So something happened this weekend and I'm not sure if it's a good thing, or if it's rather sad.

 

I flew to Atlanta over the weekend, and on the flight down I looked up from my book and out the window -just in time- to see another plane pass by us so close I could see the people in its windows and hear its engines, even over ours.

 

My knee-jerk reaction/thought was "Turn hard and pull on his six!"

 

Besides being grateful that someone's violation of FAA regulations didn't get us all killed, I don't know if I'm proud of my reflexes, or saddened from what must mean I've been flying the MiG too much lately...

You can never fly the MiG too much.

 

Funny enough, every time I'm forced onto an airliner, I always stare out the window trying to see how quickly I can spot "bogeys".

 

So you're in good company.

At what phase of flight was this?  What type of aircraft did you see and around what altitude, what was the intercept angle?  I've passed under A-10C only 500 feet below them, all deconflicted with ATC. 

Haha, I was doing the same Klaiber. I'd see a glint off in the distance and perk up immediately.

 

Brit, no idea. It was some smaller passenger liner, at cruise altitude, and it blew past us to the right. It really was quite spectacular, I've never passed THAT. Close to another plane before.

 

There was another plane, co-alt, at our 5 and slightly distant. I watched it for a while as it slowly drifted away and I thought to myself, "He must be flying a different radial."

Every time I see a small a/c pass by my house I awlays imagine being in a 40mm aaa trying to shoot it down.

I will make a note to avoid flying around the Seattle area, then. 

There have been times when I have noticed contrails and thought "OH SH_T!"

You have to watch out for that top cover.

As long as it isn't 300-400 contrails flying in close formation I think you're alright