Since You Asked: What's the big white plane with no markings?
Q: There is a big white plane with no markings and no tail number that I've seen flying around Yuba and Sutter counties everyday. Who is flying the plane and what is it doing?
A: It's a training plane and belongs to Beale Air Force Base.
The plane is a twin-engine Beechcraft used to train pilots to fly the US Air Force's MC-12 Liberty aircraft, according to Senior Airman Shawn Nickel.
"We contract two aircrafts for training because there are not enough planes for all the pilots in training," Nickel said. "It's just a supplemental training plane."
The Beechcraft flies over the area daily, catching the attention of many area residents.
The MC-12 spy plane flies at low and medium altitudes. It's primary mission is providing intelligence and surveillance to ground forces, according to the Air Force.
Earlier this year, Beale added a second reconnaissance squadron to support the base's MC-12 mission.
Q: What are they building at Franklin Road and Walton Avenue in Yuba City?
A: A pharmacy. Also, a coffee shop, but mostly a pharmacy.
Construction kicked off in September for the Franklin Health Mart, according to Jerry Munz, owner of J.M. Construction, the group building the 34,000-square-foot structure.
"Parmjit Bains is the owner," Munz explained. "He hopes to open up by March."
Bains owns Riverside Pharmacy on Plumas Street in Yuba City, Munz said.
The Franklin Road drugstore will serve Peet's Coffee at the small shop planned inside.
Customers will be able to pick up their prescriptions at the drive-through window, Munz said.
Construction is expected to wrap up some time in February.
Since You Asked is published on Mondays. Send questions to reporter Rob Parsons at the Appeal-Democrat, 1530 Ellis Lake Drive, Marysville, CA 95901, email him at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or call 749-4785.
