Mid-Atlantic (and beyond) MilAir 2025

[reconrider8]

Well I'm a musician by profession, so I'm driving around during the day for teaching, rehearsing, etc. Also a number of out-of-town situations on the weekends. Same was true for ham radio when I worked HF from my minivan. The main home issue is that I live next door to the VA State Police tower complete with VHF trunked CC and a 162 MHz NWS transmitter.

Dare County was a great test for the AirSpy, though. Actually, I was in Hyde County, just west of Dare. A huge land/water area with a population of only about 6000. Super RF quiet, so the AirSpy and the signal-stalker on the scanner work pretty well even for fighter air/air. I really need to learn how to integrate my database into the AirSpy, though, because I had to stare at it constantly and write furiously--on freqs that are already known!

RF environment is also a big problem in the Norfolk area, where the Navy ELMR is a major alligator. Fortunately, my scanner-tolerant girlfriend likes a beach that's fairly close to Langley AFB but not as RF-hostile as Norfolk, and I hope to do some more modest experimenting there in a couple weeks.

Well I'm a musician by profession, so I'm driving around during the day for teaching, rehearsing, etc. Also a number of out-of-town situations on the weekends. Same was true for ham radio when I worked HF from my minivan. The main home issue is that I live next door to the VA State Police tower complete with VHF trunked CC and a 162 MHz NWS transmitter.

Dare County was a great test for the AirSpy, though. Actually, I was in Hyde County, just west of Dare. A huge land/water area with a population of only about 6000. Super RF quiet, so the AirSpy and the signal-stalker on the scanner work pretty well even for fighter air/air. I really need to learn how to integrate my database into the AirSpy, though, because I had to stare at it constantly and write furiously--on freqs that are already known!

RF environment is also a big problem in the Norfolk area, where the Navy ELMR is a major alligator. Fortunately, my scanner-tolerant girlfriend likes a beach that's fairly close to Langley AFB but not as RF-hostile as Norfolk, and I hope to do some more modest experimenting there in a couple weeks.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

Gotcha what i do is just have my setup at home and remote in and with that setup I told you about im hearing traffic from all over with the antenna up about 30 feet and I just listen over remote access tot he laptop that sits at home running all day

 

[Mark]

NASA426 just flew by me here in Frederick Maryland. I looked at its flight path and wow that was interesting. Any idea what they could be doing ? Thanks

This low altitude NASA testing was supposed to end by July 2nd but maybe still going on due to wx etc.
Looking at flight track chart it really made some low passes out your way at 1400 feet.
Looking at flight history the NASA P-3 went to Ontario Cal June 27th and did flights and rtb Wallops July 3rd.
NASA426 National Aeronautics and Space Administration Flight Tracking and History - FlightAware

NASA Aircraft to Make Low-Altitude Flights in Mid-Atlantic, California - NASA

 

[Mark]

Sounded like EDDIE31 on 368.6000. Another group of Devils maybe???

I took a break waiting on EDDIE-31 but nothing on tape unlike EDDIE-11 this morning.
Seems all the EDDIE tankers and chicks heading for Alaska possibly Fairbanks among a few other KC-135's.

 

[RichardKramer]

Nothing for ZNY? I was asking because of that sequence where REAPER 11 was going 353.5>307.8>323.15

73/Allen (N4JRI)

If they kept hdg W; ZDC Sector 18, Du Pont would've been next: 132.525/307.250 after 307.800.

 

[Tank67]

Looks like they have started retiring HMX-1 VH-3s

 

[MMID303]

NASA520 in central Pa too

 

[Mark]

Checking rewind ADSB the other day seems RCH-071 KC-135 #58-0023 from MacDill took the Viper Demo team down
to Colombia.. I'm sure they will get a kick out of that Demo
Viper Demo Team arrives at F-AIR 25 Colombia

 

[jetcrafter]

See one of the McGuire CH-53 Hustlers from HMH-772 has made its way up into AA-25 exercise
now at Bangor.
HSLR41 Flight Tracking and History 08-Jul-2025 (KPWM-KBGR) - FlightAware
Also one of the McGuire C-130T VR-64 Condors also made the trip up there.

CONDR12 Flight Tracking and History 08-Jul-2025 (KWRI-KBGR) - FlightAware

Track CONDR12 flight from Mc Guire Fld (Joint Base Mc Guire Dix Lakehurst) to Bangor Intl

www.flightaware.com

Mark,
The McGuire HUSTLERS (three of them) landed at Portland, ME. My son had video and pics of them going to the Northeast Air FBO ramp across from his maintenance hangar. One flew up to BGR like you posted but I think he had to land in Auburn (KLEW) on his way back due to storms in the area. I saw pics from a spotter there.

The CONDOR 12 flight was actually three HMH-464 CONDORS from New River. CONDOR 12 was plotting on ADSBx as CH-53 tail number 162517. Pics and videos from the Bangor spotters confirmed.

Yesterday was quite a day up here as I missed it all due to having to work! Thankfully, I have much recorded that I need to go through and make a log off of them. Besides the COWBOY F-18s, there were the six CH-53s (3 to PWM, 3 to BGR) and three V-22s to Bangor. Spotters have some great pics and videos on Facebook group. They were VMM-764 (from Miramar I believe). There were also numerous KC-130s passing through and working around Maine and at least one P-8 that I saw on ADSBx. Oh, and the usual USAF tankers training everywhere as well. Playing back ADSBx is a great tool to try to figure out what's going on around you!

I had three scanners recording as well as the SDR. Caught a couple Cherry Point KC-130s RANGER 41&42 chatting on 136.150 as well as a couple unknowns on 305.275 Which I had as MCAS New River AV-8B freq. Not sure it was a Harriers though. Lastly, the SDR caught a couple unknowns chatting on 326.875 I still need to see if that was V-22s or someone else. I'll have to investigate when I get more free time on the weekend.

Today, only different recordings up here was the COWBOYs heading South out of Pease on ATC freqs and their A-A 226.200 They talked to "Base" on 250.100 on their return.

That's it from here for now. I'll keep everything recording 24/7 and see what pops up!

 

[jetcrafter]

DARE COUNTY LOG - 7/8/25
Gotta start by saying that I really appreciate this group, and follow it closely. Unfortunately--or maybe not--I don't have a home monitoring situation. The hobby travels around with me in the car during the normal workday...so I don't get to make a lot of contribution here. But sometimes when I have a day off, I'll travel FOR the hobby. Went down from Richmond, VA to Engelhard, NC on Monday night, staying at the Hotel Engelhard, and staked out the range on Tuesday. The holy grail for this trip would be the JTAC freq for the Air Force range, and I've still failed to get it. Maybe another trip in a few months. Not a lot of new info, but thought I'd share what I have, in hopes that it fills in a few missing pieces. BTW, if you visit that area know that it's extremely challenged for food. No grocery stores or substantial convenience stores. I was pretty much on a diet of chicken tenders for the entire trip. Equipment was 6 TRX-1's (2 scanning, 4 recording single channels) a PSR-600 set for Signal Stalker/Spectrum Sweeper in 225-400 range, and an AirSpy 2 that I'm not particularly skilled with.

1000 - 225.125 air/air signal stalker hit. Sounded like "Katy 11" at Navy Dare. My dB shows this as VFA-105
1130 - 343.300 air/air used by ROMAN 11 (or 101) at Navy Dare. Lots of noise and QRM on this freq.
1226 - JOKER 31 using 274.05 air/air @ Navy Dare
1350 - HAMMER 11 using 273.85 air/air @ AF Dare. My dB shows this freq as VFA-211
1619 - All kinds of fun at AF Dare. F-15E's may have been STARLING 31, but there appeared to be multiple flights. Most of these hits came from Signal Stalker on the PSR-600, and a 225-400 MHz scan on the AirSpy2
311.575 definitely confirmed as 4FW Air/Air. Used by the first group in at the range
306.275 also confirmed as 4FW air/air...didn't catch the callsign, but the number was 41. (second group into the range)
317.900 also appears to be 4FW. Mention of a barge, so I'm thinking they were working Pamlico
281.000 AXE 61 & 62 air/air working Navy Dare. My dB shows this as VFA-32
229.825 - not sure who this is, but my dB shows someone heard it with a HAMMER callsign
Quiet out there for a while, and then things started to heat up again around 1800L
388.85 - BACKY (21 & 22?) enroute to 'Tinker 1'? Also showed up on 266.4 (Kiwi)
346.700 - "Push 14" and over to 268.7 Cherry Pt Appr. This should be a 4FW air/air (heard it last week at Seymour) also got another confirm later on that Button 14 for those guys is 268.7.
311.25 and 315.9 in use air/air. 311.25 is 4FW, but not positive on 315.9
1849L General announcements to 'all players' on 364.35. I show this freq as assoc. with Cherry Point, and generally hear someone giving a lot of instructions. Sounds like they're setting up something down south. Have heard this freq used this way in early evening on a number of trips down that way. LOTS of traffic (much of it instructions) when active.
377.0 - A couple E-2's air/air. My dB shows VAW-124. They appeared to be working at some altitude and one was checking to make sure that the other had heard the 'knock it off' call on the exercise freq. (am thinking this might've been 364.35 and that's why it was so quiet) Later I heard '600' call '602' on this freq with some instructions. Mention of a carrier, but I don't know if for real or part of an exercise.
1952L - 378.65 (Phelps MOA) gets really verbose with OXBLOOD, REAPER and TRON. Lots of info on targets, and a lot of electronic warfare type talk. I left at 2000L and it faded out for a while, but got very strong again as I got on US64W toward Columbia & Creswell. So it went on and on toward 2100 at least.
Updates for Seymour Johnson button #'s:
14 looks confirmed as 268.7 (Cherry Point A/D high)
33 looks like probably 349.1 (AF Dare pri)
37 looks like probably 378.65 (Phelps)
Ultimate Frustration: An after-dark 4FW visit to AF Dare had mention of JTAC, but I was not close enough to snag a freq.
Best Lesson: I need to get some skill on that AirSpy2 and get enough USB power in the car to keep the laptop going.

73/Allen (N4JRI)

Outstanding log write up Allen! Looks like you had a great time monitoring! I've been to Navy Dare twice and it was a great experience both times!

I also have the Airspy R2. I have it set up to scan the Milair range. In my case I use 225-400 as I get some Coronet flights that still use the freqs above 380. On my computer, it takes 2.38 seconds to scan the whole range! So much faster than a scanner.

I used this video on youtube to help get started. It takes some tweaking of a few settings, but it does work pretty well. Have a look at the video and try it out. You'll be amazed at the speed. I also have it record as well so I can go back and hear what it caught.

If your not around milair at home, test it out on civil air 118-136 and you'll see what it can do. Happy monitoring!

 

[Saint01]

2258z BANKR 12 (Ut. KC-135R) eastbound 125.975 zau > 126.525 zob > 134.925 czy

 

[Mark]

Mark,
The McGuire HUSTLERS (three of them) landed at Portland, ME. My son had video and pics of them going to the Northeast Air FBO ramp across from his maintenance hangar. One flew up to BGR like you posted but I think he had to land in Auburn (KLEW) on his way back due to storms in the area. I saw pics from a spotter there.

The CONDOR 12 flight was actually three HMH-464 CONDORS from New River. CONDOR 12 was plotting on ADSBx as CH-53 tail number 162517. Pics and videos from the Bangor spotters confirmed.

Thanks for ID on those CH-53E Condors.. makes sense now why after McGuire stop one flew to Bangor at only 2500 feet
Never heard of those CH-53E Condor guys down there.. Only the VR-64 Condors. Thanks!

CONDR12 Flight Tracking and History 08-Jul-2025 (KWRI-KBGR) - FlightAware

Track CONDR12 flight from Mc Guire Fld (Joint Base Mc Guire Dix Lakehurst) to Bangor Intl

www.flightaware.com

 

[Mark]

ASY-524 dodging wx made it to Dover from Travis C-17 #A41-207 parking at hot cargo ramp.
reports crew of 11 and usual fuel uploads and C-17 servicing.

RCH-1855 C-5M #86-0025 inbound Dover from Grant County Intl airport KMWH aka Moses Lake.
Seemed like odd stop when it left Dover a couple days to go out there. That is sort of Boeing Country. LOL
Maybe picked up some large C-17 parts? Large runway there at 200 feet wide and 13.5k feet long.

 

[TerryPavlick]

NJ F-16s heading west with EDDIE. Try 352.90 for boom? 298.60 a2a on the jets.
Dan
K3NXX

I was driving home to PA today and was hearing them on 298.600 and heard the switch from 285.400 to 363.000

I just happened to be on Route 55 northbound at the time in the area of Millville NJ - so could hear the controller on UHF talking to them on the rubber duck antenna. Probably passed right overhead. The RCAG for 363.000 is at the Millville Airport

 

[jetcrafter]

Thanks for ID on those CH-53E Condors.. makes sense now why after McGuire stop one flew to Bangor at only 2500 feet
Never heard of those CH-53E Condor guys down there.. Only the VR-64 Condors. Thanks!

CONDR12 Flight Tracking and History 08-Jul-2025 (KWRI-KBGR) - FlightAware

Track CONDR12 flight from Mc Guire Fld (Joint Base Mc Guire Dix Lakehurst) to Bangor Intl

www.flightaware.com

Your welcome Mark. My son just told me all three HUSTLERs are now gone from Portland. He didn't know where they went from there. I'm assuming Bangor.

 

[JerseyViper_]

NIGHTHAWK3 Landing at TEB and departing at 8:37 to EWR

 

[AJSpotsNJ]

NIGHTHAWK3 Landing at TEB and departing at 8:37 to EWR

Just departed EWR back to Solberg

ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live

ADS-B Exchange - track aircraft live - aircraft flight history

globe.adsbexchange.com

 

[RaleighGuy]

Busy weekend for POTUS, why not have some fun...

FDC NOTAM 5/5456 has been issued for the Kerrville, TX area on July 11, 2025.
FDC NOTAMs 5/5598, 5/5599 & 5/5597 have been issued for the Newark, NJ area on July 11, 2025.
FDC NOTAMs 5/5601 & 5/5600 have been issued for the Bedminster, NJ area on July 11-13, 2025.
FDC NOTAMs 5/5604 & 5/5603 have been issued for the East Rutherford, NJ area on July 13, 2025.
FDC NOTAMs 5/5606, 5/5605 & 5/5607 have been issued for the Newark, NJ area on July 13, 2025.

Date (Click to sort Ascending)	NOTAM (Click to sort Ascending)	Facility (Click to sort Ascending)	State (Click to sort Ascending)	Type (Click to sort Ascending)	Description (Click to sort Ascending)
07/09/2025	5/5607	ZDC	NJ	VIP	Newark, NJ, Sunday, July 13, 2025 Local New

07/09/2025

5/5604

ZNY

NJ

VIP

East Rutherford, NJ, Sunday, July 13, 2025 Local New

07/09/2025

5/5600

ZDC

NJ

VIP

Bedminster, NJ, Friday, July 11, 2025 through Sunday, July 13, 2025 Local New

07/09/2025

5/5598

ZNY

NJ

VIP

Newark, NJ, Friday, July 11, 2025 through Friday, July 11, 2025 Local New

07/09/2025

5/5456

ZHU

TX

VIP

Kerrville, TX, Friday, July 11, 2025 Local New

 

[Mark]

REAPER is based at Beaufort - USMC aggressors versus the USN ones at Key West.

Rgr that seems from a fairly new adversary squadron VMFT-402 down there.. nickname "Grim Reapers."
In Flight and Fuel: Marine Pilots fly an F-5 in Joint Base Cape Cod

 

[Tech792]

0807L- Hearing Langley birds up 296.9
Also have an EDDIE 29 tanker in a pattern just west of Philly.

 

[Mark]

0807L- Hearing Langley birds up 296.9
Also have an EDDIE 29 tanker in a pattern just west of Philly.

Darn just missed them. Had someone on UHF going to FL-230 at 0806 local.
Maybe were the no shows from yesterday? Assume off to Alaska with the others.

Several FIST KC-46 tankers all bound for Hawaii this morning.
FIST-82,92 out of Pease.
FIST-01 KC-46 #18-46055 from SJ.
Big PACAF exercise starts out there this week two years in planning... Includes Bamboo Eagle 25-3 so prob active like before off Cal Coast.

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4236472/daf-kicks-off-department-level-exercise-series-in-pacific/