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Cd’A Airport sees military exercises

KAYE THORNBRUGH | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 7 months AGO
by KAYE THORNBRUGH
Kaye Thornbrugh is a second-generation Kootenai County resident who has been with the Coeur d’Alene Press for six years. She primarily covers Kootenai County’s government, as well as law enforcement, the legal system and North Idaho College. | March 18, 2022 1:06 AM

HAYDEN — It’s a bird …

It’s a plane …

Several planes, actually. Big ones.

Readers shared with The Press videos of massive aircraft landing and taking off from the Coeur d’Alene Airport/Pappy Boyington Field. Videos have also spread widely on social media, along with questions.

Just what are those planes and what are they doing in North Idaho?

The planes are C-17 Globemaster IIIs, large military transport aircraft, based out of McChord Field in Pierce County, Wash.

The C-17s are engaged in standard Air Force training missions. They’re landing in order to perform simulated loading and unloading actions, then flying out again.

Airport Director Steven Kjergaard said Thursday these exercises happen two or three times a year.

“They enjoy coming to Coeur d’Alene because they can fly through some mountainous areas and come into airports that are smaller than they typically operate out of,” he said.

It’s unknown how long the exercises will last.

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