180th Fighter Wing plans functional check flight today

180th Fighter Wing training

The 180th Fighter Wing will conduct a functional check flight today (Oct. 19) between 2 and 3:30 p.m.

A functional check flight is conducted following heavy maintenance on the aircraft, putting the aircraft through strenuous testing and maneuvers to ensure all systems of the aircraft function properly and ensuring mission readiness, before putting the aircraft back into operational rotation.

While the actual flight will be conducted in, or around the Ottawa, Findlay and Lima areas, residents across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan may hear a sonic boom once supersonic speeds are reached.

These flights normally occur above an altitude of 30,000 feet, but area residents may still hear the sonic boom.

Although scheduled for this afternoon, the flight could be delayed or canceled due to weather.