I think the FBI is flying over my house

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn)
03/21/2018 at 00:38 • Filed to: None

Which really isn’t surprising, considering the fact that we have a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! on the loose. My neighbor texted me earlier this evening that he saw numerous small aircraft circling the area. When I got home, I saw at least four aircraft (navigation lights only, so I can’t tell type) flying large circles over north Austin. None of them show up on FlightRadar24 or FlightAware. I’m kind of intrigued as to what sort of surveillance they are carrying out in the dark, and why they are interested in my part of town. I will definitely take a look for them in the morning.

DISCUSSION (21)

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > ttyymmnn
03/21/2018 at 00:59

The frequency of the bombings is both frightning and idiotic. This person is literally asking to be caught.

ttyymmnn > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
03/21/2018 at 01:04

The move to sending bombs via FedEx certainly seems to provide an easy way for the Feds to collect evidence. Officials made a big deal early on about how the package bombs had not been delivered by any company like FedEx, UPS or USPS. So, if somebody got a box from FedEx, they would assume it’s okay to open. The bad guy’s definitely following the news coverage, and I’m sure the cops know more than they are telling the public. I just hope they catch this asshole soon.

Stef Schrader > ttyymmnn
03/21/2018 at 01:30

Yeeeeeeeeah this crap is terrifying. A bunch of folks seem to think he’s making a circle around town for some reason, so central/west or northwest might be next under that theory. Either that or maybe it’s based on the address of the undelivered FedEx packages? Who knows. I just hope they catch this cowardly fartknocker soon.

Berang > ttyymmnn
03/21/2018 at 02:12

I’ve shopped at the Goodwill on Brodie lane a few times (it’s where I got my aquarium, years ago) - although now they’re saying that was an unrelated incident.

WilliamsSW > ttyymmnn
03/21/2018 at 06:46

Sounds like it’s over now!

ttyymmnn > WilliamsSW
03/21/2018 at 07:21

Thank the lord. This all went down a few miles from my house. Now that he’s dead, though, we may never know why he did it.

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > ttyymmnn
03/21/2018 at 08:06

2 hours later... boom. Got’em.

wafflesnfalafel > ttyymmnn
03/21/2018 at 09:45

I’m curious just what they can pick up with those planes, (wonder if they can scan for license plates at that distance?) Doesn’t look like we know much yet other than they tracked him, SWAT moved in and he blew up...

WilliamsSW > ttyymmnn
03/21/2018 at 09:50

Yeah, I always would rather that they capture him alive, not because I want him around, but so that the authorities can learn more about motives and tactics for future use.

But just glad it’s over, and the people of Austin can breathe a little easier - -though there may be a package or two still out there, unfortunately.

ttyymmnn > wafflesnfalafel
03/21/2018 at 12:01

I have no idea what they can scan with those planes, and I’m sure they don’t want you to know, either. I doubt they can scan plates, but I would be willing to bet that it was a plate scanner that found the car at an area hotel.

ttyymmnn > OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars
03/21/2018 at 12:01

Boom indeed. I bet it was a mess inside that car.

ttyymmnn > Stef Schrader
03/21/2018 at 12:05

Now that we know where he lived (Pflugerville, and I’m in Wells Branch, so not that far), I wonder if he didn’t place any bombs up here because it was close to where he lived. Local news also posted pictures of him dropping off the packages at the FedEx store in Sunset Valley. It looks like he was wearing gloves, along with a short-sleeved shirt and short pants. With all that was going on, don’t you think that might have tipped off the cashier at the FedEx store?

OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars > ttyymmnn
03/21/2018 at 12:07

*Checks CoPart.com BioHazard Section near Austin*

Stef Schrader > ttyymmnn
03/21/2018 at 15:45

Man, that whole thing is so weird. Folks wear all kinds of random stuff when they come in a store, though, so gloves alone probably wouldn’t have been a red flag.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > ttyymmnn
03/21/2018 at 16:22

Maybe not FBI, but DEA. Far as capabilities of their gear, that looks like a garden-variety FLIR ball which is good for sussing out bad guys at night. Not reading plates from 3,000ft.

https://www.mintpressnews.com/dea-operating-surveillance-aircraft-fleet-over-u-s-and-abroad/209904/

ttyymmnn > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
03/21/2018 at 16:27

That’s not my picture, just something I grabbed off the internet. Can they even read plates from that far up? I figured they just trolled the area with a plate scanner on a car.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > ttyymmnn
03/21/2018 at 16:45

My local PD has a few cars with the plate scanners, but I don’t think they look for anything other than expired registrations or possibly warrants. Will have to ask my pal, a Sgt on my town’s PD. FLIR doesn’t have plate-reading capability, but it can track bad guys in the dark (infrared). Often times it’s just one or two guys orbiting with binocs talking to ground units. They might have StingRay for cellphone suveillance, but I don’t know if those are normally installed in aircraft.

ttyymmnn > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
03/21/2018 at 16:47

Last night it was at least 4 a/c, and I think at least one drone. They had a lot of assets in the air looking for this guy. They orbited the spot for hours. Planes were also very quiet.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > ttyymmnn
03/21/2018 at 16:51

4 aircraft? Musta been one bad dude Far as the noise goes, they’re pretty hard to hear at 1,000ft+ esp with the power pulled back. Years ago I volunteered to fly the local PD around to suss out a suspected local druggie. We just orbited at 1500ft poking around at 90kts and the guys on the ground never noticed.

ttyymmnn > Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom
03/21/2018 at 16:54

There are lots of sites that talk about FBI aerial surveillance. Many say that the a/c have additional mufflers on them. I wouldn’t know about that, but seriously, you just couldn’t hear them.

Maybe you would know this: None of the a/c showed up on FlightRadar24 or FlightAware. How does it work that they shut that info off for us ground hounds? I have only a vague understanding of ADS-B or whatever is used.

Turbineguy: Nom de Zoom > ttyymmnn
03/21/2018 at 17:07

I suppose it’s possible to mount extra muffs to quiet the exhaust but I’ve never seen a setup like that on a piston a/c.

Often times business jet operators block their tail numbers for privacy or competitive reasons. FlightAware, Passur, FlightRadar24 and others participate in the agreement to withhold information on blocked aircraft, but from what I’ve read it’s not hard to build a $100 receiver that will pick up a Mode-S or ADS-B Out signal.