2010 Chicago Lake Front Air and Water Show

[chgomonitor]

Chicago Air & Water Show

I'll kick off this thread with the 52nd running of the Chicago Lake Front Air and Water show this weekend. The NOTAM which has been issued indicates flying should start Thursday with likely landmark and show line reference spotting by the featured act - the US Navy Blue Angels. See;

0/7016 NOTAM Details

See here for CTA transit special service for the event:
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The usual extensive practice / park district show will be held on Friday, starting at about 10 or 11 am. The main show is both Saturday and Sunday. Show center is due east of the North Avenue beach house.

Most acts fly out of and into Gary International Airport in Indiana with some heavies operating out of O'Hare or flying in direct. Midway usually sees some action, as well. Holding point is usually the LAIRD intersection out over Lake Michigan and some in-flight refueling also usually takes place out that ways.

CARMA Schedule:

Thursday: disorganized lurking about the show site for early frequency grabs and solo photography. Come join us!

Friday: We attend the practice show at the North Avenue Beach house. We usually congregate along the railing at the top of the pedestrian ramp leading to the concessions area on the east side of the beach house. But we'll be lurking around the general area, too. Come join us!

Saturday: Our usual listening post and picnic site out on the point at Fullerton. We are set up under the last few trees due east of where Fullerton Avenue ends at the underpass under Lake Shore Drive. It's a Bring Your Own picnic and we are out there from near dawn till dusk. Come join us!

Sunday: Various members attend the show for last day photo missions and the usual radio monitoring. No formal plans and all over the place. Come join us!

Casual talk-in and limited monitoring of the usual 145.770 (151.4) CARMA Event simplex channel is anticipated for you amateur radio operators attending. It's not a formal net, by any means and we can't guarantee you'll reach us, but it's worth a try.

For the uninitiated, this is a HUGE show with limited facilities and virtually no parking. Be prepared. Review the event web page. Take public transportation. Use caution for bicycle and vehicle traffic walking in. Use Sunblock and stay hydrated. Use the attenuator when programming your radio as the site is loaded with Intermod. This is one of the best air shows on the planet and we encourage you to attend.

Any frequency usage reports at this point is pure speculation, but here is some pure speculation;

134.100 / 353.500 Gary show 2010 Platform
118.400 / 353.875 Gary show 2010 Tracon Arv/Dep
125.200 / 317.500 Chgo show 2009 Platform primary
123.100 / 270.250 Chgo show 2009 Platform alternate
126.800 / 308.400 Chgo show 2009 Arv/Dep
125.600 / 256.700 Gary Tower
134.100 / 253.500 Rockford show 2010 Platform
134.100 / 257.200 Chgo show 2008 Platform primary
134.100 / 398.100 Chgo show 2008 Platform alternate

458.075 (210.7) (FM) Chgo Park Dist Lifeguard Supervisors
460.250 (162.2) CPD Citywide 6
460.350 ( 97.4) CPD Citywide 5

USCG VHF FM Channels & Marine Band in general

Chgo Park Dist - 151.190 151.295

CPD 800 TRS for the CPD Marine Units

Castaways restaurant at North Ave beach house - 469.2625

Search 122.000 -to- 124.000, 25 KHz steps in AM mode for air to air, air to ground and show discrete audio relays.

Refueling possibles - 277.700 305.500 291.900 320.900 346.525 298.775 283.775

2010 Acts (all flying, no static displays at this show);

US Navy Blue Angels
284.250 Delta
275.350 Diamond
237.800 Solos
346.500 Ground Ops
305.900 Fat Albert
255.200 Advance and Spotting
139.8125 (FM) Ground Support
142.6125 (FM) Ground Support

AeroShell - 123.150
Lima Lima - 123.575 123.175
Sean Tucker & Team Oracle
Firebirds
Bill Stein
Red Bull Helo
US Army Golden Knights - 123.475 123.575 123.150
Leapfrogs - 407.500 (FM) 270.000
USAF Viper West - 376.025 384.550 282.800
B1B Bombers - 311.000 321.000 303.000
US Army Blackhawks - 242.400
KC-135 - 277.700
C-17
USAF T6 - 123.150
US Navy F18 Super Hornet
USAFR Pararescue
Heritage Flight - 122.425 122.475 136.500 136.575
USAF T38 - 234.500
USCG Demo - 157.050

CPD/Cook Co and CFD Helos usually do fly-bys though they aren't advertised yet.

We'll be posting confirmed users and freqs and other operational notes as they develop. Have a great 2010 show and stay safe. Happy Scanning! - Ted

 

[chgomonitor]

123.475 Unknown team practicing now on the lakefront.

 

[chgomonitor]

Thursday Practice Report

The Thursday Show report...

Got down to the show site about 7:30 this morning. The platform was being quickly setup with radios and the ATC staff was present. A blackhawk came by and they tested something with him. Not sure exactly what, but I don't think it was the VHF or UHF platform frequencies. I did spot what could have been some sort of military low band or Sincgars type handheld in use by the staff. As they were departing my Scout picked up a very strong hit 135.225, but it's possible that it wasn't show related. I never heard anything else there.

A C-130 flew over and the ATC staff departed for a few hours. They returned with the Blue Angels Ground staff and the landmark and showline spotting by the Angels began in earnest.

Show staff is using Comm Direct rental radios. I failed to get any "hands on" time with those but I did nail a few frequencies down, I think all are simplex;

464.9375 (D532) Channel 1. Event Support Staff primary. This is the largest group of users present, but they weren't always the busiest on the radio, with all the set-up stuff going on. These are the yellow shirt support staff.

461.2750 (D702) Set-up crews primary. very busy. Mechanics and field guys setting up fences, sponsor tents, etc.

468.8375 (146.2) They have one of the high lifter cherry picker type things. This is that crew and their spotters and supervisor.

464.5000 (D165) Not certain, but I think these are the sound techs and electricians. Wiring up stuff to high poles along the beach fronts.

464.9125 I got a scout hit here but didn't catch any actual traffic. It may be a rental radio channel.

134.100 (AM) VHF Platform frequency used in multiple radios Wednesday. I never heard them test or work a UHF, it's possible they didn't have one up and running.

458.075 (210.7) Chicago Park District Lifeguard Supervisors

CFD 279 arrived a little late. They were set up and running but I didn't determine what CFD was using at the show. Nice rig, had the dish up, too.

151.295 (114.8) Chgo Park District Repeater / LPZ

151.190 (114.8) Chgo Park District Repeater / LPZ

151.955 (D065) Lincoln Park Zoo Repeater

237.800 (AM) Blue Angels solos.

284.250 (AM) Blue Angels solos. Also some ground activity on site at North Avenue between the platform and their remote site out on the breakwater pier.

275.350 (AM) Blue Angels Diamond.

305.900 (AM) Momentary transmissions by Blue Angels staff.

255.200 (AM) Used a little towards the end by the Angels. Seemed to be coordinating their return to Gary after the practice.

142.6125 (FM) Blue Angels ground support and coordination at the North Avenue show site. Platform to remote site comms. Highly informative.

No Show T-Shirts on site yet.

By 2:15 PM I was exhausted and departed but my understanding was practice and some media flights were to resume after a break.

From the channel hit counters on the radio I left running at home after I got back:

122.850 - 12 Hits
136.500 - 5 Hits
123.150 - 87 Hits
123.475 - 28 Hits
126.800 - 4 Hits
125.600 - 48 Hits (Gary Tower VHF)
123.575 - 5 Hits
284.250 - 2 Hits (Heavily used at the site, though)
275.250 - 4 Hits (same)
237.800 - >100 Hits
122.750 - >100 Hits
122.925 - 2 Hits
123.425 - 51 Hits
123.450 - 56 Hits
311.000 - 1 Hits

Enjoy the show and please share what you hear. Happy Scanning! - Ted

 

[shaft]

Thanks for posting this. It came in handy this afternoon watching the show.

 

[chgomonitor]

Friday Reports

Got this from folks in attendance at the Friday practice show:

134.100 / 353.500 Platform
118.400 / 308.400 Tracon
125.600 / 256.700 Gary Tower

123.575 Lima-Lima Air to Air
123.425 Firebirds Air to Air
123.150 Aeroshell and Golden Knights
122.125 Rob Holland discrete
266.600 A10 UHF Discrete
138.750 A10 VHF Discrete (AM)
47.00 Blackhawk Helos air to air (FM)
376.025 Viper West discrete
469.2625 (D506) Simplex. Castaways F1
464.5750 (000.0) Simplex. Castaways F2

Callsigns:

SLAYER - B1's
RHINO - F18
VIPER - F16
Jesse98 - C130
RAVEN - A10's
Happy - KC-135

Holding points are LAIRD to the north east and THOR to the west.

Happy Scanning! - Ted

 

[werinshades]

Cpd/cfd

City-Wide 6 (460.250 CTCSS 162.2), Primary for Event....CFD: EMS Command (462.975 CTCSS 156.7), EMS Main (460.600 CTCSS 156.7) ...EMS Special Events 5 (458.025 CTCSS 210.7)...low power..

 

[chgomonitor]

U betcha Dave, fine report. I was just about to post those. Man, a lot of heat casualties at the show today. If you go, stay hydrated! Great show today. 122.125 seems to be evolving into the common show discrete, several acts used it today. Also, the A-10's used 266.600 extensively today. Other than that and Dave's additions, everything else was pretty much as already posted. Somebody should set up a good web feed of the platform audio, pretty cool stuff. Happy Air Show Scanning! - Ted and the gang

 

[shaft]

It was a great day to listen to show. The A10 pilots were really chatty and took a jab or two at the B1.
I'd suggest listening to the Marine channels too, I kicked them on in time to catch the cut away report about one of the Golden Knight jumpers.

The Blue Angels had some aircraft issues the past two days. Friday during practice, one had a panel open up and started streaming fuel. Today apparently "Walleyes" bird had an issue and had to switch to the backup right as they were taking off to start the show. The team decided to wait for him to switch and get airborne before they started. Towards the end of the show the solos timing were off and were lagging behind, the boss got on them and told them they were way behind and to catch up.

 

[werinshades]

I was there working on Amb. 73. Was able to see the show minus a couple of runs we had. EMS initially was told to use Metro 2 on our radios, but not all radios were programmed with this "new" channel, so we ended up on Special Events 5. Metro 2 is new, and from what I could tell, was repeatered. I'd guess it's 462.950...still a licensed UHF frequency. It was analog as we did some various radio tests on it, before the problem was discovered.
It was pretty warm, and as Ted heard, alot of "heat-related" issues. Cooling buses were set up, so most of the "cart teams" transported to the cooling area. I should have had my scanner out there, as it would have been interesting to listen/watch.

 

[vxla]

Does anyone know why the Blue Angels were down a member and cut back their show on Sunday? It also seemed like that no-fly zone didn't really work out because there seemed to be interference from commercial airliners at ORD.

Thanks for the frequencies!

 

[mwright]

Good company, good show

I just want to say that the CARMA crew are a good bunch of guys. After finding this forum thread and seeing Ted's invite, I took him up on it and showed up on Saturday morning to hang out with them. Everyone there was very helpful and friendly. I'm only a part-time scanner hobbyist but these guys are pretty serious and were all happy to share their knowledge and tolerate my questions.

If you get an opportunity to hang out with them next year, I strongly recommend doing so. Besides, if you get enough gear together between everyone, you stay wired in on all the action! I think between the 6 or 7 of us there were more than a dozen scanners or radios.

Thanks again guys...you made it far more enjoyable.

-Michael

 

[akuter]

I'm in the planning of making this show this 2011 traveling from Montana. I've grown up in sw Wisconsin for 33yrs, and now returning to the area for a visit at the weekend show after 6yrs in MT. I will see the Blue at the Great Falls, MT show July 30th, and will report the freqs during/after the show. What LE(traffic control) channels can I expect at the southern part of Lincon Park? Running a 780xt,15xt, and a 396t for the digital side.