As I was heading across the Desert a few monthes back, at the height of the Iraqi war, and wanting to cut through R2515 around Edwards Air Force Base, I had the following exchange with Joshua Approach…
Joshua Approach, Musketeer 123 requesting transition through R2515.
Joshua: Restricted area currently off limits, but let me talk to them at Edwards.
(About 20 seconds of dead air and then Joshua came back to me.)
Joshua: Musketeer 123, Proceed through the restricted area as requested, they need some practice on slow targets.
Short Final…
Key Takeaways:
- A pilot requested and received permission to traverse a restricted military airspace (R2515) near Edwards Air Force Base during the Iraqi War.
- Initially, access was denied, but approval was granted after air traffic control consulted with personnel at Edwards AFB.
- Permission was given specifically so the base could use the pilot's slow-moving aircraft for "practice on slow targets."
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