Guard Dog CAP Schedule...Start 0815 4/27/07...End 0945 4/28/07
PITMAN 25/26, F-16s from Shaw
TANKER 01, KC-135R from PA-ANG Pittsburgh (58-0074)
Everyone has problems. PITMAN 25 has a guidance system problem and they have plans to go into Andrews if it craps out on him. The tanker couldn't retract his boom because of a bad signal coil. They did an on-board repair and are going to see if it works. At 1041, they were about to refuel when HUNTRESS suddenly had a target for them to chase down.
HUNTRESS decides that target is not a threat so PITMAN 25/26 are heading for the tanker again to see if this repaired boom is going to work. Everyone going to boom freq 228.9 from primary 260.9. Time is 1045.
By 1053, both PITMANs are done refueling. For now, it looks like TANKER 01's boom is working after that duct tape and rubber band repair. KC-135 crews have been doing that for years and they're excellent at it. PITMAN 25/26 go back to the CAP with full tanks (11,800 and 11,600 pounds respectively).
TANKER 01 reports to HUNTRESS that his boom is in the green.
High noon and the PITMAN pair are heading back to TANKER 01 for what should be their last refueling before heading back to Shaw. They're asking for 2000 pounds each. TANKER 01 says he has plenty of gas and asks if they want a topoff. PITMAN 25 says they'll take 3000 but don't want too much since they're about to go home.
PITMAN 31/32 are are on the way to the CAP. At 1208 they're with ZDC-Irons 360.85 at FL 230.
PITMAN 25/26 back in the CAP at 1210 after completion of the refueling op.
At 1214, PITMAN 31/32 are using 139.825 for interflight on their way into the CAP.
So...by 1232 PITMAN 31/32 are in the CAP, refueling with TANKER 01 and PITMAN 25/26 have been cleared back to Shaw. They are leaving the CAP with ZDC-Montebello 121.675 (They asked for a Victor freq) and then quickly get changed to Uniform 284.7 so they can use their Victor radio for interflight 139.825.
TANKER 02 is on his way to the CAP...asked for the squawks of all the current players.
TANKER 02 is currently with ZDC-Sea Isle 281.45 at 1238 reporting he'll enter the CAP at FL 250.
Believe TANKER 02 is going to be a KC-135R from the 133rd ARS NH-ANG (63-8038)....unless he flies right on by us....nope, he's staying to play the part of TANKER 02.
1243: TANKER 01 tells PITMAN 32 he has a lot of fuel spray coming out of his left wing...disconnects and then asks if he wants to try hooking up again...32 does and the same thing happens so he disconnects....he's within 500 pounds of being full anyway so he's not worried about it...it stopped spraying shortly after disconnecting from the boom...228.9
1246: TANKER 01 is trying to get out of there and head for home but HUNTRESS won't release him just yet...260.9/135.525
1249: TANKER 02 checks in with HUNTRESS...260.9
1249: TANKER 01 wants his clearance thru Indianhead (back to Pittsburgh)...135.525
1256: TANKER 01 picks up his clearance and heads for home...135.525
Late 1100 hour an Egyptian government owned Gulfstream IV just went whizzing overhead at FL 410. (SU-BGM was his registration)
1254: UTAH 64 (KC-135R, 63-8206, 191st ARS UT-ANG Salt Lake City) heading to Dover AFB with 37 pax to offload...349.4 (That's an unusual one!)
1304: TANKER 01 to STEEL Control at Pittsburgh to report he's 20 minutes out, A-3 status for the boom writeups and will land with about 38,000 pounds of fuel on board...311.0
1312: Have a FAST 61 flight (F-16, 138th Fighter Squadron NY-ANG Syracuse) working interflight 138.3. They just got handed off from ZOB-Altoona RCAG 363.075 to freq 316.1 (and I have no idea who that is...they repeated it several times among themselves - I guess they don't know who it is either...I'm listening there but hear nothing yet)
1335: PITMAN 31 completes another refueling with TANKER 02....PITMAN 32 heading for fuel at 1337
1346: PITMAN 32 done with his AR and is back in the CAP
1445: PITMAN 31 going to TANKER 02 to refuel...and does...228.9
1450: PITMAN 31 finishes the AR op after taking 6300 pounds of fuel...228.9
PITMAN 31 now has 11,900 pounds and PITMAN 32 has 8,100 pounds of fuel in their tanks...32 is cleared to the tanker.
Log will end here until the next set of replacements come in.
Got some yard work in and missed the handoff from PITMAN 31/32 to 33/34 but, yeah, it happened - I guess around 1600. TANKER 02 is still in place.
This has been a relatively quiet day for MilAir, at least by comparison to the rest of the week. I guess the bad weather this morning had something to do with it.
1656: TANKER 03 makes contact with HUNTRESS....will come into the area at FL 240....260.9
I apparently missed a problem that PITMAN 34 had with TANKER 02...for some reason he couldn't refuel with him and is waiting anxiously for TANKER 03 to get here to try with him. If the problem is aboard PITMAN 34's system and wasn't with TANKER 02's equipment, he'll land at Andrews.
1659: TANKER 03 is just about to the CAP...he's a KC-135R (tail 60-0349) from the 77th ARS at Seymour Johnson AFB NC.
1702: TANKER 03 checking in with Potomac at FL 240....135.525
1710: PITMAN 34 has gone to the tanker to try refueling...they're talking on the boom intercom so I can't hear a word they're saying...however, no problems have been reported on the radio, so they must be hooked up. TANKER 03 reports disconnect at 1712...228.9
1713: PITMAN 33 asks HUNTRESS if his wingman is able to take gas...TANKER 03 pops in to say they're working on it and are just about to make contact...TANKER 03 reports he's giving gas...then reports disconnect...260.9
1714: TANKER 02 is cleared to RTB by HUNTRESS...switches to Potomac to pick up his clearance and asks for FL 350 to PSM (Pease NH)...135.525
1717: TANKER 03 reports disconnect again...still haven't heard a word from PITMAN 34...after all these disconnects, it appears 34 is indeed having some trouble...228.9
1721: TANKER 03 reports disconnect again and tells PITMAN 34 he got 7800 pounds of fuel...guess it was successful after several attempts...228.9
1827: It's time for PITMAN 34 to refuel again...he's heading for the tanker...260.9
1832: PITMAN 34 with TANKER 03 on boom freq...disconnect reported at this time...disconnect again at 1834...228.9
1837: They disconnect for a final time and TANKER 03 reports 34 took 5300 pounds...228.9
1838: PITMAN 34 reports back in the CAP to HUNTRESS and PITMAN 33 starts for the tanker...260.9
1844: PITMAN 33 completes his AR after taking 4800 pounds...228.9....reports back in the CAP...260.9
1850: PITMAN 33 tells HUNTRESS they will not need to refuel anymore...260.9
1902: PITMAN 35/36 coming into the area on interflight...139.825
1907: PITMAN 35 into the area and checks in with HUNTRESS (he has used both PITMAN 25 and 35 so I'm not sure who he is yet)...260.9
1909: New PITMAN pair looking for the tanker...in one transmission he used both 25 and 35...I think it's really 35 no matter how mixed up he is...260.9
1912: PITMAN 35/36 switch to boom freq (and he has settled on 35), make contact with TANKER 03....35 will go to the boom and 36 will hang out on the left wing of the tanker...228.9
1917: PITMAN 35 in position and cleared to contact the boom...228.9
1920: PITMAN 35 off the boom after taking 5700 pounds...228.9
1923: PITMAN 35 tells HUNTRESS they took off at 2223Z (which means it took them about 45 minutes to reach the CAP area from Shaw)...260.9
1924: PITMAN 36 off the boom after taking 5300 pounds...228.9
1925: TANKER 03 tells HUNTRESS he has 50,000 pounds of fuel left for himself and his receivers...260.9
2000: PITMAN 35, although still having 9500 pounds of fuel in his tanks, is going to the boom for a topoff...260.9
2002: PITMAN 35 switches to boom freq and makes contact with TANKER 03...35 reports nose cold, weapons safe...228.9
2005: TANKER 03 clears PITMAN 35 onto the boom...228.9
2008: PITMAN 35 off the boom...he took 2700 pounds...228.9....checks back in with HUNTRESS...260.9
2019: PITMAN 36 over to the boom freq with TANKER 03...228.9
2024: PITMAN 36 off the boom...took 4100 (I think)...228.9...checks back in with HUNTRESS...260.9
2117: PITMAN 35 going back to the tanker for yet more fuel...260.9
2117: PTIMAN 35 reports in a 6.9 mile trail with TANKER 03...tanker clears him to join...228.9
2117: BLACKJACK 1 (USCG HH-65) with Andrews Tower performing intercepts in the area of Andrews...118.4
2122: PITMAN 35 has caught up with the tanker and is cleared in to the boom...228.9
2126: PITMAN 35 disconnects from the boom after taking 3900 pounds....35 says he's not full and is invited back onto the boom for more fuel...he takes another 1300 pounds for a total of 5200...PITMAN 35 asks the tanker for his tail number and is given 60-0349 from Seymour Johnson - confirming what I posted above at 1659 when he came into the area...228.9
2146: PITMAN 36 to the boom freq for refueling with TANKER 03...tanker picking up speed...I believe they try to be at about 310 knots during the refueling op...228.9
2148: PITMAN 36 cleared to contact the boom...228.9
2149: BLACKJACK 1 and 2 advise Andrews Tower they're done...BLACK JACK 2 says he's over Greenbelt and want to pick up Route 3 (helo route)
2150: PITMAN 36 disconnects after taking 3300 pounds...03 asks him if he's full...36 says nope, so he's going back onto the boom for more...228.9
2153: PITMAN 36 off the boom again after taking another 2100 pounds - total 5400...228.9
2153: TANKER 03 advises HUNTRESS they've only got 8,000 pounds left for himself and receivers...oops...he says the receivers can come back in about 20-25 minutes and get 2,000 pounds apiece (and that will be all he can do and still get home)...260.9
I believe the 8000 pounds that TANKER 03 mentioned is over and above his bingo amount. He can give each fighter 2000 pounds, stay on station for about 20 minutes and then must scoot.
2156: PITMAN flight leader says they should have enough to finish the shift and get home if his #2 goes to the tanker in 15 minutes and takes 2000 pounds...TANKER 03 says that will put him at bingo...260.9
2204: PITMAN 35 and 36 change to boom freq...36 going to the boom first...TANKER 03 tells them they're welcome to top off and that will finish him off...TANKER 03 says he has 5000 pounds to give and that's it...both fighters are going to try to top off (greedy SOBs - they don't care if the tanker is short)...228.9
[The F-16s are supposed to have 6700 pounds when they leave the CAP for Shaw.]
2215: PITMAN 35 off the boom after taking 2800 pounds...36 heading for the boom...228.9
2215: TANKER 03 tells HUNTRESS he'll be bingo after this offload...asks for clearance to work clearance back to homeplate...he's cleared to RTB after the refueling op...260.9
2218: PITMAN 36 off the boom after taking 1500 pounds...228.9
2218: TANKER 03 requesting clearance to Tar River and Seymour Johnson, GSB...135.525
[As usual, I expect the CAP to be suspended for the night at 2300.]
2223: TANKER 03 seems to be having trouble being heard by Potomac but finally gets their clearance...135.525
2224: PITMAN 35 has 11,500 pounds of fuel and 36 has 11,400 pounds...they say they've got plenty of gas now...260.9
2224: TANKER 03 tells HUNTRESS they're on the way out of the CAP now and will see them next time...260.9
2229: PITMAN 35 to Potomac to start working their clearance back to Shaw (SSC) as a two-ship flight...135.525
Reached character limit...continued below.
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1845: Japanese Air Force 002 is off from Andrews (B747, tail 20-1101)...he's also calling someone on Dispatch freq 372.2 but I can't make out who he's calling...accent is very heavy. He's heading to the northeast on a course of 60 degrees for now. Two of these B747s came in yesterday morning bringing the Japanese Prime Minister to town. This was the first of the two that arrived so it's probably the advance team.
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