Spent mostly all day up at Alpena watching SubSonex jets, L-29, L-39, MQ-9, Sioux Falls F-16’s and CAP aircraft all go in and out. This is a majority of what I heard, left out some things.
Northern Strike 25-2
8-5-25
0903: 275.800 Valkyrie 1 cleared back to Alpena, FL240, dep freq 128.425
0917: A-10 flt calling Black Talon 234.900 for times regarding the airspace, times got pushed back to 1400z (1000L) due to weather
0921: 275.800 GNARLY1(E-2C) taxiing out, Runway 1
0927: 121.350 GNARLY1 cleared for take off
0934: 128.425, GNARLY1 contact ABSOLUTE, checked in to ABSOLUTE (256.600), had that as BREWTOWN CRTC…, flying around Grayling MOA between block level 100-180
0941: 364.200, BUZZ and STING flt are getting gas with STEEL then joining the flight, BREWER won’t be joining the party until 1500
0949: 234.900 A-10 flt is airborne, checking in with Black Talon, as well as STING 11 - 14 flt, STING flt asking if any low MOA is open for them
0955: STING flight pushing 140.20, back up is 293.50, ABSOLUTE thought BUZZ was getting fuel with JEEP but JEEP isn’t airborne so expect to get fuel with STEEL instead
0959: 275.800 GNAT 1 x5 taxiing for Runway 1, Range Control on 256.600 talking to STING, expect a flight of 3 F-16’s in STEELHEAD, STING is first in line for fuel then BUZZ, STEEL62 is waiting on them whenever they’re ready
1000: 121.350 GNAT flight is going to simulate a MQ-9 launch with CAP2032, requesting to orbit southwest of the airfield
1001: 128.425 GNARLY is cleared up higher to orbit, a ton of airspace’s just went hot at 1000
1025: 132.200 BADGER 11 and BANJO checked on, last have BANJO as the B-2 that flew over the 2024 Selfridge airshow
1053: SUSPECT 1-1 talking on 282.600, BUZZ flt is also on freq
1100: 256.600 SNAKE checking in with ABSOLUTE, LOMA 4-1 and SNAKE 4-1 are joining the fight in the MOA, MUDDY 4-1 has some avionics issue, holding in FL 220/230, might RTB
1107: 256.600 STING is 2 miles from BAT
1109: MUDDY 4-1 checking in with WARDEN, I believe it’s 132.200
1137: 121.350 COMEY? 1-1 is RTB, 12 Miles out for Runway 1, approach is down due to an issue with what sounds like the landline.
1402: 256.600 BATTLE70 calling into ABSOLUTE, talking about their plans with CAP when they get into the GRAYLING MOA
1440: 121.350 GNARLY2 cleared for takeoff, aborted takeoff, got off the runway to work on the issue
1448: 128.425 BATTLE70 descending from 10k down to Alpena, contacting approach on 128.425
1453: 121.350 BATTLE70 making a left 360, CAP2040 in trail
1456: 128.425 BATTLE70 not responding to radio calls, not sure what the game plan is, CAP 2040 is clueless as well
1502: 121.350 GNARLY2 is cleared for takeoff, handed off to ABSOLUTE
1509: 132.200 LOBO’s are a bust, “This changes the geometry of the exercise this afternoon, if you guys want to get some flying in, I’ll keep an eye out for you”
1516: 128.425 BATTLE70 changed their mind, don’t want to fight anymore and requested to land at Alpena
1518: 128.425 BAT11? RTB since their services aren’t needed anymore, 5 mile initial from the southeast for runway 1
1520: 132.200 With the JOKER fallout and small jets RTB, the only players this afternoon are COYOTE and BANJO
1521: 132.200 AWACS was supposed to be her today, they’re a no go, mostly likely bailing out tomorrow
1525: 132.200 AWACS blocks are between 77501 and 77576
1527 128.425 COMEY 21 flight checking in, they want to go VFR back to the field
1530 121.350 BATTLE70 finally cleared to land
1532 121.350 BATTLE70 losing comms again with Alpena Tower, COMEY 2-1, expect a 3 minute delay to get CAP 2040 and BATTLE70 off the runway
