'BANDSAW' Enroute to ABQ-1

[clover509]

Have E-3 Sentry (SNTRY-40, Tail #76-1605) calling 'SNAKEYE' South Range Ops on 264.125.

Female voice: "SNAKEYE, BANDSAW is at FL300 headed to ABQ-1 for EW training."

Did not hear ground side of the conversation, but had the same female voice a few moments later: "Confirm DAGGER is at 388.95?"

Also, of note, an EC-130H (Tail #73-1590) is west of the ABQ-1 airspace and may possibly be a player in EW games.

ABQ-1 airspace is scheduled until 0300 UTC, so... keep an active watch on NORAD and WADS freqs and let's see what we get!

Update: Unknown asset just checked in with BANDSAW on 364.200.

 

[storm777]

@clover509 , greetings from Tacoma WA. It's pretty cool to get your end of it while I'm watching BANDSAW do racetracks on adsbexchange

ZAPER-11 is your EC-130H & is north of Needles, still on a heading of 94 degrees. Hope it's a good night of monitoring for you guys!

 

[mesocyclone]

I believe SNAKEYE is the callsign for range operations on the Barry M Goldwater Gunnery Range southwest of Gila Bend, AZ

 

[clover509]

It is indeed. They are also the 'range controller' or agency responsible for use of the ABQ-1 airspace for training and exercises.

 

[mesocyclone]

We (some CAP members) had the opportunity a few years ago to watch A-10 and F-16 live fire practice from one of the range control towers at BMGR. It was amazing - the A-10's were firing from about a mile up-range, with their rounds passing about 200 yards from us on the way to a target maybe 300 yards past that. The craaaaacccckk of those rounds going by was impressive, to put it mildly. After they were done, they A-10's made a very low pass over us, because they knew that guests were present.