Sticky Thread for MilAir

[TinEar]

2007-11: ROMAN 81 (F/A-18 VFA-106 Oceana NAS) approach and landing at ACY runway 31 with Atlantic City Approach on «327.125»
2037: ROMAN 81 takes off from ACY and checks in with ZDC-Casino «285.4». Direct Cape Charles at flight level 16,000.
2040: ROMAN 81 with ZDC-Cape Charles «256.8». Checks in at 16,000.
2048: ROMAN 81 cleared direct Oceana by ZDC-Cape Charles «256.8»

 

[Dank]

Flyby RFK today

Alan,
I hear there is going to be a flyover today at the beginning of the Nats baseball game which starts about 1pm. I'm thinking you should hear a group of 5 F16s taking off from Andrew's just before 1.

 

[TinEar]

Thanks Dan. I think I'm going to be away from the radios about that time but, if not, I'll sure take a listen.

Shortly after 10 a.m. I'm hearing a flight of A-10s from Martin State go airborne and that's about all that seems to be up at this time. «143.8» And then....
1011: DEVIL 11 flight (F-16 NJ-ANG Atlantic City) with ZDC-Swann «360.7». Cleared up to 26,000 feet.
1015: DEVIL 11 flight handed off to the new ZDC freq «307.025» where the flight checks in at FL 260.
1018: DEVIL 11 flight handed off to ZDC-Hagerstown «227.125» (This sounds like a single ship flight.)
1018: Air refueling freq «238.9» active
1018: PACK 29 (KC-135, 133d ARS Pease ANGB NH) with Flight Service Station on «255.4». reports leaving JPS for SWF (Stewart NY) and wants weather on the way.
1023: DEVIL 11 flight handed off to «363.075» Another new Center freq. I didn't get there in time to hear whether he called New York or Washington Center - just caught him finishing his check in.
1023: TEAM 22 (KC-10A McGuire AFB) with ZDC-Norfolk «133.825»
1030: AIRGUN 71 flight (F-15 Langley) with Norfolk TRACON «370.925» and then with Giant Killer «238.1» to enter the work area. AIRGUN flight leader says to switch to Man Prime 385.15.
1032: DEVIL 11 flight handed off to ZOB (Cleveland Center) «307.075» where he checks in at FL 260. (He calls "Cleveland Center" so that part of the ID is correct but the frequency is not listed in the database.) (This was the last I heard from DEVIL 11.)
NOTE: The 307.075 is ZOB-Belmont (High) Sector 66 according to info received via email.
1032: DEVO 51 flight (F-15 Langley) into GK's area on «233.7»
1045: VANDAL 1 (U/I) flight heard with Norfolk TRACON «370.925» and then with GK to enter W-386 on «238.1» He mentions a wingman but gave no suffix with his callsign. Later mentions he's F-15s. This is a new callsign for Langley - if they're from Langley.

1115: BATON 20 (EC-130J, 193d SOG PA-ANG Harrisburg) with ZNY-Lancaster «133.675», handed off to ZNY-Modena «135.45»
1120: Hmmm...now hearing BATON 20 on squadron freq «395.1» talking with another aircraft about refueling. The other aircraft wants 10,000 pounds of fuel. Their AR IP time was to be 1600Z but they moved it to 1550Z. BATON 20 is talking like he's the refueler. That shouldn't be the case since he should be an EC-130J, not a KC-130. Will try to listen around refueling time to get more.

NOTE: Searching and checking both VHF and UHF Center freqs to see if any are dead and if new freqs are appearing. Seems to be several new freqs suddenly working. Also had a tip on a 292.175 that might be in use in ZDC or ZNY areas.

1155: DRAGO 61 flight out of Andrews with Reagan TRACON on «348.725». Also hearing DC-ANG tac freq «143.6» active. Not sure if this is the same flight...yet. (Edit: Yes it is...flight of four DRAGO F-16 fighters.)
1157: DRAGO 61 flight to ZDC-Calvert «281.4» check in at 15,000
1157: Single DRAGO flight reports airborne «139.9» (Don't believe this is a fifth DRAGO...think it's just a late takeoff behind the other three.)
1158: DRAGO 61-64 flight with Pax Approach «305.2»
1159: DRAGO 61 to BayWatch on «256.5» where they request FL 250 and below for the next 30 minutes. (Apparently, they are going to do some work before the flyby. This is a little different. I'm assuming they are going to do the flyby before the start of the Washington Nationals home opener. Normally, they'd use the CAP or CAPITOL callsign for that type duty and DRAGO is normally only used for memorial flybys. Are they trying to say something about the Nationals' chances this year?)

1204: DRAGO flight setting up for some "buddy lase" ground attack exercises at the Pax Range before their flyby. «256.5»
1215: Part of the DRAGO flight switches to V-7 «143.15» during the 2x2 part of the exercise. (DRAGO 61/62 stay on 143.6 and 63/64 are the ones gone to 143.15.)
1225: RAVAGE flight of F-16s from Andrews airborne on tac «139.15» Flight of two.
1227: DRAGO flight tells BayWatch they are rejoining as a four-ship flight. «256.5»
1227: DC 21 (KC-135 756 ARS Andrews) landing with Tower «118.4»
1228: DC 22 landing Andrews «118.4»
1229: All four DRAGO aircraft together on tac «143.6» and all report Code 1 status.
1233: RAVAGE flight talking »about GUNNY coming up on this freq. «139.15»
1234: GUNNY flight meets up with the two RAVAGE F-16s on «139.15» (Believe there's only one GUNNY.)
1237: RAVAGE/GUNNY flight at the Pax Range for work. «139.15»
1238: DRAGO flight with Reagan TRACON on «270.275» wanting to know if they should change to primary 279.575.
1241: DRAGO flight makes the switch to «279.575» and DRAGO 63 tries to contact DRAGO 02. They continue to use tac «143.6» DRAGO 63 tells 62 he's trying to contact the ground crew - DRAGO 02 - and this confirms my suspicions from yesterday that DRAGO 2 (sometimes 02) is ground based at Arlington to do photography and to guide the flight in at the proper time when they do a flyby there. Today, I would guess he's somewhere around the stadium.
1249: For the past several minutes, DRAGO has been positioning the flight for the flyby on tac «143.6» and coordinating with Andrews on «279.575»
1253: DRAGO reports at the IP and starting the inbound run. Time on target is supposed to be 1255:30. «279.575» and «143.6». They are slightly ahead of the planned pace and are slowing airspeed to compensate.
1256: They made their pass and are making the turn back to Andrews. «143.6» «279.575»
1257: DRAGO reports Andrews in sight «279.575» and switch to U-4 with Tower on «349.0» for landing.
1257: Meanwhile, the RAVAGE/GUNNY flights are still at Pax around the Vienna area doing their work «139.15»

1303: TROJAN 81 flight with Norfolk TRACON «370.925» and then over to GK on «238.1». Says they'll be in the area with a COOP flight. (Both TROJAN and COOP are Langley F-15 callsigns.)

And with that, I've got to get out of here. Back later.

 

[Mark]

REACH 7124 KC-10 arriving Dover now.What made this interesting is that pilot accidently had radio CP 349.400 mike keyed when giving arrival message to onboard passengers.

" We are now arriving Dover,you may feel some pressure changes as we decend,Also we will be sending around a trash bag for your" (end of message..)
Guess someone nudged him to his mistake.... LOL

Mark

 

[TinEar]

1855: Have a couple of A-10s from Martin State airborne on tac 142.3. Callsign AXEMAN.
1904: AXEMAN A-10s with ZNY-Modena 335.6 direct Slate Run
Dave, they're heading your way to the Duke MOA.
1906: AXEMAN flight now with ZNY-Middletown 322.4
1916: AXEMAN flight with ZNY-Williamsport 338.3 and mention their refueler will be SLUFF 61. (He spells SLUFF phonetically.)
SLUFF=KC-135R, 121st ARW OH-ANG Columbus (Rickenbacker International Airport)
1923: AXEMAN flight still working tac 142.3 as they approach The Duke.

2000: Believe another flight of A-10s went airborne as of 1957 from Martin State. «347.2» Yeah...RAVENs and they also seem to be working the 142.3 tac freq.
2011-17: Presidential fleet air-to-air support freq «136.725» active. 50 and 93 are the speakers. One of the support aircraft mentions getting out of the way and holding. The other says it's going to get crazy so getting out of the way is a good idea. There's mention of landing time 25 after the hour and in the blocks at 30.
2020: Executive 1 Foxtrot will land and then 93. «136.725» 50 isn't too thrilled with that idea.
Executive 1 Foxtrot is the designator for the plane carrying the First Family.
2027: Executive 1 Foxtrot tells 93 that 93 will land first and then 1 Foxtrot but 93 says he'll get out of the way and hold so E1F can land first. «136.725».
2028: SAM 93 calls Andrews Tower «118.4» ...then SAM 50 calls to announce his landing.
2032: Executive 1 Foxtrot to Andrews Approach 119.3 and SAM 93 right behind him. Descending and has field in sight.
2035: E1F over to Tower on «118.4» to land on runway 1R.
2037: SAM 93 holding over Nottingham as reported to Andrews Approach «119.3»
2037: Air Force 1 suddenly shows up with Andrews Approach as he makes his way toward the runway. «119.3» and EF1 reports gear down over on «118.4»
This was the first mention of Air Force 1 in any of these comms. He came out of nowhere....well, sort of.
2039: AF1 reports switching to tower «119.3» and does «118.4» where he reports gear down for runway 1. He says he waives the runway sweep and doesn't want to be impeded. (Well!!) Finally touches down about 2042.
2047: Weak but I believe it was MARINE 1 just reported out to the west with Andrews Tower «118.4»
I guess based on the traffic that the President's family came in on Executive 1 Foxtrot and the President on Air Force 1 and timed it so they landed just about together.
2050: SAM 93 talking to unknown ground station on «136.725» about getting in some night flying.,
2057: SAM 93 with Andrews Approach «119.3» leaving the Nottingham area and beginning his descent in preparation for landing. Heading down to 2,000 feet.
2059: SAM 93 over to Andrews Tower on «118.4» to land on runway 19R.
And just in time...time to go watch The Unit.

 

[scansomd]

142.3 MHz TAC Active

2105 - - - MD ANG active near Patuxent River - Chit Chat on 142.3

 

[TinEar]

Not much chance to listen to the radios so far today but late in the 1200 hour heard...

1237: F-22A on Langley tac «228.175» Two - and maybe three - aircraft.
1241: F-16 on NJ-ANG tac «138.425»
1249: Leesburg Radio on FSS freq «255.4» talking to Executive Jet 607 and then Navy SD 243. I could only hear the ground station.
1254: KC-135 from McGuire AFB, ROCCO 61 with McGuire CP on «134.1»
1259: KC-10A from McGuire, TEAM 31 with McGuire CP on «319.4» with arrival message.

1306: F-16 DC-ANG Andrews with Reagan TRACON «348.725», callsign BULLY, flight of two. They are using tac freq «143.6» and entered the Pax River area using «281.8» about 5 minutes later.
1314: The BULLY flight contacts FSS on «255.4». All I caught was that they'd be flying at 500 feet at 500 knots.
1335: BULLY flight heard again on tac «143.6» after doing their low-level flight.
1335: F-16 DC-ANG Andrews with Reagan TRACON «257.2», callsign ANGRY 1.
1340: ANGRY 1 calling ZDC-Hagerstown «227.125» and getting no reply. Finally does at 1343. He's at FL 210. He's handed off to ZNY-Middletown «322.4» but I've heard nothing there....and finally do hear him at 1347.
1341: Warren Grove Range active «283.1» It's the BULLY flight.
1350: TROJAN 91 flight of F-15s from Langley into Giant Killer's area «233.7» W-72 to work for the next 25 minutes.
1353: RATS 21 flight of F-15s from Langley with Norfolk TRACON «370.925» and then ZDC-Cape Charles «256.8»
1357: RATS 21 flight into GK's area on «238.1» to work for the next 30 minutes.
1358: ZDC-Swann «134.5» calling DRAGNET PAPA (E3C Tinker AFB OK).

1413: BULLY flight on the way home from Warren Grove Range with ZDC-Casino «285.4» at 14,000 feet.
1415: BULLY handed to ZDC-Kenton «354.15» where they check in at 14,000....descend to 13 and then 12,000 by 1418....then to 8,000 at 1420 and handed off to BWI TRACON «317.425»
1421: BULLY didn't check in on «317.425» so TRACON called them to ask if they were on the freq. They are. Told to descend to and maintain 4,000.
1422: BULLY flight to SENATE SOF with mission results on V-1 «139.9». 1 is Code 1, 2 is Code 3. Then back to V-5 «143.6»
1424: BWI TRACON hands off the BULLY flight to Reagan TRACON «270.275» where they check in for approach to the runway. BULLY 2 will take the lead and land first. At 1426, they report descending from 4 to 2,000 and report field in sight.,
1425: Langley tac freq «228.45» active.
1426: BULLY flight switches to U-4 with Tower «349.0» and prepare to land on runway 1R.
1427: RATS 21 flight reports RTB to GK on «238.1»
1430: RAVAGE flight of F-16s out of Andrews and with Pax Approach on «305.2» and then to BayWatch on «270.8» at 1432 to report operating up to 25,000 feet and a 25 minute delay time. (No tac freq heard so it must be a single ship flight.)
1433: Bollen Range active «237.2»
1435: ROCKY 71 flight from Langley into GK's area using «249.8»
1438: Langley tac freq «358.85» active.
1440: Langley tac freq «257.075» active with F-22A aircraft...callsign NACHO doing air combat.
1441: More F-22A aircraft active on Langley tac «228.45»
1441: ANGRY 1 flight with ZNY-Modena «335.6». Flight must have gone to the Duke MOA.
1442: SUNDOG 81 flight from Langley with Norfolk TRACON «370.925» and a minute later with GK on «249.8»
1443: ANGRY 1 with SOF on «139.9» and reports Code 1...15 minutes out. Single ship.
1447: ANGRY 1 with Reagan TRACON «269.0»
1448: CRAB 55 (C-130J, MD-ANG Martin State) landing at MTN with Tower on «121.3»
1450: ANGRY 1 over to Tower on «349.0» 12 miles to the north at 6,000 feet.
1453: BATON 20 (EC-130J Harrisburg) with Base Ops on «395.1» arriving at 30 past the hour, 17,500 pounds of gas when arriving and is A-2 maintenance status.
1455: ANGRY 1 doing a couple of approaches at Andrews before landing. «349.0»
1455: BARNEY 1 flight (A-10, 104th FW Barnes ANFB MA) with ZNY-Shipbottom «307.8» at 19,000 feet. (Probably going to Warren Grove Range.)

1500: BARNEY 1 flight down to 17,000 feet «307.8» A minute later heading for 13,000.
1503: Believe I have the BARNEY flight working «139.625» tac.
1505: Fighter tac freq «141.675» active...unknowns.
1506: Martin State A-10s airborne on tac «142.3». Flight of four aircraft. Callsign RAVEN.
1510: Tanker freq «365.7» active....but weak. A couple of minutes later they mention giving BayWatch a heads up. (Have this listed as tanker freq but later traffic sounds more like Navy aircraft...callsign DOG used.)
1514: RAVEN flight with BayWatch on «354.8» where they report they'll be there an hour and ten minutes.
1521: Fighter tac freq «138.4» active...unknowns. Chat sounds like a flight of aircraft through the area in transit.
1544: RACK or RATS 71 Langley flight into GK's area on «249.8». reports as a flight of two F-15s into air Kilo for the next 15 minutes.
1550: Boeing test flight freq «321.7» active.
1558: FLASH 91 F-15 flight from Langley with Norfolk TRACON «370.925» and then GK «249.8» where they report they'll work for 20 minutes.

Enough...

 

[freqhopping]

I'm hearing some weak traffic on NORAD freqs. There was a radio check on 364.2. The comms on 260.9 are too weak to make out.

EVAC-131 is calling base ops on 378.1 It is a Navy C-130 with a 5 min ETA.
1729- Now they're on 328.4 which is base ops reporting problems with a generator.

1738- Washington Center on Guard advised TOPGUN-83 to come up on 127.95 or 235.62(5). Has the location for these center freqs been confirmed yet?
Also have an unknown flight of two on 377.1 looking for FL190 from 220.

1752- It's Huntress and ROMEO-262 on the NORAD freqs.
1812- Lots of chatter with ZDC-Marlinton on 319.0 Can't make out a callsign though.

 

[TinEar]

No ID yet Travis on those new Center freqs. It's going to help though that you caught that 127.95 freq being paired with 235.625. Still no ID on the 307.025 or 363.075 freqs either.

1935: Martin State A-10s active on tac «142.3». Get clearance from BayWatch on «354.8» to work Pax area. Callsign RAVEN.
1949: Bollen Range active «237.2». Flight of two still there at 2025. No aircraft callsigns used...they talk with ground station BALKY.
2045: The fighter pair at Bollen Range finishing their work and heading home. «237.2» I suspect they were A-10s from Willow Grove.
2051: And the RAVENs are about ready to come home...they check in with Raven Ops on «347.2»
2100: RAVEN 1 & 2 report Code 1 maintenance status to Raven Ops and start heading for the runway «347.2». Raven Ops acknowledges and has them heading for runway 33. Meanwhile, the flight leader continues to instruct his more junior wingman on tac «142.3» as they make their way home.
2118: U/I aircraft (possibly BATON 20) reports in to Base Ops that his status is A-1 in front, A-1 in the back and has 9,000 pounds of fuel. «395.1» (If it's BATON 20, he's an EC-130J from Harrisburg.)
2124: CRAB 55 (C-130J MD-ANG) landing at Martin State on runway 15, reports gear down to Tower on «121.3»
2133: Have a DC 32 tanker (KC-135, 756th ARS Andrews AFB MD) with LIBERATOR on squadron freq «351.2» arriving back at Andrews. He has 45,000 pounds of fuel aboard and is in A-3 maintenance status.
2152: DC 32 with Andrews Tower to land...reports gear down. «118.4»

NOTE: Andrews Command Post frequency 378.1 appears to be working well again. They found the problem and fixed it.

 

[scansomd]

142.3 MD ANG (A-10's)

2015 - Active near Patuxent River.

 

[TinEar]

1345: Have a CAP up somewhere with aircraft ARROW 1 and 2 on HUNTRESS (NORAD) freq «260.9» TANKER 11 is the refueler.
This ARROW flight is ARROW 11 and 12. They are using 1 and 2 for tac work with each other as is normal.

Earlier, in the 1200 hour, heard U/I aircraft calling "Center" on «324.6». Also had U/I aircraft on «285.6». Warren Grove Range «283.1» was active as was fighter tac freq «142.25» which may indicate these were Willow Grove A-10s.

1347: COBRA 11 flight from Langley on Norfolk TRACON «370.925» and then entering Giant Killer's (GK) area W-386 for work a couple of minutes later.
1350-56: STEEL 71 (KC-135, 147th ARS PA-ANG Pittsburgh) calling Steel Control on «311.0»
1350: DEFT 21 flight from Langley on Norfolk TRACON «370.925» and then entering GK's area W-386 to work with the COBRA flight «249.8»
1352: RAVEN flight of A-10s airborne from Martin State. «142.3» Appears to be a flight of four.
1353: ARROW flight is heading for the tanker to refuel. This looks like the start of the Guard Dog CAP. «260.9» Looks like they are going to use this primary freq as a boom freq also. They are going to take 13,000 pounds apiece from the tanker.
1357: ARROW flight is a pair of F-15s from Eglin AFB FL...their tail numbers are:
ARROW 11--EG 80-0045
ARROW 12--EG 80-0026

A TFR was issued at the last minute (well, almost) for this four-day CAP as follows:
NOTAM Number : FDC 6/5260
Issue Date : April 12, 2006 at 17:01 UTC
Location : Hagerstown/Thurmont, Maryland near MARTINSBURG VORTAC (MRB)
Beginning Date and Time : April 13, 2006 at 17:55 UTC
Ending Date and Time : April 16, 2006 at 17:00 UTC
Reason for NOTAM : Temporary flight restrictions for VIP (Very Important Person) Movement
Type : VIP

1401: STEEL 71 finally makes contact with Steel Control on «311.0» and reports A-2 status for several problems. Says he'll be flying in the pattern for awhile after arriving back at Pittsburgh.
1403: ARROW 11 finishes refueling and 12 is heading for the boom. «260.9»
1405: TONGA 41 flight from Langley with Norfolk TRACON «370.925» and then with GK on «233.7/238.1» to enter and work in area W-72.
1409: ANGRY flight working DC-ANG SOF freq «139.9» mentions he's around Dover and running into thunderstorms.
1409: PACER 84 with Andrews reporting a landing gear problem. He's going to turn around and head back to Andrews. Says arrival time is approximately 30-45 minutes but will update the ETA in a bit. «378.1»
1412: RACK 71 flight from Langley into GK's area on «233.7»
1416: COBRA 40 (EA-6B, VAQ-209 Andrews AFB) with Reagan TRACON «348.725» climbing out from Andrews.
1420: ANGRY flight (appears to be a single aircraft) still working only SOF freq «139.9». He's wondering if the thunderstorm he sees has already passed over Andrews. (Seems strange to be so close and have perfectly sunny skies overhead this location.)
1422: Now have DC-ANG tac freq «143.6» active. Callsign BULLY.
1424: Naval freq «339.6» active. (Not sure of the ID for this freq...have heard fighter tac and refueling activity on it in the past. So far it seems to be fighter tac this time.)
1427: ANGRY says the field (Andrews) is closed while they're stringing the barrier on the west runway but he has plenty of gas so it's not a problem. «139.9»
1427: BULLY flight reports mission results to SOF on «139.9». It's a flight of two aircraft. They switch back to V-5 on «143.6»
1428: SAM 009? calling Andrews Metro on «344.6» (He keeps cutting off the last number in his callsign by letting go of the mic button before he's finished speaking. Three times now.)
1431: Langley tac freq «228.45» active...sounds like F-22A.
1433: Langley tac freq «358.85» active.
1433: ANGRY flight landing at Andrews with Tower on «349.0»
1436: BULLY flight with ZDC-Calvert «281.4» around Nottingham requesting lower altitude and then over to Reagan TRACON «270.275» to approach the field
1438: COBRA 40 with ZDC-Cape Charles «256.8» reporting direct Nottingham, direct Andrews at FL 230. (Short flight...he just took off about 20 minutes ago.)
1440: BULLY flight reports field in sight «270.275» and has radar contact on the C-21.
1441: BULLY two-ship to Andrews Tower on «349.0» for initial approach and landing on runway 1L. (And still yakking on tac 143.6)
1444: BURR 01 (C-130, 16th SOW, Hurlburt Field FL) with Andrews CP on «141.55». Arriving in 20 minutes with six pax to offload. Tail number 60108. (Hmmm...that tail number doesn't fit with the C-130 ID. The only logical tail could be 96-0108 which would make it a Cessna UC-35A.)
1451: ARROW flight still there...first transmission heard since they refueled. «260.9»

Continued below....

 

[Mark]

Rgr TIN I read that POTUS is hanging at Camp David this Holiday weekend.
Too many protesters down at the Texas Ranch...

Mark

 

[TinEar]

Right Mark. Must have been a last minute decision. The TFR was just posted last evening.

1504: ARROW 12 reporting thunderstorm conditions around the CAP area. He says ARROW 13 is going to have to pick his way around the storms when he approaches the CAP area. «260.9»
1506: Fighter tac freq «139.625» active...talking about going to the range. (Willow Grove A-10s?)
1508: ARROW 11 going back to TANKER 11 for fuel again. «260.9»
1511: DATSUN 91 flight from Langley into GK's area on «238.1»
1512: ARROW 11 cleared onto the tanker's boom «260.9» He reports all the right things...nose cold, weapons safe and says he wants 8,000 pounds.
1514: GIant Killer's operations freq «391.2» active.
1519: ARROW 11 finishes refueling...takes the 8K and breaks off the boom. «260.9»
1521: STUD 11 flight from Langley into GK's area on «238.1»
1522: Have four fighters on tac «143.825» These are not tankers although this is usually a McGuire tanker interplane freq. All four checked onto the freq...getting sporadic weak transmissions from them.
1525: ARROW 12 asking for "bogey dope tanker." «260.9» He gets the BRA from ARROW 11 and heads for the boom.
1526: Langley tac «276.675» active with callsign RATS.
1529: ARROW 11 tells HUNTRES his datalink is sour..."We are no longer getting surveillance tracks from you." «260.9»
1529: Martin State A-10s active on tac «142.3» and with Raven Ops on «347.2» Callsign RAVEN for the fighters just returning from a mission. This must be the flight I logged airborne at 1352.
1531: ARROW 12 approaching the boom to refuel. «260.9» He wants 8,000 pounds.
1541: REACH 111 with Dover CP «349.4»
1551: Fighter tac freq «138.75» active...unknowns. Have heard this freq often recently. Need an ID on it. 139.625 and 143.825 both still active also with unknowns.
1555: Getting activity on HUNTRESS freq «228.9» Don't know who it is yet...might have been ARROW or TANKER sent over there for a radio check....or it might be TANKER 12 coming into the area on the wrong freq.
Doesn't matter...time for me to get out of here. Later....

 

[freqhopping]

Some misc ZDC comms for the last half hour. Now have PARTY-22 (VFA-83 F-18) with ZDC-Irons inbound to Andrews.

Around 1530 JOSA-638 reported having taken off from Stafford (RMN).

1730-288.35/260.9 The CAP has a TOI heading southbound. ARROW-12 describes it as a white commercial jet. He's asking clearance to descend to 4-8,000 block.
1735-ARROW-12, formerly ALERT-1 was cleared back to the CAP. ARROW-11 becomes ALERT-1 tracking it at 111 for 5. ARROW-11 has descended to the 4-8k block. Comms switched to 307.9 (ZDC). I can even hear a ground controller directing him to the target.
1742- ALERT-1 is tally the traffic
1744- ALERT-1 describes it as white, low-mounted wing, single engine on the front.
1746- Cleared back to the CAP

1751-<344.6> LION-11 is requesting a weather report for GSB-Seymour Johnson. (Could be an F-15 from the 33rd FW at Eglin)

 

[TinEar]

1945: ARROW 13 and 14 have arrived in the CAP area and are currently refueling before assuming the duty from 11 and 12. TANKER 12 has replaced 11. Still working the primary «260.9» for ARROW/HUNTRESS activity and as the boom freq.
TANKER 12 is a KC-135R from the 184th Air Refueling Wing at McConnell AFB in Wichita Kansas based on info given to GUARD DOG control on «288.35»

2003: Bollen Range active «237.2»
2009: Raven Ops at Martin State active on «143.8»
2012: A-10s from Martin State active on tac «142.3» I suspect this is the flight at Bollen Range. Turns out to be a COLT flight.
2013: TANKER 13 apparently heading toward the CAP area...TANKER 12 will maintain FL 240. «288.35»
2015: Activity on tac «139.7». Thought this might be one of the ARROW fighters sent over by HUNTRESS but the F-15s shouldn't have this freq range handy. No telling who's there...yet.
2019: TANKER 13 reports 13 minutes out from the CAP as fragged. «260.9» He asks for and receives Mode 3 settings for the fighters and reports his boom is "in the green."
2022: TANKER 12 is released by HUNTRESS and switches to Guard Dog on «288.35» to pick up his clearance...he reports direct "Home." (McConnell AFB KS)
2024: Guard Dog hands off TANKER 12 to ZDC-Potomac on «133.97(5)» (Don't know where he went from there...lost him in the cacaphony of commercial birds.)
2026: HUNTRESS assigns FL 240 to TANKER 13. Female op responds from 13. «260.9»
2032: ARROW 13 heading to TANKER 13 to refuel. «260.9»
Tail number are as follows:
ARROW 13--EG 80-0028
ARROW 14--EG 79-0041
2033: TANKER 13 asks ARROW 13 to remain in a one-mile trail for now. «260.9»
2034: ARROW 13 says if there's an issue with refueling on primary, they can use 238.9 as a backup. «260.9»
2037: Apparently not...they will refuel on primary...TANKER 13 clears ARROW 13 in to the boom. (Still female speaking aboard the tanker. She's the boom operator.) «260.9»
2041: Bollen Range «237.2» still active with MTN A-10s working their tac «142.3» along with the range freq.
NOTE: I've been monitoring the Eglin tac freq 369.15 that they almost always have used in the past during the CAP but have not heard a peep up to this time.

2100: ARROW 13 and 14 talking about weather buildups in the CAP area...they say they'll just "float" the CAP toward the south for now. «260.9»
2110: ARROW 14 heading for TANKER 13 to refuel. « 260.9». 14 asks the tanker to turn toward the south so they'll be out of the weather while refueling.
2110: The MTN A-10s are on their way home. «142.3» They switch over to Raven Ops on «347.2» to report both are Code 1 maintenance status. They are heading for runway 33 at Martin State. Callsign is COLT.
2119: COLT A-10s are landing at Martin State and using the VHF Tower freq. «121.3» This is the second time today I've heard the A-10s using this frequency. The earlier RAVEN flight this afternoon did the same. I've never heard them do this before today. I wonder if there's a problem with the 297.2 Tower freq.
2122: REACH 0455 with Dover Command Post on «349.4». He IDs as a C-5 arriving at 50 past the hour, is A-1, has 46 pax on board with 30 of them passing through. He has one baggage pallet, needs a K-loader and airstairs. He also wonders about his upload.
2129: Have what sounds like a tanker...43 calling 44...on "Victor interplane." However, he's on 143.8 and I think he meant to be on 143.825.
2130: ARROW 13 asking HUNTRESS for enroute weather between the CAP and Eglin. «260.9» He also reports current wx in the CAP is good with a thin layer of clouds around 16,000 feet but some weather is moving into the area between 21 and 30,000 feet. «260.9» Not sure what HUNTRESS responded with but ARROW 13 says, "If you don't want to read the weather to us, we'll get it elsewhere." Testy, testy.
2135: ARROW 13 now heading for the tanker to refuel. «260.9» The female boom operator is still on duty. She keeps him waiting in a one mile trail again and finally clears him onto the boom at 2139.
The next ARROW pair should be heading up the road from Eglin at this time if they are sticking with four hour shifts. They should be in the area within about 15 minutes.
2144: ARROW 13 completes refueling...he took 6,000 pounds. «260.9»
2144: ARROW 15 and 16 heard chatting on «369.15» as they fly toward the CAP area.
2145: ARROW 15/16 coming into the CAP area and being asked by TANKER 13 if they need gas right away. «260.9»
2147: JOSA 387 calling Wright-Patterson Metro on «344.6» Three calls, no replies.
2149: ARROW 15 checking in with Guard Dog control on «288.35»
2151: ARROW 15 heading for TANKER 13. He also tells ARROW 13 that for the first 100 miles of his trip back to Eglin he'll be "in the soup." «260.19»
Tail numbers for the new ARROW pair:
ARROW 15--EG 82-0029
ARROW 16--EG 80-0011
2155: ARROW 13 to Guard Dog on «288.35» to say they'll be looking to RTB in about 10 minutes.

2200: ARROW 15 completes his refueling...takes 14,000 pounds. «260.9». A couple of minutes later he reports entering the CAP and descending to FL 220.
2203: ARROW 13/14 cleared to RTB by HUNTRESS «260.9». They switch to Guard Dog on «288.35» to pick up their clearance for a non-standard, two-mile-trail flight. They request FL 280.
2206: ARROW 13/14 flight handed off to ZDC-Montebello «284.7» at FK 300 and request direct Eglin. They switch to 8-AUX which is chat «369.15»
2208: ARROW 13/14 handed off to ZDC-Gordonsville «351.9» where they check in at FL 270.
2208: ARROW 15/16 change to chat «369.15» to decide on their altitudes...they also talk to 13/14 about enjoying the flight home in the weather.
Both flights - ARROW 13/14 and ARROW 15/16 - are using channel references 8-AUX as chat 369.15 and 8-Prime as 260.9 for the CAP
2215: ARROW 13/14 flight tells ZDC-Gordonsville they're putting FL 320 on request. «351.9»
And that was the last heard from ARROW 13/14 on their flight home. Meanwhile ARROW 16 also refueled with TANKER 13 and assumed his share of CAP duty.
2240: TANKER 14 is on his way from Milwaukee to the CAP...currently with Cleveland Center (ZOB).

2300: ETYHL 95 (KC-135, 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus AFB, OK) with ZDC-Coyle «121.05» entering altitude block 19-21,000.
2300: ARROW 15 in radio check with HUNTRESS «260.9» First words since refueling when they entered the CAP.
2304: ETHYL 95 reports he'll be working with and MARSA with REACH 241. «121.05»
2312: TANKER 14 calls HUNTRESS a couple of times with no reply so TANKER 13 answers him and says she'll relay to HUNTRESS. TANKER 14 reports he's about 15 minutes away. «260.9»
2313: ETHYL 95 reports he'll be working with REACH 241 to ZDC-Sea Isle «133.125». He says he'll make it easier for everyone if they move out to the Nantucket area for their work.
2315: TANKER 14 gets a reply from HUNTRESS and proceeds toward the area «260.9»
2315: ETHYL 95 reports direct Nantucket «133.125»
2316: TANKER 13 asks ARROW 15 if his flight needs more gas before she clears the area. 15 responds but is too weak to copy by the tanker (or by me). So...15 and 16 get together and decide they'll take some gas from TANKER 13 while they can...16 will go first....they want to know how much she can give...she says 15,000 pounds so TANKER 13 will refuel ARROW 16 only. «260.9» He only wants 8,000 pounds.
2322: TANKER 14 to Guard Dog «135.525» reports he's at FL 260 and wants block 21-24,000 once TANKER 13 departs. Says he'll be in the CAP for three hours. TANKER 13 relays his message to Guard Dog.
2326: TANKER 13 to Guard Dog to report she'll be RTB once she finishes with the ARROW flight and requests direct Tar River. «135.525»
2327: ARROW 16 finishes refueling...he took 8200 pounds. ARROW 15 thanks TANKER 13 for the work tonight. «260.9»
2328: TANKER 13 to Guard Dog reports she's ready to depart and again requests direct Tar River. «135.525» Ground tells 13 she'll turn the tanker toward Tar River in about 30 miles. (Females on the ground and on the tanker.)
2333: Guard Dog clears TANKER 13 direct Tar River, direct Seymour Johnson which gives us the home base for 13. 13 is handed off to ZDC-Brooke on 126.875 or 327.0....13 takes 126.875 and heads for home.
2336: TANKER 13 handed off to ZDC-Blackstone «127.75» and checks in at FL 240.
2342: ARROW 15 heads for TANKER 14 to refuel and gives tail numbers for himself and 16 (same as listed above). «260.9»
2346: ARROW 15 confirms he's from the 60th FS at Eglin to TANKER 14. «260.9»

Midnight and I'm gone.

 

[scansomd]

2000 - present - refueling ops on 260.9 MHz Patuxent River OPAREA

 

[ka3jjz]

Speaking of which - folks may not know it, because it's kinda buried in the Delmarva wiki, but we have a page on the Pax River complex. The freqs and callsigns listed there are kinda dated, but at least it's a start.....updates solicited. 73s Mike

 

[TinEar]

As of 1100, the CAP is still running. Current players are ARROW 23 and 24, a pair of F-15s from the 60th Fighter Squadron at Eglin AFB FL. They are just coming on duty at this time replacing ARROW 21 and 22. They are working with the NORAD controller HUNTRESS on primary CAP freq «260.9». The refueling aircraft is TANKER 17, a KC-135. Refueling boom freq is now «320.6» and no longer on the primary 260.9 as was done all day yesterday and most of the night. The fighters are clearing into and out of the CAP area with Washington Center's GUARD DOG on «288.35» and the tankers on «135.525». The fighters, ARROW 21/22 along with 23/24, were using their tac freq «369.15» for chat. And for those of you new to MilAir listening, just punching in the above frequencies will give you a good education on how the Combat Air Patrol works.

From 1155 to 1202, ARROW 23 moved to refueling boom freq «320.6» with TANKER 17 and took 11,000 pounds of fuel. They were at an altitude of 24,000 feet for the refueling operation.
At 1205, it's reported that TANKER 18 is approaching the CAP area to replace 17. The general plan is that the tankers are assigned three hour shifts and the fighters four hour shifts. TANKER 18 comes within listening range (by me) at 1215 and makes contact with HUNTRESS on «260.9» to pick up Mode 3s for the fighters. He's at Flight Level (FL) 290 and descending to 250 by the time he gets in the CAP area.
At 1220, TANKER 17 is cleared by HUNTRESS to Return To Base (RTB) and is switching to Guard Dog for his clearance to his home base in Meridian MS. He's handed off by Guard Dog to Washington Center's Potomac Sector 4 (normally abbreviated to ZDC-Potomac) on «133.975» where he begins his climb to FL 380 and heads south to Key Field at Meridian - the home of the 186th Air Refueling Wing, flying KC-135R tankers. (Look up Key Field sometime and read the story of how the base got its name based on an aerial refueling flight in 1935 by Al and Fred Key that still holds the world record by staying airborne for more than 653 hours.)

Also had some refueling being done just prior to 1100 by Navy aircraft on Pax River freq «363.35». Aircraft ID was 323 and a tanker with suffix 11. There was also a hit on DC-ANG tac freq «139.15» at this time. That turns out to be a BULLY flight of F-16s from Andrews. There is also a WILD flight of F-16s from Andrews that's airborne although they're approaching home after completing their mission around 1140.

Additionally, there are flights of Langley F-15s going into Giant Killer's work area that can be heard on Norfolk TRACON freq «370.925» and then with GIant Killer on «233.7/238.1/249.8».

NOTE: I'm guessing the new Washington Center (ZDC) freq 307.025 is the Potomac sector which used to be on 381.5. The VHF side is still valid on 133.975 and hasn't appeared to have changed. Moving the 381.5 freq would also make sense in light of the new military trunked systems working in the 380-390 mHz range. If true, expect the Blackstone sector to be moved from 380.3 also. The Hagerstown Sector already moved from 385.4 to 227.125. I've been told all MilAir freqs in that range will be moved eventually.

1150: RATS 41 flight (F-15s Langley) with Norfolk Departure (TRACON) on «370.925». Flight leader is saying one of the aircraft in the flight has an emergency and they are returning to Langley. (Nothing further heard from the flight.)
1210: MILLER 31 (F-15 Langley), single ship flight, with Norfolk TRACON «370.925». He then switches to Giant Killer on «238.1» at 1212 to enter the work area.

 

[Mark]

BAT 51 and BAT 52 self id as KC-135's arrive McGuire on CP 319.400

Also heard an aircraft self id as F-15C decending 5k to 2k for landing on 270.270.
Is this Andrews low aprch freq?

Mark

 

[freqhopping]

Tanker-19 explained to the new tanker (sounds like) KANZA-94 where the Guarddog area is located. They passed some coordinates and this is what I came up with. I believe the callsign is KANSAS being that they said they are from McConnell AFB.