148th Fighter Wing conducts night exercises

DULUTH, Minn. — The 148th Fighter Wing out of Duluth started conducting night exercises in the region Tuesday which are expected to run through Dec. 19.

“This period of night flying will allow the wing to conduct night air-to-air training and air-to-air refueling using night vision device,” a public affairs officer for the fighter wing said in a news release. “Night flying is required for pilot proficiency to train for future missions worldwide. Most night flying occurs in the winter months due to the earlier sunset times, enabling jets to land prior to midnight.”

Residents around Duluth and in the region may hear F-16s taking off, flying and landing during the late afternoon and evening, according to the release. All planes are expected to land again by 11:15 p.m.

Although most of the exercises are expected to take place over Northern Minnesota, officials with the fighter wing said there’s a chance that some of the planes may travel into the air space over Iron and Gogebic counties.

—Richard Jenkins