Mid-Atlantic MilAir 2023

[Mark]

Not East Coast related but originated at Seymour.....BACKY95 off from Honolulu direct BRIUN (LIVE ATC ZHN 126.50), appears to be on the way to Guam.

Yeah McGuire sent a RCH092 KC-46 #20-46073 out towards Guam the other day..
The KC-46s from SJ/McGuire can easily do non-stop to Hawaii on first leg.They have been doing the run more and more now.
Travis AFB used to do most of the Pacific tanking and still do a lot but retiring some already Travis KC-10's before they even get their first KC-46 maybe August of this year.I expect more Aloha tanker flights to continue
More possible KC-46 bases coming up but may be a while.Surprised that Bangor with all the Atlantic airbridge work not on any list yet.
March Air Reserve Base is top pick to host new KC-46 tankers (airforcetimes.com)

 

[RaleighGuy]

Being new to this group I have a question.

Will VC-25A, 92-9000 ever come back to service?

It's undergoing upgrades,completion date is unknown.

 

[Mark]

Here's the Elvis party returning to BWI.

Looks like the ELVIS birds headed out again for some night work.. Same pattern,maybe swapped crews.
Nice pics BTW

 

[Mark]

Odd one this am RCH-01 KC-46 #18-46049 McConnell hopping over to Scott AFB KBLV.
Maybe some foreign F-15 delivery coming up Monday or new F-15EX?

Was wrong on RCH-01.. Turned around at Scott and went zooming offshore San Diego this evening
destination towards Hawaii or Australia.
Sometimes 01 callsign like that used to be for Wing Commander or General in command of flight.
Good place to go to in February.

 

[frank3si]

I’ve seen this image several times, including repeatedly on CNN. What twin-engine aircraft is this investigating the balloon? Please ignore the rectangular light (in the room) reflection in the center - don't want to start any UAP rumors!

 

[mec287]

I’ve seen this image several times, including repeatedly on CNN. What twin-engine aircraft is this investigating the balloon?View attachment 135897

Looks like a P-8 based on the winglets.

 

[jsoergel]

I’ve seen this image several times, including repeatedly on CNN. What twin-engine aircraft is this investigating the balloon?View attachment 135897

That's a civilian airliner. Most likely just passing near it.

 

[frank3si]

That's a civilian airliner. Most likely just passing near it.

That paint scheme is what it looked like to me, as well...

 

[mec287]

Crazing that this happened to be honest. US military assets engaging and shooting down an 'airship' from an enemy land over US sovereign land.

We were at a college tour in Columbia and spotted the balloon as we were touring the campus of USC. It was in the clear blue sky due north at approx 30deg elevation just before noon.

We saw the news and I was monitoring this forum on the drive back home, what a resource we have here! Sadly, I was without RX capability.

At home I many times leave my SDR on VOX record on 260.9 MHz - just to see what pops up, assuming that anything of 'real' interest will happen here. Usually it's routine intercept training or CAP activity. But today - From just north of Charlotte with my attic-mounted SDR setup I caught the large majority of the intercept including the Splash call.

Sorry a lot of the audio really is pretty bad but... for all I have received from this group, I give to you now...

BallonKill

Oh yeah - splash at 15:08

Sounds like the F-22s were operating with their radar off and F-15s were supposed to be providing radar guidance. Seems like the F-15s were unable to get radar contact which is a shame. Hopefully those F-15s are operating older radars. AESAs are supposed to be really good at picking up small contacts. Not sure if all F-15s have been upgraded.

Is anyone else reading the audio that way?

 

[chrismol1]

I’ve seen this image several times, including repeatedly on CNN. What twin-engine aircraft is this investigating the balloon? Please ignore the rectangular light (in the room) reflection in the center - don't want to start any UAP rumors!

View attachment 135897

This photo purports to show the suspected Chinese balloon flying over Mills River, North Carolina, Saturday morning. The balloon is seen flying above a commercial aircraft, according to the photographer. (Photo: Jared Kay)

link: China says it 'reserves the right' to deal with 'similar situations' after US jets shoot down suspected spy balloon

 

[MMID303]

I don't want to stir the pot or anything and I won't mind if this gets deleted, but I keep reading replies from furious people about the balloon already getting all the information they need. I guess I'm always looking on the bright side of things, and have a ton of faith in our military. We have the technology to conduct "electronic warfare". Don't you think we were able to jam and mess with the balloons surveillance devices and prevent it from gathering the wanted information while still able to observe its predetermined path?

 

[KO4RJX]

I don't want to stir the pot or anything and I won't mind if this gets deleted, but I keep reading replies from furious people about the balloon already getting all the information they need. I guess I'm always looking on the bright side of things, and have a ton of faith in our military. We have the technology to conduct "electronic warfare". Don't you think we were able to jam and mess with the balloons surveillance devices and prevent it from gathering the wanted information while still able to observe its predetermined path?

F-22 Shoots Down Chinese Spy Balloon Off Carolinas With Missile (Updated)

After days spent floating over the U.S., the Chinese spy balloon was shot down and a collection operation is now underway off the Carolinas.

www.thedrive.com

This article implies they jammed it to some extent over certain areas.

 

[mdmonitor]

I would suspect that what the RC-135s that were flying close to the balloon were doing.

 

[maus92]

RC- is recon; EC- is countermeasures. I would imagine that we were detecting and measuring emissions from the payload. One complication is the payload's communication antennas were likely pointed skywards towards sats, making it more difficult to jam particularly if the Chinese were using commercial sats. But multiple days in US airspace gave the US ample opportunity to mess with it.

 

[maus92]

I’ve seen this image several times, including repeatedly on CNN. What twin-engine aircraft is this investigating the balloon? Please ignore the rectangular light (in the room) reflection in the center - don't want to start any UAP rumors!

View attachment 135897

This image was shot using a telephoto lens which compresses the foreground into the background. The airliner was not close to the balloon at all as it was 20K feet above typical flight levels used by commercial flights.

 

[RaleighGuy]

On 07-09 February 2023, NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, is visiting Washington D.C.

 

[AirScan]

I’ve seen this image several times, including repeatedly on CNN. What twin-engine aircraft is this investigating the balloon?

Looks like a Delta A220 or maybe a A320 ? Can you put a time to the photo ?

 

[Tech792]

 

[fLyer720]

View attachment 135909

FYI that is not real.... Same photo here back in 2020: An Air Force photo reveals interesting details about one of the oldest flying F-22 stealth fighters

 

[mdmonitor]

VIP Movement Summary (does not include POTUS, VPOTUS, FLOTUS travel)

DATE: 5 Feb

SAM 220 (C-37 # 18-1947) Europe-ADW