SNIPER 11 on VR-1801 (NY & VT)

[GriffissSpotter]

At 1026 EDT on 07/10/2021 an unid aircraft(s) type was mentioned by the ZBW UCA09/ART08 controller under the callsign SNIPER 11. The aircraft(s) responses were not heard. The controller asked said aircraft(s) if they would be going back to Burlington (KBTV) after the completion of VR-1801. Again no response from the aircraft(s). At 1028 AirScan heard "SNIPER 11 radar contact at 5 north of R5201 at 5300 maintain VFR, MOAs are not active at this time" R5201 is the restricted airspace for Fort Drum, NY. Around 1910 on 07/09/2021, COWBOY 11 (x4) landed at Wheeler-Sack AAF (KGTB). These were presumed to be F/A-18s from VMFA-112 based at NAS JRB Fort Worth. I would assume that this was just the F/A-18s. However, they have been known to strictly use the "COWBOY" callsign. SNIPER 11 was not heard from again after they entered VR-1801.

 

[AirScan]

Here's a link to the LiveATC controller comms with SNIPER 11. Anyone have more info or can confirm it was the F-18s ?

 

[CORN]

Well…since we couldn’t hear the aircraft in question still leaves the guess up in the air. I’ll take a stab at since “returning to Burlington” was asked maybe it or they were poss VT ANG F-35s? But if you’re considering Ft Worth Hornets then Yuma F-5s would be another worthy consideration since that’s their normal call sign. But I’m going with F-35s based at Burlington.

 

[yow777]

SNIPER 11 was using 270.600 Air/Air which has previously been reported as a VMFA-112 'Cowboys' frequency so that might confirm that they are in fact F/A-18's.

Heard them earlier today heading south on 273.550 (ZBW) > 298.900 (ZNY) and again 270.600 Air/Air, callsign COWBOY 11.

 

[GriffissSpotter]

SNIPER 11 was using 270.600 Air/Air which has previously been reported as a VMFA-112 'Cowboys' frequency so that might confirm that they are in fact F/A-18's.

Heard them earlier today heading south on 273.550 (ZBW) > 298.900 (ZNY) and again 270.600 Air/Air, callsign COWBOY 11.

Thank you! I can hear the ZBW controller on 273.550 from my location so that’s why it wouldn’t have caught my attention because I’m always hearing the controller on it.

 

[jsoergel]

You may want to plug 255.400 (FSS common) in for the training routes. SOP is to announce route entry on that freq.

 

[GriffissSpotter]

That's interesting because I was getting comms on 255.400 but I thought it was the air to air of two C-130s flying together. Thanks!