Southeast Louisiana military air question

[OrangeRider]

I'm located in Southeast Louisiana, not terribly far from MSY airport, but closer to the Mississippi river. I often see a variety such as T38, F5, C130, T6, blackhawk, etc (quite often following the river). I know there's a joint naval base in Belle Chase, but many of these crafts may or may not be associated with that base.

If there is, what's the best way to listen to comms from these crafts? I currently have a BCD436HP, and also a SDS200 that I haven't used as much as I'd like just yet.

Thanks in advance

 

[jsoergel]

436 will be your best bet for air band. T-6/T-38/F-5 will have one radio on UHF (225-400) for ATC and another on UHF for tactical. C-130 and UH-60 will likely be on VHF for ATC.

Your best bet is to check ADSB. Most will show up on there (maybe not the T-38s or F-5s). Post the callsigns here and I can suggest which freqs you’ll want to listen for.

 

[slayer816]

Ditto on the 436.

I would program all VHF and UHF freqs on JRB New Orleans AND New Orleans TRACON.

AirNav: KNBG - New Orleans Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base - Alvin Callender Field

Complete aeronautical information about New Orleans Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base - Alvin Callender Field (New Orleans, LA, USA), including location, runways, taxiways, navaids, radio frequencies, FBO information, fuel prices, sunrise and sunset times, aerial photo, airport diagram.

www.airnav.com

 

[Enforcer52]

If you are interested in listening to the B52s flying around Louisiana try these freqs.

 

[OrangeRider]

Thanks for your replies. Will definitely use those recommendations .

Would love to hear some B52's. I noticed there were a couple flying earlier today. Unfortunately, they're usually in the northwest part of Louisiana, and not often in the southeast area. But will definitely check those frequencies when they're somewhat close.

Thanks 👍

 

[Enforcer52]

Last week the B52s were flying around Leesville and Fort Polk a lot, you should be able to pick them up when they are that far south.

 

[OrangeRider]

Will definitely try next time. Are there usually a lot of comms from them when they're out and about?

 

[Enforcer52]

Will definitely try next time. Are there usually a lot of comms from them when they're out and about?

Not a whole lot of comms from them on a regular basis, just the occasional call.

 

[OrangeRider]

Curious, a couple replies indicated the 436 (vs sds200) would be the way for me to go for air band. Why is that? Is the SDS200 not good at those frequencies? Just curious.

Thanks

 

[jsoergel]

Curious, a couple replies indicated the 436 (vs sds200) would be the way for me to go for air band. Why is that? Is the SDS200 not good at those frequencies? Just curious.

Thanks

It’s not too bad, but the 436 is much better at it in terms of both reception and audio quality.

 

[slayer816]

Also the AR Tracks.... several come very close to your area

436 vs sds200
-I've always had better airband experiences with the 436/536 radios versus the SDS. Not to say the SDS will not work, but my little 125AT seems to do better. I'm not sure if this is a built in bias in my head.

 

[OrangeRider]

Slayer816, what are the AR Tracks you're referring to? Kinda lost me on that one.

Getting back to the 436 and sds200, I had considered selling (or swapping) my 436 for a sds100. In hind sight, maybe a good thing I didn't. If anything, I'll just add a sds100, and keep the 436 as well. Or maybe even add a 125AT at its modest cost.

Thanks

 

[OrangeRider]

Slayer816, nothing like a two month old reply eh ? I happened to be checking a few radio frequencies, and looking at ADSB, and I now realized what AR tracks you were referring to in your message. Since I do have a few AR tracks nearby, are there specific frequencies to catch activity of those? I did come across 278.750, 260.200, and 324.600. Not sure if these usually have much activity or not, but found those in the RR database for a couple AR tracks in my area. Any other AR frequencies that may have some activity in my area?

Thanks

 

[N9JCQ]

Slayer816, nothing like a two month old reply eh ? I happened to be checking a few radio frequencies, and looking at ADSB, and I now realized what AR tracks you were referring to in your message. Since I do have a few AR tracks nearby, are there specific frequencies to catch activity of those? I did come across 278.750, 260.200, and 324.600. Not sure if these usually have much activity or not, but found those in the RR database for a couple AR tracks in my area. Any other AR frequencies that may have some activity in my area?

Thanks

OrangeRider, these may be a bit out of date but it will get you started. You will need the Center frequencies for each route as well as the common units that service these ARs so you can determine Boom freqs and such. Good luck! https://airrefuelingarchive.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/air-refueling-tracks.jpg

 

[slayer816]

TRACK

plus the map that N9JCQ posted are about the most current I could find

They at least match my tracks locally.

 

[OrangeRider]

N9JCQ and slayer816, thank you both for your help!! Will definitely check it out and hopefully get to hear some comms during refueling. I did notice a B52 following AR302 on Monday and Tuesday, but I was a little busy and not able to listen for coms...hopefully I'll be ready (and able) next time.

Thanks again 👍!