Mid-Air Refueling over Nova Scotia

[looknlisten]

BLUE36 Flight

BLUE36 (KC-10[AE0213] 83-0075) has checked in with CYYT and has been cleared direct Halifax.
He is bringing 4 Lakenheath F-15E Strike Eagles with him.
They have been switched to Moncton center 118.600 at 1702Z
Now on PlanePlotter with Halifax Sharer xd 1731Z
Entering my zone (Sharer 'su'). I'm hoping they don't break-off formation before reaching CYQI. 1736Z
Too good to be true...never saw or heard anything. I did have comms on Boom freq 283.050

 

[Mark]

1853Z RETRO 86 tape log heard 4 fighters count off with ZDC.
Assume headed down to SJ

 

[looknlisten]

I've been told they are scheduled to head back to depot for maintenance.

 

[Mark]

I've been told they are scheduled to head back to depot for maintenance.

Rgr that ..later told enroute KWRB.
Seems usually a depot move when they use oddball Retro call numbers like 86

 

[Mark]

0335z RCH 201 01-0196 A/A with tanker? 139.875 enroute AR20
0340z A KC-10 up showing OPEC29 to Northeast

 

[looknlisten]

They're a bit early.
I recognize that C-17. He has been here several times before (ran off the runway at Bagram Airbase in 2005).

 

[looknlisten]

0335z RCH 201 01-0196 A/A with tanker? 139.875 enroute AR20
0340z A KC-10 up showing OPEC29 to Northeast

I have them now on that same freq. Sounds like they have no intention of using 341.750. 0419Z
Refuel over early. C-17 cleared to FL210 direct CYQY (Sydney NS) (0440Z)

 

[looknlisten]

SPUR70 Flight

SPUR70 & 71 are tanking GRIM25 on AR20NE.
Using AR20 secondary 349.700 as Boom Freq. 2248Z

 

[darrylcn]

I'm getting constant static noise on 341.750, rest of the channels including 349.700 are clear but it's like something's transmitting on 341.750 Odd.

 

[looknlisten]

I'm getting constant static noise on 341.750, rest of the channels including 349.700 are clear but it's like something's transmitting on 341.750 Odd.

Not the first time that happened with this guy....also just happened to be an AWACS in the area (77-0352 SNTRY61H, E-3B, 552ACW [KTIK])...just like the last time

 

[darrylcn]

Wow that's interesting. They were chatting on secondary (I temp locked out Pri). Not sure what they were doing if it was an intentional constant transmission.

 

[darrylcn]

Second unique KAF C-17 hex in two days overhead.

 

[darrylcn]

3 C-130s over Halifax right now. OTIS a REACH and a USN/USMC BuNo. That's quite rare out of the blue.

 

[looknlisten]

3 C-130s over Halifax right now. OTIS a REACH and a USN/USMC BuNo. That's quite rare out of the blue.

I suspect that OTIS80/81 are heading East (Fairford) to pickup the President's Ospreys now that the Nato Summit has concluded. AR20SW is reserved for this evening. Good chance it will be for AF-1 and his entourage.

 

[looknlisten]

AF-1 and friends

I see AF-1 and SAM44 have passed St Johns at the top of the hour (2103) SPUR75(86-0035) is now on 139.875 co-coordinating the AR. (2340Z)
Look for these guys...
SAM95 (C2,09-0015)
SAM44 (C2, 09-0016)
GRIM25 (E4B, 73-1676
AF-1 (VC 25, 92-9000)
Estimated time to the IP (Sydney, NS) is 0032Z
GRIM25 near St. Johns at 2338Z
SPUR74 (KC-10, 87-0124) has joined in. Still A-A on 139.875 (0025Z)
AF-1 on my screen now 0026Z
GRIM25 is with Moncton center at 0030Z
SAM95 (C2,09-0015) and SAM44 (C2, 09-0016) both near Halifax at FL320 (0045Z).

 

[darrylcn]

Getting the same perma transmission as the other night on 341.750. It sounds like audio being transmitted rather than just plain hiss.

 

[looknlisten]

I'm getting constant static noise on 341.750, rest of the channels including 349.700 are clear but it's like something's transmitting on 341.750 Odd.

Here we go again...coincidence?...I don't think so. (0130Z)

 

[darrylcn]

Is there any logic behind it? I'm not seeing the reason for it happening.

 

[darrylcn]

There's Grim 25 with radio checks. Just like the other night when Pri was being stepped on Secondary was used in its place.

 

[looknlisten]

Is there any logic behind it? I'm not seeing the reason for it happening.

Seems whenever the E4-B is nearby us and traveling with the Prez...that channel always locks up. This is the 3rd time I've seen (heard) it happen. Not exactly sure why...but it does.