hardware on Vic Pol32, the giant IR spotlights they point at people, and will show up real clear if you've got security cameras, is that bright enough to do damage to peoples eyes? They fly Pol32 and the fixed wing around at night with no navigation lights on, pretty sure that a violation of CASA's rules and regulations.

[@pistonburner6448]

The only way I can think of for them to tackle it is to set up dedicated sting operations with prepared helos/drones and ground forces in place to pounce when a lasing event happens.

[@pistonburner6448]

Then use the full extent of the law (won't happen in the UK...) to make examples out of them.

[@pistonburner6448]

That way you get the others to stop.

[@pistonburner6448]

I've seen in British cop TV shows how police helicopters have been able to immediately see the area where a laser is coming from, and they were able to quickly get into a position to pinpoint the people doing it. At least one case where airliners have first reported and then the police chopper flew into the area and saw them doing it again to another plane, thus catching them.

[@pistonburner6448]

In case someone is wondering why I've split this up into so many parts: it's because KZbin kept making my post disappear, apparently their censor-bots are particularly incompetent today or with this subject matter. I had to cut it into sections and try to see which sentences triggered the bots to censor it. I changed around some words...none of which were in any way bad words, just normal words like you see in the above posts...to finally get the comment to stay up. KZbin really sucks. BTW not only do they delete the posts, but they do it so you don't know they're deleted! The only way you can check if others see your post is by using the edit function to delete a period or something, then see when you post the edit if KZbin puts a message of "returned error" which means they've deleted it.

[@rashidulkarimrahat]

The thumbnail was spot on 😅

[@scrimmo]

It’s not just lack of consequences for actions, it is also the fact that we can, contrasted to any other point in our history, now easily obtain almost any modern technology on earth over the internet, and it can be manufactured affordably. Consequently, modern and powerful tech finds its use amongst civilians and criminals becomes more ubiquitous.

[@smugfrog8111]

You say this like it's a problem? Sounds like "Dangerous freedom" to me.

[@scrimmo]

@@smugfrog8111 I personally don’t really think of it as a problem. Unless people make it a problem by lasing aircraft lol. Also, I’m not American so I’m not obsessed with freedumb

[@smugfrog8111]

@@scrimmo That's such a strange and outright incomprehensible mindset to even use our liberty and human dignity as an insult... As opposed to what, exactly? There is liberty, or there is tyranny. There's no room for gray areas. It's a binary like sex.

[@MeppyMan]

@@smugfrog8111spoken like someone who doesn’t understand anything outside the US. You think you have absolute freedom and liberty?False dichotomy in your argument too.

[@smugfrog8111]

@@MeppyMan "spoken like someone who doesn’t understand anything outside the US." Spoken like an arrogant europoor no-gun, subject of their government. Why not enlighten me? " You think you have absolute freedom and liberty?" I live like I do. But your point is understood. Yes, America has fallen into tyranny and did a long time ago. Any gun law, drivers licensees, income tax, property tax, sales tax, thought crime type stuff on the horizon too. etc. "False dichotomy in your argument too." Nope. It's a fact. Weapons are the cornerstone of liberty. Without them you're not even close to considered a person by your own government. You're a number, a subject, you're their property. Lasers are a weapon, therefore they MUST remain fully unrestricted, unregulated, and unlicensed under 2A. Shipped to your door, no questions asked. That's what Thomas Jefferson called "Dangerous freedom" No other arguments will be accepted.

[@johnreed8844]

"I'm not the best pilot but I do a heck of a lot better when I can see." I felt that one.

[@aquaticllamas28]

I fly out of ABQ and have been lasered at least 8 times. I’m surprised they haven’t been lasered more

[@crazypetec-130fe7]

I tried the laser protective glasses a couple of times while I was in the Flight Engineer seat. I was glad I didn't have to land the plane wearing them.

[@MeppyMan]

And they won’t protect you from all laser light. They are usually tuned to the wavelength of the targeting pod laser. So you can avoid reflections etc.

[@RandomStuff-he7lu]

When I was a teenager I was in an astronomy group. That was back in the 1990s. One of the guys had a flashgun for a camera and since it was overcast we decided to put it through the telescope. We aimed at a hill on the horizon and let off the flashgun through the scope and lit up the entire hill. We thought that was pretty fun. So we then pointed it directly up and decided to light up the clouds. FLASH! And all we see for a split second is a plane flying through or just under the clouds. We decided right then that maybe we should stop. Can't imagine what the pilots thought. Probably thought aliens were beaming them up.

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

The duration and brightness, they would have thought it was a nearby lightning strike.

[@BBV1506]

I got lasered twice in one night in 2 locations along my route. I was in a Cessna 172. It disoriented my right seater. On the second one, I turned off the aircraft lights and the laser stopped. I reported both incidents to ATC provided approximate positions. They asked follow up questions, but I don’t think they were ever caught.

[@Zerobar78.]

Good point Wombat, there are still plenty of adults that still need their parents supervision.....🙄

[@sparrowlt]

The Thumbnail war has began

[@blindtrace7220]

Im under a Marine flyway or something. Ospreys, AH62 Chinooks etc fly LOW over my house. I get nervous just pointing my binoculars at them.

[@simongeorge2505]

It’s 48th FW at RAF Lakenheath. They have been on extended night ops with both F35A and F15E’s for several weeks. The laser came from Brandon directly under the R24 approach. I guess they were fed up of fat Amy’s noise! It is a crime in the UK

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

So basically, it was public response to guests in their country being wankers with all the late night noise.

[@Mors_Inimicis]

@@PiDsPagePrototypesI’d much rather tolerate noisy jets than uninvited , unidentifiable illegal trash arriving in dinghies daily on the south coast .

[@MeppyMan]

@@PiDsPagePrototypesyep I think it’s obvious you are probably someone who at the least supports this criminal behaviour or engages in it yourself. Did you get bored trying to run over kids on footpaths?

[@kessu83]

More like idiots who buy a house nearby an airport, race track or music venue cause its cheap ..then complain its noisy...

[@Mors_Inimicis]

@@PiDsPagePrototypes Guests in the country that are legally entitled to be here contributing vast sums to the U.K. economy rather than others being here uninvited and illegally and committing crimes and draining resources. (Let’s see how long this one lasts) 😉

[@jimmay1988]

I just got lazed last week in our UH-60. We have their house marked on our GPS and reported. Order laser resistant visors to have on hand, or simply view through the NVGs and optical devices.

[@RevFilmore]

I thought NVG, but won't these go all green when flooded with laser light?

[@-108-]

In the UK, it is most likely much more mosoleum "immigrants" who are doing it with nefarious intent, rather than regular UK residents. But back in the good ol' days, when I was a kid and before miniature lasers were on the market, I used to shine flashlights up toward aircraft just for the thrill of imagining the possibility that they might see it from all the way up there. It was a novelty and an exciting concept to me as a kid... that would pass a few seconds later. I'm sure lots of people do it with lasers for similar reasons, not realizing how bright it actually is that far away.

[@jerrybarrax5618]

Based on all the comments here about how widespread this problem is in the US, your assumption that this is being done by "mosoleum - aka Muslim" immigrants is ignorant bullpuckie.

[@-108-]

@@jerrybarrax5618 You're just living in a Woke fantasy world. The issue is far more widespread in the UK than the US, where the population is ~67M compared to ~330M in the US. Your argument is like complaining that the majority population of blacks in US prisons is due to systemic racism, whilst blacks make up only ~13% of the population, yet commit more than 60% of the violent crimes per capita.

[@-108-]

@@jerrybarrax5618 You're just living in a Woke fantasy world. The issue is far more widespread in the UK than the US, where the population is ~67M compared to ~330M in the US. Your argument is like complaining that the majority population of blks in US prisons is due to systemic racism, whilst blks make up only ~13% of the population, yet commit more than 60% of the violent crimes per capita.

[@-108-]

@@jerrybarrax5618 You're just living in a W(0)ke fantasy world. The issue is far more widespread in the UK than the US, where the population is ~67M compared to ~330M in the US. Your argument is like complaining that the majority population of blks in US prisons is due to systemic ra(ism, whilst blks make up only ~13% of the population, yet commit more than 60% of the violent crimes per capita.

[@SteveKasian]

@@jerrybarrax5618 I didn't read any assumptions. They said 'likely', they didn't assume anything. So the only ignorance is coming from you, for misreading or misinterpreting a comment.

[@Gr8fulbluz]

I got lased going into KDCA at night in excess of ten years ago. It hurt. I could still see but it hurt. Also glad my FO ducked and avoided it on his side. It was his leg.

[@ShaunRF]

Don’t lase me bro!

[@seanlong9049]

Last time I got lased it was for over minute while on final at LAX, and it was incredibly distracting in a critical phase of flight. The flight conditions were challenging (night, strong tailwinds shifting to headwind on short final, etc) and from about 5nm prior to the final approach fix until just inside the final approach fix, I got nailed by a very strong (no way it was legal) green laser. I already had my hands full slowing to configure and suddenly I could only use one hand to fly, since my other hand was busy shielding my face from the laser. Thankfully the other pilot I was with was shielded from the laser and we were able to safely transfer control from me to him. Interestingly, a year or so later they actually caught someone doing the same thing. No word about what they did to him but whether he understood it or not, he was in fact attempting to kill several airliners full of people. Knowing how California "justice" works, they probably just let him go so he could do it again.

[@countvonaltibar236]

I’ve had this so many times, standard SOP seat low as possible it’s almost like sitting on the floor, sun visor down and in direction of laser attack whilst other pilot reports to ATC. There’s just eejits out there, we have to accept it and get on with it. So hard to stop someone using these pen size devices. Worst I’ve had was being hit at 8000ft over Cyprus but laser alley is definitely going into Cairo.

[@jerrybarrax5618]

Very informative. I've heard of people lasing aircraft, but I was clueless as to the motive. I wonder is most people doing this are aware of the risk to the pilot's eyesight.

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

This video didn't deal with the motives, just dismissed the activity as irresponsible, and never asked why the people doing it were motivated to.

[@MeppyMan]

@@PiDsPagePrototypesthere is no motive that would come close to legitimising this behaviour. It’s like saying it’s ok to shoot at people that have cars, even though you might hit them kids or they might crash into someone else. You need to get professional help.

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

@@MeppyMan I have never said that it was okay, I've asked what it was these people were responding too, and pointed out the hosts never asked or dealt with the underlying issues. If you think that me asking such questions is legitimizing it, you're the one in need of help, but from a languages teacher.

[@MeppyMan]

@@PiDsPagePrototypes deflection isn’t going to work. I come from a science and aviation background. It’s abundantly clear you aren’t just “asking questions”. There is motive behind your words.

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

@@MeppyMan My motive, is to find what cause the people to behave in the way they did, and see if that situation has a root cause that needs to be dealt with, something your science background should have you asking about too.

[@dartheveloper5449]

everyone tough when pointing lasers at fighters but no one acts tough when the fighter points a laser at you

[@bryanbishop2377]

Laser protective eye wear on take off and landing. Laser protective coating on cockpit windows and canopies...

[@kennyb7883]

We get lased all the time in Nashville more so I think cause we're flying around slow and low in blackhawks, we always get a gridlock best we can to report it but I don't think they ever catch anyone.

[@pollylewis9611]

Like you mention what is the reason for lasing other than stupidity, wish these people could get caught and justice served.

[@killman369547]

We all do, but it's not like the police can teleport. by the time they arrive the suspect is usually long gone.

[@_cyantist]

does the F-15 have a laser warning system?

[@cellokid5104]

A what?

[@NCSiebertdesign]

Modern combat helicopter does. Jets are too fast against laser guided missiles.

[@UsmanSiddiq1]

They have protection against IR targeting lasers but have nothing against the "Visible spectrum". My problem with this, what if they laser someone and he "accidentally" fired the gun at them.....

[@trollmastermike52845]

​@@NCSiebertdesignnah ah, bet a su25 get killed by a hellfire or brimstone maybe Excalibur

[@NCSiebertdesign]

@@trollmastermike52845 they can be if they're stationary. 😉 But the discussion is about whether modern jets have laser warning sensor. Answers is no due to redundancy.

[@brianwright9514]

Could they put a protective filter on the cockpit glass?

[@MeppyMan]

That won’t work neither will the glasses that they discussed. Laser protection eyewear is tuned to very specific frequencies/ wavelengths. What works for a green laser won’t work for blue etc. also they cut out a lot of the light so it’s hard to see with them on. The only way to stop this would be some kind of automated detection system that can pinpoint the location and lots of high profile prosecutions.

[@EricaCalman]

It may well be laser safety glasses. The issue of course is that they block out a fair bit of visible light and thus impede your vision, and in addition any given set of laser goggles only protects against a certain range of laser wavelengths. It might have to become standard practice to be wearing goggles that block all infrared wavelengths (which is where a lot of high power lasers operate) but most of these people are just using medium power consumer grade lasers most of which are red or green so unless you want to view the cockpit through a really dim blue tint all the time there's no real solution. In fact there are plenty of blue lasers too it's just more expensive to get a decently high powered one but if everybody starts wearing band-pass blue filter goggles the meta will evolve and the jerk wads will all get blue lasers. This is why we can't have nice things.

[@Plydrms]

a bit off topic, but did Wags ever get to tour the Delta simulators? Also, was wondering if Gonky flies for a major airline as well...love the content, thanks

[@iceberg0311]

I was once sent on a call to find someone pointing a laser at an aircraft somewhere in the county. They gave a fairly precise location, but I wasn't able to find them. I was disappointed. I'm unsure whether the pilots were wrong about where it was coming from or if the criminal stopped before I could get there.

[@--Luci--]

Mover is Sierra Hotel ❤

[@Orvulum]

How come Wombat always looks like he's just putting up with you guys? 🤠

[@RevFilmore]

Sound more than look :D

[@Jlee-zd1ch]

They probably think that the laser will set off some kind of alarm or something in the cockpit

[@logicplague]

The funniest thing about this is the same reason I don't use lasers on my weapons, they reveal your location EASILY. That's why the military uses IR lasers that are only visible through night vision. Also, these aren't cat toy lasers, they are EXTREMELY DANGEROUS and can cause IMMEDIATE BLINDNESS. If the beam is visible, you're into the 1W range, for reference the limit for commercial pointers is 5mW(5/1000 of a watt), anything higher causes damage. Also, a note on laser protection, the problem is eye protection is tailored for each wavelength. For example, eye pro for a green laser won't necessarily work with blue or red.

[@daveone191]

In the UK pointing a laser at an aircraft is a criminal offence with up to 5 years in jail and unlimited fines. I fly a light aircraft and I've been lased on my 3rd solo night circuit. Not fun!

[@tomte47]

I think informing in schools etc would get rid of a lot of these. I can totally see me or my friends doing this when we were kids if we had gotten hold of a laser. "Hey do you think the laser can reach all the way to that aircraft ?"....

[@markoconnell804]

If it is during Christmas time could it be the decorations doing it?

[@paulmurgatroyd6372]

They're just helping you to check your laser detection equipment.

[@Ariandi737]

What do you think if fighter jet have leg, (macross Valkyrie)

[@blackhawku]

This was a problem when i was stationed at Fort Riley Kansas at 1st combat aviation brigade. The people was bad about shooting lazer at the UH60 CH47 OH58 never really heard anything from the Apache guys!

[@skyraider87]

Wonder why you haven't heard Apache pilots talking about being lased lol

[@blackhawku]

I didn’t work on that side of the airfield they had they own little thing going!

[@skyraider87]

@@blackhawku nah, I'd like to think that even people stupid enough to lase military aircraft would be smart enough to not lase an attack helicopter

[@blackhawku]

@@skyraider87 I’m sure they did just like the other guys can’t tell ya they did if I never work with any of the Apache guys! Geez what you want me to say! Ok Apache gunships were lazed! You happy now?!

[@skyraider87]

@@blackhawku I know they were, I'm just trying to have some faith in humanity

[@spacecadet60]

And what usually happens when you ask someone to stop doing something? I have found that many just redouble their efforts. 🤦

[@dswiger]

Isn't there a coating or "shield" to disperse lasing?

[@fox_the_apprentice]

Yes, frosted or tinted glass. It disperses visible light - which is exactly what you *don't* want to put on things that you need to be able to see through as clearly as possible!

[@Zepplin559]

It’s not just USAF jets - PLEASE STOP LAZING AIRCRAFT, PERIOD!!! I got lazed trying to land in Indianapolis!

[@gregorymaupin6388]

While entirely illegal, why are people so stupid as the aircraft could hit them or everyone nearby.

[@NCSiebertdesign]

As someone pointed out in this comment. It's essentially the same kind of malice idiots who throws stones/rocks over the highway bridge.

[@dougrobinson8602]

People's ignorance and lack of concern for others never ceases to amaze me. Another weird thing is that during the holiday season, those projectors that put green and red dots all over the front of your house are visible for many miles if they spread past the structure of your house. It's pretty distracting, but the intensity is nothing compared to some of the laser pointers out there, many of which are needlessly powerful.

[@Jeff55369]

I worked with a kid who shot a nail into his leg because he was screwing around. People are often thoughtless. But, given the state of the world... it couldn't certainly be terroristic acts as well.

[@x2100]

2:22 sadly yes

[@x2100]

No damn common sense and then they get mad when say something where they go “you think you’re so smart” 😂🙈

[@LostCloudx4]

Any kind of basic laser pointer etc isn't going to hurt anyone flicking it at plane etc. However.... obviously even if a car was passing and you shine into the drivers eyes there's 1-5 sec of distraction and vision issue that could cause a crash.

[@LostAnFound]

It definitely exposes a vunerability in the military aircraft. If it becomes a worse issue, they may have to require one of the two commercial pilots to wear laser eye protection when they drop below a certain altitude on approach

[@tbuff91]

That's a hefty Felony charge

[@sithticklefingers7255]

I’d expect this in Portland, but not from Lakenheath.

[@bob_mosavo]

Lasering a fighter jet seems like an unhealthy thing to do❗ Isn't the person pointing a laser at a fighter jet painting himself or herself for a missile strike⁉

[@sparrowlt]

if you know the laser freq of the pointer wich is not gonna be in the range used by military guiding lasers (wich is in a freq beyond the eye vision range)

[@killman369547]

No. The computers in modern fighter jets are quite smart when it comes to target distinction. The jet may detect the laser it won't consider it a threat because civilian lasers use different light frequencies and are much lower power than military lasers.

[@Wrang15]

Kids around me shoot pellet guns at cars and EMS... they keep arresting them. But it keeps going on.

[@yurinator4411]

Their parents work at the laser pointer factory.

[@RayHardman7567]

Isn't it illegal to point a laser at an aircraft? Didn't it cause several crashes in the 80's and 90's?

[@CAL1MBO]

No. In the 80s and 90s every pilot wore aviator shades. Blinding the offenders with coolness.

[@RayHardman7567]

@@CAL1MBO ha. Probably true. But I meant commercial flights, not military aircraft.

[@NCSiebertdesign]

Such laser weren't even available to public in 80's or 90's. It became popular due to dvd and bluray laser technology that spilled over into commercialised powerful handheld lasers.

[@RayHardman7567]

@@NCSiebertdesign eh, I know nothing about that. I just know what the history? channel shows me.

[@swisstestpilot]

We have this here in Switzerland from time to time also. Most of the time the people who do this are just stupid and think this is coll, but we /the police got also some who did this because they are upsad because of the noise of the aircraft. A few people did this near Zurich Airport against airliner, or against night fling militaryhelicopters and even against civilian SAR/medical helicopters.. if thees people get catch they get at minimum a fine, if they hurt a pilot's eye they will go to jail

[@Parawingdelta2]

If they're not already a prohibited weapon, then they should be. Long term imprisonment for possession.

[@technicalfool]

You know, firing a laser at a flying weapon system equipped with guided missiles seems like a really smart idea. I should try that if I ever fancy ending myself in spectacular fashion. More seriously though, these guys have some heavy duty stuff on board. Could they not use it to pinpoint a laser source's position and feed it to law enforcement in like half a second?

[@rbrtck]

If there is a way to defend against lasers intended to blind, then it should be developed and fielded ASAP, because the Chinese military, for one, seem pretty keen on blinding their enemies with lasers.

[@scythelord]

They need to have lasers on the planes that can point back at another laser source. Blind them back.

[@Orvulum]

Maybe we should start licensing those really powerful lasers that available via retail now? To create a cost hurdle if nothing else. Or enforcing sale restrictions if they already exist? One has to wonder what practical use a 7-Watt hand held laser might have... From what I understand, they're just a novelty, and a potentially very dangerous one at that. A laser with that kind of power can instantly and permanently blind you! In my humble opinion, allowing the sale of lasers with than kind of power output through on-line retail outlets is insane!

[@thedausthed]

There is already laws in place to limit the strength of lasers that can be sold to the public, the problem is that sellers on eBay and the like lie about how powerful they are to get around the law.

[@thekamotodragon]

Look this is just a result of a lot of the public being brainwashed into not respecting military members anymore... or at least protester type people. I personally still know a ton of people in my areas that respect them and being next to an AFB, we have f-22s flying overhead all the time. No one here would dare do that, but in places on like the west coast or something, where a more anti-military slant exists, i could see that being a different story. That being said, i know you guys were just joking, but the response shouldn't be to use the plane's weapons or laser back on the people, because then that justifies their hate. Its like how our current pres said that "you'd need f-16s to take on the federal gov" recently, that's a super scary statement because he's implying he'd use these fighter jets on the American people.

[@mikel.dishman4031]

Who are the ones being caught doing the lasing

[@timgosling6189]

Never lase someone packing an NdYAG designed to work at several miles at 1064nm. It can spoil your whole day 😳

[@stug77]

I mean, it could just be kids with laser pointers pointing at things. You guys may be overthinking this a little. The general public doesn't think that laser pointers could be dangerous in any way. You can hardly get mad at them for waving it around like a pair of binoculars.

[@hansigasus2006]

Lasing a Military aircraft might not be the smartest stuff. It is not like an airliner, they might have a TGP or other euqipment on board that make it easy to find out who did it and if they find out or worse they find out and someone got hurt because of ur laser, during landing or manouvers you go to jail for a small 30 sec joke. If you wanne play with a strong laser pop some baloons with it, thats more fun.

[@Unsound427]

They should add some absorbing stuff like in laser goggles to all windows and canopies in production process not only to mil aircrafts but civilian too... btw allways wandering what those golden tint canopies do, and whats the story behind mirror covered fighters (F22?) bet its classified but maybe you guys can shine a little light on that or just speculate some time..

[@RobertHancock1]

The coating on the F22 canopy is to block radar from entering the cockpit and bouncing off surfaces inside which would increase the RCS.

[@Crfracer414]

Just trying to help you guys with your training while your out burning fuel. Just don't put the IR laser on the apache they will come straight to you, their is no hiding.

[@rocketcityastro]

some astronomy people use lasers to help point there telescopes. as far a kids doing it if you tell a kid not to do something it just makes them want to do it. there are people who have been caught and arrested for this.

[@corvanphoenix]

🇨🇳 lased an 🇦🇺 RAAF P-8 over international waters north of Australia. We were mad as fuck.

[@pauledwards5573]

It's hard to imagine people being so stupid to do things like this! Lakenheath is only one of many USAF airbase dating back to ww2. Including Mildenhall and Bentwaters. And the people who are doing this are well aware of what they're doing. That and flying drones in classified areas.

[@Wannes_]

Lase 'm back ...

[@dougstitt1652]

it is probably the kids that weren't spanked and told no . Like wombat said i to have done a lot of dumb things but lasing a plane .

[@DeerLodgeBlog]

I just don't get how people aren't aware of even the most basic of things. Lasers are powerful...Don't point them at people. It's not not a hard concept, but for some, it seems it's impossible.

[@NuclearFalcon146]

I'm not sure how you would do this but it would make sense to have the visor or canopy have some kind of protection against lasers. I think adversaries may resort to using them in this way. Also the right to self-defense dictates that they should be able to slew their TPOD to them and laser them right back. Tactically a feature that lets a pilot cue the pod to a laser warning receiver ping makes sense anyways as there are a few SHORADs that use laser guidance, such as the 9M337 Sosna-R. Again, the right to self-defense should allow aircrews to respond to anyone pointing a laser at them by firing their laser designator back at them in turn. As far as I am concerned if you point a laser at an asset then you become a combatant and thus a legal military target. Furthermore, ignorance is no defense.

[@deth3021]

Shouldn't they be developing a solution to lasers? Or are they hoping the enemy won't use them?

[@shagrat47]

It's not people not realizing the lives they put at risk, but not remotely caring about that. Or worse doing these things deliberately, fully aware of the risks. Maybe if the WSO could return the favor with the TGP laser in "self-defense", that might change...😇

[@user-fj8id4mn9q]

A Strike Eagle can see a long way. Maybe they should ID and orbit from a distance and work with the British MOD. Once they are found and locked up they aren’t running away so let the MOD get them, do that once or twice and it should stop the idiot ones at least.

[@TheRealVenom87]

Some think they are lasing ufos the videos are all over the internet.some think everything they see in the sky is ufos and for some reason they think lasing at them is some kind of good idea.