Coming to Scottsdale

[md_p97]

Hello All,

I am coming to Scottsdale, AZ the week of Sept 10th for business. While in town, I want to accomplish two things during my free time.

1. Off road in the desert (I've rented a stock Jeep) and watch the sunset, preferably from a mountain top. ( Cave Creek, Tonto NF ? )

2. Head out towards Luke Air Force Base to try and catch in-coming, out-going, or even better yet, a Demo team practice area. (most likely an evening event).

Could someone help me out with suggestions of some of the best places to go for this, as well as the systems I should download?

Any and all information would be greatly aprreciated.

Thanks,

Paul

 

[aar9sm]

Scottsdale

If you are in Scottsdale use Thompson peak.

http://radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=848

Luke is digital on the base.

Check freqofnature.com for surrounding Mil Air

 

[AZScanner]

Luke is a great place to hang out, but the military police will chase you away from the departure end of the runway, and for good reason - it's a training base and these guys are fairly new at flying fighter jets. However there's some fields to the west of the runway that provide a great view of the goings on, and the approach end is usually OK to hang out at provided you are not directly underneath the approaching aircraft. I took the kids out for the day a few years back and we LOVED IT.

You won't see much in the way of demo teams or anything. As I said, Luke is a training base so it's gonna be alot of touch and go's, and sorties to the Goldwater range to blow stuff up (the range is not visible to ordinary schmoes like you and me). But you will see plenty of action, during the weekdays especially, and you can get some nice upclose views of the aircraft coming in if you know the right spot to hang out and watch. When you get there, just drive around and look for the other folks who have come out to watch, you'll figure out very quickly where there is a good spot to watch. Have fun, take and post pics for the rest of us who are always too darned busy to make it out there!

-AZ

 

[mike_s104]

we went there a few months ago and loved it. we've been trying to find jobs in the area but no luck yet.

below is my post before going:
http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60545

I did hear Luke AFB's digital system a few times when I drove into the mountains. also, you may want to monitor fed freqs in the 160MHz range. I remember hearing a lot of in-the-clear traffic of the DEA following some subjects. it was one of the common DEA freqs. I cannot remember if it was P25 or not.

while there, we were driving north towards Carefree on N. Scottsdale Rd. I heard on the scanner a bank was being held up. not from there, I wasn't sure exactly where the bank was. about 10 seconds later we saw 3 helicopters hovering north of where we were right outside of Scottsdale. about 30 seconds later we had a few Maricopa County deputies pass us with lights on. the bank being held up was about 2 miles p the road. we could hear the helicopter talking to each other and saw the SWAT team gearing up. the robber had fled and was hiding. it was very cool to see and hear everything like that. I don't know the outcome since I was unable to find it on any area newspapers online nor was there anything on the local news.

also, if you like jails and such, check out Tent City. they give tours. their website says for groups, but if you call you can get a private tour. you don't see everything but it's still pretty cool. they took me into the female Tent City. the site also says "business casual" for the dress code, but this is mostly for females and to avoid gang colors. I wore a tshirt and shorts. http://www.mcso.org/index.php?a=GetSubModule&sm=Jail_Facilities&mn=Our_Jails

 

[md_p97]

Thanks Guys...I am really looking forward to my trip!

Paul