Fighter Jets To Operate ‘Outside Usual Flying Window’ Across Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin This Week

The 148th Fighter Wing put out an alert on Monday morning to alert people across the Northland to some flying activities "outside of the usual flying window" over the next couple of days.

The Minnesota Air National Guard unit based in Duluth highlighted in a social media post on Monday morning that they will be conducting some night flying operations over the next couple of evenings, from December 8 through December 10, 2025.

Depending on what part of the Northland you live in, this means something different for you.

For people who live near the Duluth International Airport, the 148th says you might hear some of their F-16 Fighting Falcons taking off and landing in the late afternoon and evening hours of December 8, 9, and 10.

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In areas beyond Duluth across the Northland, the 148th says you may hear and see what they call "additional flying activities outside of our 'usual' flying window" across Northern Minnesota, Northern Wisconsin, and parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The air base says night flying should conclude each evening by 10:30 pm, so any potential sound disturbances shouldn't be too late into the night.

The reason for night flying exercises like those scheduled for the beginning of this week, according to the 148th, is a crucial part of being mission-ready. They explain this type of training "ensures our pilots remain proficient in night and low-visibility operations, sustaining mission readiness anytime, anywhere."

Their desire to practice low-visibility flying should come easily, as chances of snow on Monday and Tuesday night will provide an extra weather-related element to their training across parts of the region. Wednesday night looks to be a clearer evening.