Thunder or Tactical? The Truth Behind Texarkana’s Friday “Sky Roar”

Did you hear a roar in the sky on Friday, January 9? Many Texarkana residents, including myself, thought it was the sound of thunder rolling.

What Was That Loud Roar in the Sky Over Texarkana on Friday?

I heard it several times in my neighborhood, so I went outside to see what it was, and to my surprise, it was a fast-moving military jet.

Several people started making comments on the neighborhood Facebook page, wondering what it was, and some said the jets were moving fast across the sky and were very loud.

After conducting some research, I discovered that the jets were Navy and Marine T-45C Goshawk jets, which are used for training exercises. The pilots were on their way to Lubbock, Texas, after leaving Naval Air Station Meridian, Mississippi, on Friday.

T-45C Goshawk Lands in Texarkana to Refuel

They landed at the Texarkana Regional Airport to refuel and to avoid storms near Lubbock. The jets were parked on an apron at the airport until the weather cleared, and they proceeded to their destination.

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About a  T-45C Goshawk Jet

The T-45C Goshawk is a tandem-seat carrier used by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps for training purposes for pilots and Naval Flight Officers. The pilot's advanced training exercises prepare them for carrier operations and tactical missions.

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The T-45C features a high-tech glass cockpit with digital displays designed with a tailhook and special state-of-the-art landing gear.

The jets are easy to handle, reliable in simulating real-world scenarios, and designed to help train pilots and prepare them for the harshest naval aviator environments on the frontlines, similar to F/A-18 training. The T-45C Goshawk is based on the British Aerospace Hawk and became operational in the 1990s.

I have to admit, when I saw these jets in the sky and the sound, it reminded me of the movie Top Gun.

What about you? Did you see or hear them?