Air Power Over Hampton Roads 5/6-7/23

[n4jri]

I think I'm going to try and catch the show at Langley AFB from an external vantage point. Does anybody have any recent freq finds for special show stuff like Air Boss? Am programming the scanners for acts that I have info on, but will hopefully be searching a lot as well.

Been a while since I've been to one, and not likely to go on-base given the scanner ban. Any info or tips appreciated.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

 

[digitalman]

I am in Hampton- so far scanning demos- I have
149.650 AM
235.250 Thunderbird Diamond AM

 

[digitalman]

Demo just flew at 1500 (3pm) confirmed frequencies- i will search for air boss, heritage flight also.

 

[n4jri]

I'm going to try and catch what I can from Gosnold's Hope Park.
Found the following freqs from searching around:
Both the Horsemen & Heritage flights have been caught on 122.475
Rob Holland on 122.125
Full Throttle Formation Team on 136.7
A T-6 Texan group on 130.65--which might also be the AMC terminal @ Norfolk NAS
Supposedly opening ceremonies are around 11a, and they want to clear of private vehicles around 2p. It'll be interesting to see if the air acts coordinate with this.

So we'll see how it goes...

73/Allen (N4JRI)

 

[digitalman]

I'm going to try and catch what I can from Gosnold's Hope Park.
Found the following freqs from searching around:
Both the Horsemen & Heritage flights have been caught on 122.475
Rob Holland on 122.125
Full Throttle Formation Team on 136.7
A T-6 Texan group on 130.65--which might also be the AMC terminal @ Norfolk NAS
Supposedly opening ceremonies are around 11a, and they want to clear of private vehicles around 2p. It'll be interesting to see if the air acts coordinate with this.

So we'll see how it goes...

73/Allen (N4JRI)

Thanks- I have to stay at home as I am full time caregiver- close enough to Langley to see part of the demos- I see you are in Richmond- I will possibly be relocating there this year or 2024.

 

[n4jri]

Great view from the BMX track. Had to ride my bike in, but later they opened the gates.

Here's what I caught:
118.850 - Air Boss (normally LFI Clearance)
123.15 - Possibly intercom between F4U flying in formation with F/A-18 (freq possibly referred to as '3')
136.7 - Full Throttle Formation Group - sounded like they might be patching into the PA
122.675 - Warbird Thunder (looked like T-6's)
277.7 - F-22 demo...only used to assess winds for landing. F-22 joined with a P-51 and F-35 for formation flying, but I never found a freq. Was constantly searching 121.5-123.6. F-35 demo was afterwards, and never heard anything on its reported freq
253.25 - Thunderbirds. Most heavily used freq. May have patched into PA at times. A female voice heard may have been the local school teacher who was selected for a backseat ride.
149.65 - Thunderbirds - some use, but very little

Never had a good vantage point for Langley since they shut down Tidewater drive, but may give it another try on vacation in a couple weeks. Are there any particular days of the week that flight activity is especially busy?

73/Allen (N4JRI)

 

[digitalman]

I live about half a mile NE of Gosnolds and indeed the diamond formation went over twice in each demo. Great to see them at Langley as they flew 7 demos once arriving Wednesday from Mississippi. There is a female who flies number 4 . Poquoson is also excellent location at the end of Poquoson Ave. Flight operations are generally each day and should continue as the demo teams leave Monday and Tuesday. Major exercises occur also with continuous flights . Thunderbirds are not on schedule for Langley in 2024 but the Blue Angels will be at NAS Oceana in September this year.

 

[W2JEL]

Was a great show. Was able to see most of it from Langley Speedway next door from the base. Had to keep my head on a swivel due to working around the racecars. Airshow and Racing at the same time is a bit of an audio overload.

 

[Larry51]

Great view from the BMX track. Had to ride my bike in, but later they opened the gates.

Here's what I caught:
118.850 - Air Boss (normally LFI Clearance)
123.15 - Possibly intercom between F4U flying in formation with F/A-18 (freq possibly referred to as '3')
136.7 - Full Throttle Formation Group - sounded like they might be patching into the PA
122.675 - Warbird Thunder (looked like T-6's)
277.7 - F-22 demo...only used to assess winds for landing. F-22 joined with a P-51 and F-35 for formation flying, but I never found a freq. Was constantly searching 121.5-123.6. F-35 demo was afterwards, and never heard anything on its reported freq
253.25 - Thunderbirds. Most heavily used freq. May have patched into PA at times. A female voice heard may have been the local school teacher who was selected for a backseat ride.
149.65 - Thunderbirds - some use, but very little

Never had a good vantage point for Langley since they shut down Tidewater drive, but may give it another try on vacation in a couple weeks. Are there any particular days of the week that flight activity is especially busy?

73/Allen (N4JRI)

Allen, should that Thunderbird freq be 235.25?

 

[n4jri]

Allen, should that Thunderbird freq be 235.25?

Am pretty sure you're right. It was on their commonly used UHF freq

73/Allen

 

[n4jri]

Just reviewed recordings from the show and found a couple more items:
122.125 - Rob Holland patching into PA. He was also doing a corkscrew around the Wings of Blue parachute team, but detected no intercom between him and their CH-47. Surprisingly scratchy reception, considering how close I was.
122.475 - Unknown & very brief. Listed for USAF Heritage Flight, but they flew for a while and I didn't catch any intercoms.
235.25 was indeed the Thunderbirds--and they also used this freq to clear for landing--the only group not using 118.85 for that purpose

73/Allen (N4JRI)