Increased aircraft activity during ‘Northern Lightning’ exercise

By Patrick Lynn

The Wisconsin Air National Guard has scheduled flight training Aug. 12-23.

Residents throughout central and southern Wisconsin may hear increased aircraft traffic overhead daily through approximately 10 p.m. during the “Northern Lightning” training exercise.

It’s the second Northern Lightning training event this year, the first of which occurred in May.

According to a news release from the Air National Guard, a variety of the world’s most advanced aircraft including the F-35, F-22, F-16, EA-18, and C-130 will participate in the exercise.

Volk Field is a combat readiness training center for the Air National Guard, and home to the 128th Air Control Squadron and 126th Weather Flight at Camp Douglas in Juneau County.

Residents across the following counties can expect to see an increase in aircraft activity during the exercise: Adams, Brown, Calumet, Clark, Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Jackson, Juneau, Marathon, Marquette, Monroe, Outagamie, Portage, Sauk, Sheboygan, Trempealeau, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, and Wood.