San Francisco Fleet Week 2009

[b52hbuff]

Here is the show data from Fencecheck
Fence Check Aviation Photography | United States - California - Fleet Week 2009 - San Francisco - 10/08/09

...be sure to check back periodically through the weekend and just after the show for photo pudates.

Here are some frequencies fom last year:
http://forums.radioreference.com/sa...s-freqs-today-fleet-week-calendar-events.html

If things don't change from last year, the only thing to look for is the A-A for Sean Tucker's collaborators. If you do a search on 'collaborators' in this forum, I find

135.75 Salinas 2008
119.85 Fleetweek 2007
123.475 "

 

[Scon777]

What would the Air Boss Freq. be for SFO Fleet Week 2009?

 

[b52hbuff]

What would the Air Boss Freq. be for SFO Fleet Week 2009?

For you and others... Click on the URL I provided and there are more than just 'bule(sic) angels' frequencies.

 

[b52hbuff]

Here are my UASD configs for the frequencies in the referenced thread from last year. It is usable on any Uniden radio since there is no UHF MilAir.

I also have my generic airshow profile for use on the Uniden radios that cover MilAir (e.g. BR330T, BCD396T, and XT radios). You can use it to monitor the Blue Angels, among other things.

 

[b52hbuff]

Made it up to KSFO and Executive Aviation Terminal to see the Blue Angels. I saw the Hornets and Fat Albert parked between Executive and United. I also saw another F/A-18 with a grey color scheme.

Anyway, here is what I think is the channel lineup for the show. It also duplicates what someone posted on bayscan about what was used at the recent Redding show.

346.50 - Jets preflight checklist
237.80 - Solos
284.25 - Diamond
275.35 - Show Box

...from my location I couldn't hear Bert, but suspect it'll be 305.5

Also noted was that Blue Angels used civilian VHF 120.5 to talk to SFO Tower.

 

[inigo88]

Thanks for quoting me in this thread. I realized I hadn't written the freqs down on paper and it was funny to get an answer from... myself.

However, I believe you reversed the Show Box and Diamond frequencies. Did they change the line-up, or was that by accident?

US Navy Blue Angels:
284.25 - Show Box
275.35 - Diamond
237.80 - Solos
305.50 - Fat Albert (Also used by Blue Angels (solos being graded by Mo?) during performance)
346.50 - Start Up/Taxi at SFO

As I recall from last year's Fleet Week 284.25 was used by everyone while inside the Show Box. As the 4-airplane Diamond would exit the box they would push (change freqs) to 275.35, where the boss would continue talking them through their maneuvering while the solos did their thing in the box. I can't remember now whether the solos spend the entire time on 237.80 when separated from the delta formation, or just when they're outside the show box (using 284.25 while inside). I think it's the latter, but I'm not positive.

Looking forward to seeing them this weekend!

-Inigo

 

[b52hbuff]

Thanks for quoting me in this thread. I realized I hadn't written the freqs down on paper and it was funny to get an answer from... myself.

I'm confused. Where did I quote you?

However, I believe you reversed the Show Box and Diamond frequencies. Did they change the line-up, or was that by accident?

Nope, I didn't reverse them.. I was monitoring off of North Road. I could hear the diamond clearly on 284.25. So that is what was used 'out of the show box'. Once they made it to the show area, the comms were much less clear. Therefore, I'm saying that 275.35 had to be the box.

As I recall from last year's Fleet Week 284.25 was used by everyone while inside the Show Box. As the 4-airplane Diamond would exit the box they would push (change freqs) to 275.35, where the boss would continue talking them through their maneuvering while the solos did their thing in the box. I can't remember now whether the solos spend the entire time on 237.80 when separated from the delta formation, or just when they're outside the show box (using 284.25 while inside). I think it's the latter, but I'm not positive.

I have your post up from last year's thread, and you're correct that this appears to be reversed.

You are correct about Solo frequency usage. Everyone (solos and diamond) use 'box frequency' when they're in the show box. I'm 90% sure that in the six ship formation, they will also switch between 'box' and 'diamond'.

One other monitoring tidbit, make sure you have your delay turned to 0. Unlike many of the comms folks monitor, these are pretty much one way and if your radio is sitting on a freq waiting for a response (that's never going to come), you'll miss something from another freq.

 

[inigo88]

I'm confused. Where did I quote you?

That was unclear, I just meant you linked to the thread from last year where I deposited my frequency findings.

Turning delay off is definitely a must. The frequency changes, just like everything else in their routine, are meticulously planned and will happen with no warning. The Comm switch is a thumb switch on the throttle quadrant of the F/A-18 so they can switch frequencies very quickly.

Regards,

Inigo

 

[Eng74]

The Blues are using the United hanger. One of my friends we tailgate with for 49ers games works for them. They are right outside his shops window. United has their open house this weekend so their family's can get in to see the pre-show when the Blues do their walkout.

 

[schaffner]

Fleet Week Show Boss Freq

Show boss was on 134.7 on Saturday. Show was a little disappointing as the fog started coming in when the Blue Angels were about to perform. They tried to do a flat show, but couldn't.

 

[b52hbuff]

Did anyone get a frequency for Fat Albert/Bert/C-130 (or whichever you choose)? Last year was 305.5. I didn't hear him on Friday or Saturday, even though he flew both days. On Friday, I was monitoring near SFO. I simply assumed that he was going to be chatting with someone out on muni pier, and maybe I couldn't hear him.

On Saturday, I was out on Treasure Island. I saw Bert flying around, but didn't hear him on 305.5. I was with my daughter and didn't have a good chance to just sit and play with my radio(s). So I'm not sure if they are/were using something new, or if maybe I wasn't getting enough signal from where I was and what antenna I was using.

Thanks.

btw, the rest of the frequencies in my profile were pretty much spot on for the media IFB, the discrete and the a-a frequencies for the patriots and the collaborators. I don't have my (paper) notebook, but I'll post later.

 

[inigo88]

Bert definitely wasn't on 305.5! I don't know what they were using and didn't get a chance to find it.

Show Box was 284.25, with Diamond on 275.35 and Solos on 237.80.

Show Boss 134.70, main Discreet was 119.85 (used by female airshow pilot and others). Patriots used 127.3 again. Sean D Tucker used a third discreet that I couldn't find (heard him thru PA feed), maybe 119.35? I heard traffic on that yesterday but forgot to program it today. Also heard traffic on 123.475 yesterday, but didn't hear any today.

Public Address system was on 455.65 FM.

Ceiling was 1200 OVERCAST and dropping when the Blue Angels came on, but even though they had to do a flat show they were FANTASTIC!

-Inigo

 

[BenJJ]

Low Show Better than No Show

Ceiling was 1200 OVERCAST and dropping when the Blue Angels came on, but even though they had to do a flat show they were FANTASTIC!

-Inigo

I'm glad they were able to at least do the "low-show" so the spectators weren't disappointed. I'm sure the squadron is disappointed when they have to cancel as they did on Saturday.

 

[Eng74]

The only flyover at the stick on Sunday was Fat Albert. Normally the Blues will buzz the stick on their way out and or on their way back.