Sticky Thread for MilAir II

[TinEar]

A question for TinEar:
How do you get all the hits on these frequencies. Do you have all your scanners constantly searching the MilAir band? I'm in NYC and have been following your posts to get freqs. for the CAP for the UN opening. I wasn't aware that they were using 277.6 today; didn't even have the freq programmed in my Pro-97. The only comms I heard were on Center 363.1.

I generally don't even bother with MilAir scanning in NYC except for events like the UN opening, since the air is usually dead.

Doug

Hello Doug....Mostly, I just have my scanners doing what they do best -- scanning. Although I already had that 277.6 freq programmed since it's a known NORAD freq for HUNTRESS, I really found it from voice transmissions on 260.9 when a flight was told to switch to that freq. I do usualy keep one scanner running the 138-144 band constantly searching for fighter interflight freqs. Other times, I'll run one or more scanners across parts of bands I expect to be active.

Unless you're right in the city and blocked by buildings, I would expect NYC would be a pretty good location for scanning MilAir. You should hear a lot of the activity from New England and from the units from New York to perhaps this area (since I can hear in that direction as far as your area.) It wouldn't hurt to program the ZNY/ZBW UHF freqs along with some of the ZDC freqs closest to you and see what transpires. I can't remember a day when I didn't hear aircraft flying along the coast between New England and areas well south of me. Transports/tankers would be a little more difficult to find since they're mixed in with all the commercial traffic on the VHF ARTCC freqs. I would also think the NJ-ANG F-16s from Atlantic City and flights from Willow Grove in PA shouldn't be much of a problem to hear from your area either.

It really boils down to slowly developing a freq list for your area over a period of time. I know it doesn't happen overnight and you do need some level of committment to finding what's out there. Perhaps others in your area will be able to add to a list of freqs to enter into your scanner for future listening/scanning. It'll happen with some patience and eventually you'll have a very large list of freqs to keep an ear on.

Alan

 

[ka3jjz]

Doug I wouldn't ignore the FLIPs as another source of information - while you can get them, that is. The URL is in our wiki, and I'll pull it in a moment. Don't ignore the importance of a good antenna (a duckie is not very useful in this game unless you're really close to a flight...), and since this is the NYC area (an area not very far from where I was born...), I have no doubt that additional filtering is going to be needed.

I got this from Andrew W4JE off the Scan-DC list - heads up Tony, this may impact you too...
===========================
The Office of Emergency Management has been notified that on Sept 30th
and Oct 1st military aircraft will perform scheduled flyovers in the
area as part of an event being held at Ft Myer. BLR/OEM

Sent by Arlington County OEM to All users (e-mail) through Arlington Alert
=========================
73s Mike

[edit] here we go - looks like as of Monday a lot more information is going to get lost. Go to the bottom of each of these sites and download as listed (I'm sure someone will chime in here to suggest more that I missed - seems to be happening a lot to me today - must be one of those 'senior' moments, hi)

http://164.214.2.62/products/usfif/enroute.cfm
AP1B planning document, IFR/VFR supplements, General Planning and Flight Information

http://164.214.2.62/products/usfif/charts.cfm
AP1B Military Training Route charts

 

[daparker_nyc]

Alan,
Thanks for your reply. My listening environment is limited by all the buildings in Manhattan, where live & work. My only antenna is the Maldol AL-500H. When I am able to hear MilAir activity, it's limited to basically what's overhead. Forget the ground stations. Thus, if Huntress directs a frequency change, all I'll hear is the reply, if I'm lucky. As I learn of active frequencies from this and other sources, I'll put them in my scanner. But generally, the MilAir band is very quiet to me here in midtown Manhattan. The only time it heats up is when a CAP is overhead.

Doug

 

[BM82557]

Activity 09272007

0924 - DRAGO 52 and 2nd unid ac - 388.85
0925 - DRAGO 52 reports level at 17 thousand, 2nd ac replies that he copies - 388.85

 

[TinEar]

0924 - DRAGO 52 and 2nd unid ac - 388.85
0925 - DRAGO 52 reports level at 17 thousand, 2nd ac replies that he copies - 388.85

I've been trying to figure out whether we've got B-1 or B-2 type bombers working that freq Brian. (DRAGO 51 and 52) They're doing the flyby at Arlington on 279.575 and just finishing at 1033. That 388.85 is only used by B-1/B-2 as far as I know but the transmitters sure sound like BUFFs (B-52). They came off the flyby and were sent to TRACON freq 343.7. Now to ZDC-Linden 322.55 at 1037 and climbing to FL 230....requesting direct Indianhead and then EKN (Elkins) so coming right near you. DRAGO 51 is a few minutes behind 52 but they're looking to rejoin. 51 is asking for a block altitude so he can rejoin with 52....they get 210 to 220. Now asking for 23-240 and say they'll be in non-standard formation. DRAGO 51 and 52 have visual contact at 1046...51 tells 52 to slow down a bit. Switching to ZDC-Blue Ridge 285.6 in block 250-260 at 1047. At 1052, DRAGO 51/52 handed off to Cleveland Center freq 307.075 (Belmont RCAG) and check in there at FL 230-240. (And that's where they fly out of my range.)

There are all kinds of fighters working in the area. BULLY flight of four DC-ANG F-16s interflight 139.15 and went south...RAVEN A-10s MD-ANG up at 1042 on 142.3 and entering Pax at 1050 on 281.8...many, many Langley F-22A flights are up and working offshore with Giant Killer. NJ-ANG F-16s up on interflight freqs 138.425 (DEVIL) and 138.875 (BANGER).

The latest FAA 56-day data reports were published today for the period October 25-December 20. Just glancing through the ZDC freq info, they still haven't updated the freqs that have been added over the past couple of years other than the brand new Linden freq info. That's pretty strange that they pick up the newest change and ignore the other older ones. It's government....so it's not supposed to make sense.

1145: That TREND 44 flight of three VMFA-121 F/A-18s departed Andrews heading home to Miramar CA.
1147: TREND 44 with ZDC-Hagerstown in the block 240-260 and they'll be loitering around Indianhead to meet up with the tanker (*CACTI 94) that has accompanied them across the ocean, into Andrews last evening and now, presumably, across the country....227.125
1151: TREND 44 handed to ZOB-Altoona RCAG and check in as a flight of three at FL 260....they tell controller the tanker is climbing up now and will be checking in shortly...once he does, the TREND 44 flight wants to turn back and join up with him...363.075
1158: TREND 44 requesting to do a 180 to meet up with the tanker at FL 260 (I'm not sure what he's calling that tanker...the 94 part is clear but whatever is before that is not. I assumed it was BLUE 94 since that KC-10A went into Andrews with them when they returned yesterday.. *Got it..it was CACTI 94*...363.075 (They are very weak at this point. Dave, I hope you're listening and can copy these guys for the refueling, etc. Brian, you should be in a good position too if you're listening.)
*CACTI 94 was the same KC-10A from McGuire that was using BLUE 94 yesterday, tail 83-0082.

1253: SALTY 91 flight transitioning through the area...with ZDC-Linden at FL 270...322.55
I have this callsign for Langley F-15s and IL-ANG F-16s. Let's make it F-16s from the 170th Fighter Squadron IL-ANG because of the VHF interflight freq reported below.
1254: SALTY 91 flight leaving 270 for 280 and reports in standard formation...322.55
1255: SALTY flight working on interflight freq....appears to be a three ship flight based on each giving an in-flight fuel report...138.475
1256: SALTY 91 handed off to ZDC-Moorefield and check in at FL 280 standard formation....371.9

1325: Refueling at FL 190 w/unknown players...365.7

Late 1300 hour had a MADHOG 1 flight (sounded like single ship - I'd call it an A-10 from the PA-ANG Willow Grove) with Norfolk TRACON 370.925, to ZDC-Cape Charles 256.8, back to 370.925 and then to ZDC-Salisbury 257.7 where he requested to cancel his IFR flight and go off on his own. It was granted, he did and was no longer heard.

Early 1400 hour have a BICEP flight of NJ-ANG F-16s on interflight 138.425
Also early 1400 hour another RAVEN flight of two A-10s of the MD-ANG up on interflight 142.3, go to Pax 314.0 to work R-4006 from 3500-19000 feet.

1418: Brazilian Air Force VC-99C VIP jet, FAB 2581, tail 2581, overhead...with TRACON
1434: Looks like 2581 is heading into Andrews...curently at 2500 feet with TRACON...128.35
1435: The Brazilian is heading for runway 19L at ADW...maintaining 2000 feet....handed over to ADW Tower...128.35
1436: 2581 to ADW Tower for landing runway 19L...118.4
1438: SAM 1788 (C-37A, 97-0400, 99th AS Andrews) w/TRACON 119.3 and then to ADW Tower for landing...well, he gets the option for 19L...118.4

NOTE: Little did I know when I copied those HURON flights coming in from overseas a few days ago, that that is one of the new Coronet East callsigns now in use. The other is TABOR. I've been expecting to hear TABOR yesterday (and then today) but have heard nothing from them. That TREND 44 flight was originally scheduled for a week ago - and then delayed due to maintenance problems - which is why they kept that callsign I guess. Or perhaps they're just adding the new callsigns and not deleting the ones we're used to.

 

[jethunder]

Outsmarted by NGA

here we go - looks like as of Monday a lot more information is going to get lost. Go to the bottom of each of these sites and download as listed

http://164.214.2.62/products/usfif/enroute.cfm
AP1B planning document, IFR/VFR supplements, General Planning and Flight Information

http://164.214.2.62/products/usfif/charts.cfm
AP1B Military Training Route charts

Mike....the folks at NGA haven't actually posted the new information: those links are to the info from the [February or June or July or whatever] previous versions of the documents. Even though it shows "effective 27 September" for the USVFR supplement, for example, it brings up the earlier document effective April 12 through September 26. The zipped planning documents or enroute supplements or FLIP downloads are all for the earlier versions that expired on September 26. Bummer!


Joe

 

[Mark]

Looks like USAF buzzing Naval Academy again today..

1150 local RAVEN 1 flt of two A-10's on 314.425 holding West of Kent Island for
flyby at Naval Academy at 1206 local.We will then rtb VFR Martin State.

1635 local Navy CW-850 C-130T VR-54 Revelers NAS JRB New Orleans with Norfolk ATOC 349.500 arriving
there 30 minutes with 6 pax offload.

Mark

 

[ka3jjz]

Mike....the folks at NGA haven't actually posted the new information: those links are to the info from the [February or June or July or whatever] previous versions of the documents. Even though it shows "effective 27 September" for the USVFR supplement, for example, it brings up the earlier document effective April 12 through September 26. The zipped planning documents or enroute supplements or FLIP downloads are all for the earlier versions that expired on September 26. Bummer!
Joe

Yeah, it seems the FIH, GP and VFR supp are all old ones; I'm going to wait until tomorrow to see if they've changed. I downloaded most everything else I wanted, and they seem to be good until Oct 25 in most cases. Better get 'em now while you can!

73s Mike

 

[freqhopping]

LIGHTNING-01 flight descending with ZDC-Montebello 284.7, direct Flat Rock. Had to deviate for a storm right in front of him.
1652-Handed to Irons.
1709- Witih Norfolk App 360.6
1736- SPAD-91 ZDC-Franklin > Blackstone.
1738- >Hopewell
1547- >Gordonsville 351.9

 

[trainman111]

Here's two that just came in:

1828: REACH 278 calling Dover CP. He faded out but I did manage to hear that he needed 55,000K pds of fuel, a crew bus, and a parking spot. <349.4>

1830: REACH 5002 (C-5B, 85-0002, 337th AS Westover ARB, MA) calling Dover CP. 25 mins. out. A2 for a #2 aux. inboard fuel pump circuit breaker that popped and for an innacurate standby altimeter. Also has 10 pds of cargo to offload that needs special handling. He also needs a baggage loader, crew bus, and parking spot. <349.4>

I'm not sure of what type of a.c 278 was. Any ideas?

 

[TinEar]

1828: REACH 278 calling Dover CP. He faded out but I did manage to hear that he needed 55,000K pds of fuel, a crew bus, and a parking spot. <349.4>

I'm not sure of what type of a.c 278 was. Any ideas?

Yup....REACH 278 was a C-17A, tail 02-1102, from the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord AFB WA.

Late 1800/Early 1900 a flock of KC-135s are arriving at Andrews. AUTO 71 from Selfridge just arriving...OKIE 42 from Tinker landed, OKIE 41 Landed, EVAC 71514 (KC-135R from the 126th ARS WI-ANG) also landed. AUTO 71 identified as tail 58-0049 and said she's carrying 40 pax and wants the 459th Reserve unit notified of arrival. I wonder if they're all going to work together on a mission? Or perhaps it's just training here since that happens with KC-135 crews occasionally at the 459th ARW at Andrews.
NOTE: Scramble and other sources show 58-0049 - AUTO 71 - to be from Beale AFB CA. The AUTO 71 callsign says otherwise. That tells me it's from the 63rd ARS at Selfridge MI.

SAM 1818 (C-37A, 97-0400, 99th AS Andrews) reports takeoff from Andrews at 2300Z...ETA destination at 0315Z...has a D/V-2 plus 9...late takeoff due to D/Vs being late....heading west after takeoff...378.1 [Is the Speaker of the House a D/V-2? Could be the Secretary of State who I know is a D/V-2. Very inconsiderate to keep the plane waiting but all these LBE passengers seem to do that.]

1912: AMIRY 1, Government of Qatar Airbus 345, tail A7-HHH, just climbing out from Dulles...TRACON (A shiek and his favorite camel on board I'm guessing.)
1933: Spanish Air Force Airbus 310, AME 4530, tail T.22.2, from Grupo 45 appears to be climbing out from Andrews....TRACON
Forgot to log that Italian Air Force Falcon 900EX, tail MM62244, 93 Gruppo who took off from Andrews around 1750.
1937: HUSKY 52 (C-130H, 84-0207, 142nd AS DE-ANG) reports airborne at 35 past the hour to his Squadron Ops at Wilmington...343.0

 

[trainman111]

Alright thanks Tin. Both transmissions faded in and out here (but then again the right antenna wasn't on), but I was still able to hear most of the conversation.

 

[Mateo]

One of the busiest afternoons that I can remember at Andrews. Heard from Gravelly Thursday.
1648: -125.65- OPEC 91 Heavy vectors off ADW to PALEO and to 124.55
1705: -119.85- JENA 100 (Cessna 210 seen N??13T) will cross over DCA at 3500' enroute to the on-station location, the 340 radial at 4mi [right around the Naval Observatory]. Over the next 2 hours, he's maneuvering around the area, and getting traffic point-outs until he RTBs Manassas.
1714: -118.4- DC 42 (KC-135R seen) will be doing approaches for the next hour.
1723: -119.85- SUMMIT 15 (C-130 seen, probably 94-7315 CO ANG/Peterson) over ELDEE to arrive Andrews.
1725: -119.85- SAM 60403 (C-20 86-0403 seen) right behind the Herc.
1735: -231.3- ".. via helicopter routes, departure frequency 125.35, squawk..."
1737: -231.3- "FREEDOM 07 (UH-72A seen), route 1 to 4, cleared to depart, contact tower." Eventually cleared to 5K, and vectored over DAILY on 125.35. Based upon the direction of flight, I'll WAG this is from the TRADOC unit at Eustis, and is possibly 07-02007.
1746: -125.65- MARINE 767 (UC-35 166767) is airborne.
1754: -118.95- VIKING 41 (C-130 91-9141 MN ANG) departs and is vectored NNW. I had previously heard the ground side of ADW CP repeating his tail#.
1800: -378.1- DC 91 has 3 Space A and 44 cadets, is 25 minutes out, and needs 31K fuel.
1809: -128.35- DC 91 (KC-135 seen) -D> OTT for a visual 19R.
1816: -378.1- OKIE 41 has 48 pax, will be in at 2240Z and needs 50K fuel. Have you heard from OKIE 42 yet?
1817: -378.1- OKIE 42 has 48 pax and will be in at 2245Z.
1824: -125.65- NAVY 7C 621 is doing something. To 118.95.
1829: -118.4- "..CW..50" (C-130 seen) arriving ADW. This is one of the rare ones that I see before hearing. Wonder if this was CW-850 that Mark logged heading into NGU about 90 mins prior. It would have come up from the south.
1839: -119.85- AIREVAC 71514 (KC-135 57-1514 WI ANG seen) vectors from the west to ADW.
1848: -378.1- AUTO 71 self IDs as tail 58-0049, is inbound with 46 pax, and needs a top-up to 90K.
1852: -128.35- OKIE 41 (KC-135 Tinker seen) finally shows up.
1855: -128.35- OKIE 42 (KC-135 Tinker seen) wasn't far behind.
1900: -119.85- AUTO 71 (KC-135 58-0049 Selfridge seen) vectors for ADW
1902: -378.1- SAM 1818 was off at 2300Z with a DV2+9, late, as always, due to late DV arrival. ETA at destination is 0315Z.
1905: -378.1- home station C-21 tail 40095 is mission complete and has no one on board.

--With at least 4 KC-135s coming in carrying close to 200 pax, including at least one planeload identified as cadets and another from a Peterson unit, I'm wondering if these arrivals weren't bringing some lucky USAFA students on a road trip to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for Saturday.

 

[TinEar]

Morning starting off very quietly. However...

0927: CRATE 71 flight (F-15 Langley) checks into W-386 D/H with Giant Killer on mission V-2805. Says he'll be MARSA with KNIFE, BIKER and HARM flights...249.8
So, at least Langley F-15s are not afraid to fly in a few clouds and a light rain. Of course, they'll either run out of gas or have an equipment malfunction very soon. It's the nature of the beast.
0932: Langley interflight active...it's the CRATE flight...276.675
0934: Tanker interplane freq active....it appears to be a flock of KC-10As with suffixes 50 and 51 along with 53 and 54...make it TEAM 50/51 and 53/54...139.875
0940: TEAM 53 and 54 say they're switching to #2 interplane and come up on...143.825 as expected.
0940: TEAM 50 and 51 remain on...139.875...they're at 16,500 and 17,000 feet.
Tails for the four KC-10As are 87-0124/84-0188/86-0028/79-0434 although I'm not sure which tail goes with which callsign.
0943: BIKER 81 flight (F-15 Langley) w/Norfolk TRACON...370.925
0944: BIKER 81 checks into W-386 w/Giant Killer on mission V-2805...249.8
0950: TEAM 50 and 51 are now at FL 255 and 260....139.875
0953: HARM 91 flight (F-15 Langley) checks into W-386 w/Giant Killer...249.8
While I was listening to the TEAM tankers, someone else checked into W-386. Since only the KNIFE flight is unaccounted for, it was probably that flight.
0954: REACH 5004 (C-5B, 85-0004, 436th AW Dover) to Dover CP to report he's airborne at this time...349.4
0955: TEAM 50 and 51 heading toward Norfolk...139.875 (TEAM 50 is tail 84-0188)
0956: CRATE 71, two ship, checks out of W-386, heading for Langley...249.8
0957: CRATE 71 with Norfolk TRACON descending for approach to Langley...370.925

1005: HARM 91 to Giant Killer says he wants to move east to E/F areas to avoid weather...also says he would like status on TEAM 50 and 51...249.8
1006: HARM 91 tells his wingman to switch to 253.45 while still on...249.8
1007: HARM 91 flight working what appears to be another Langley interflight freq that I didn't previously have in my rotation...253.45
1015: TEAM 50 and 51 still chatting as they maneuver toward their refueling area...one asks if they know the F-15 callsigns, the other says he doesn't but it will be interesting to see who shows up...139.875
1017: TEAM 50 working AR-636 primary 238.9 and says 51 will be working 319.7 (AR-636 secondary freq)
TEAM 50 is talking to the fighters on 238.9 but I don't hear them - only the tanker and he's loud and clear...he's trying to figure out who is tanking with whom...the fighters don't want to split up.
1023: Langley interflight freq active...315.85
1024: NJ-ANG F-16s active on interflight...138.425
1024: DEVIL 11 flight (F-16 NJ-ANG Atlantic City) w/ZDC-Hagerstown at FL 200...227.125
1025: DEVIL 11 flight handed off to ZOB-Indianhead Sector 53 and check in there at FL 200...327.1
1027: DEVIL 11 flight handed off again but I missed the freq and can't find them.
1027: TEAM 51 is refueling the HARM 91 flight on...238.9
1029: BIKER flight refueling with TEAM 50 on...319.7
1031: Another NJ-ANG F-16 flight up on interflight...138.875
1033: STUD 61 (F-22A Langley) flight trying to check in with ZDC-Cape Chalres but no joy...256.8
1034: STUD 61 with ZDC-Salisbury and check in heading offshore to W-386...257.7
1037: STUD 61 to Giant Killer to enter W-386 A-F and says he's with FURY 02...249.8
1039: TEAM 50 and 51 discussing how they shouldn't break up two ship flights to different tankers like they tried to do earlier...139.875
1040: Langley interflight freqs active...228.175 and 358.85
1042: AIRGUN 71 flight (F-15 Langley) checking in w/Giant KIller at 15,000 feet...wants to know if (W-386) G and H are occupied...249.8
1044: AiRGUN 71, after a lot of chat about which areas are open, decide to go through HEELS to area Delta...249.8

Me? I'm going to Area K (Kitchen) for refueling (coffee.) Back in a bit.

 

[freqhopping]

RAM-21 flight of three. ZDC-Irons to TRACON 335.5

1656- NAVY 5E533 calling Ops on 372.2 and 386.8

 

[jethunder]

NGA documents ARE NOW AVAILABLE - ending Sunday night!

Go to the bottom of each of these sites and download as listed

http://164.214.2.62/products/usfif/enroute.cfm
AP1B planning document, IFR/VFR supplements, General Planning and Flight Information

http://164.214.2.62/products/usfif/charts.cfm
AP1B Military Training Route charts

Updating my earlier post: NGA **HAS** updated their site to show the USVFR, GP, and FIH documents that are effective September 27. The AP1A, AP1B, FLIPs and USIFR supplements as well as the PDFs for mil training routes as currently on their site are all current.

But as of October 1 [Monday] -- public access will NOT be allowed. Quoting from the 11-minute song on the Doors' first album in 1967: "This is the end".

 

[ka3jjz]

err...don't you mean won't be allowed - at least to those without a key??? 73s Mike

 

[jethunder]

NGA access

Right you are about the key, Mike!

I looked at the document to request access, and it said "the general public will not be allowed access". I'm just glad that our resident monitoring Guru has been given that access.

 

[TinEar]

1030: Strange Saturday morning. I've been listening the past couple of hours after getting tips from a listener in the U.K. and other far flung locations that a flight of Spangdahlem 23rd Fighter Squadron F-16s were coming this way. They were airborne (flight of six) at one point but might have aborted because of a problem with their tanker. Anyway, while sitting here listening and waiting...nothing is up. No tranports, no tankers, no fighters, nothing but a small handful of LBE types. It's almost as if there's a stand down. Saturday mornings are usually somewhat busy and then it goes dead in the afternoon. Not today.
[Now Jordan is going to jump in here and tell me he's got a Travis KC-10A flying above his house...but that doesn't count. Too far away.]
One of the LBEs flying here this morning was the top dog from the FAA in his Gulfstream IV with registration N1. He went out early in the 0800 hour and returned late in the 0900 hour. Must have gone for bread and milk. And it only cost us taxpayers a few thousand bucks for that flight so no biggie.

1045: Finally....EVAC 144 (full callsign EVAC 55144) (C-17A, 05-5144, 729th AS March) climbing out from Andrews....TRACON...118.95
1047: Another LBE...Navy JR-093 (C-20G, 165093, VR-48) landing ADW w/Tower...118.4
1055: EVAC 46702 (C-130H, 94-6702, 169th AS IL-ANG) to Andrews CP reporting takeoff time from ADW as 45 past the hour...378.1 (TRACON 125.65 before this)
1057: Another LBE...PACER 01 (C-21A, 84-0095, 457th AS Andrews) climbing out from ADW...TRACON

1100: PACER 01 to Griffin Command at Andrews to report airborne time was 1457Z...378.1

1101: FLight of four fighters on interflight freq...143.8 (MD-ANG Ops freq but this is not them)
1103: ?GREASE? 41 w/ZDC-Irons...360.85 (Same guys from 143.8) (Callsign may not be GREASE but that's as close as I can come for now...will correct it if I can)
1104: GREASE 41 handed off to ADW Approach heading for runway 1L at Andrews...335.5
1106: Pointing out the Washington Monument on interflight...143.8
1107: GREASE 41 handed to ADW tower where they check in as a flight of four...will land 2 x 2 on 1L...349.0
1110: GREASE 41 reports, "Base, gear, stop on the left"...349.0 (42 calls himself "GREASY" as he makes his report)
1111: GREASE 43 gives same landing report....44 does the same....349.0 (And they're on the ground)
I have nothing for that callsign at all...or for CREASE. Flight leader, while talking to his flight on interflight freq, called them "GREASIES"

1121: Here they are....TABOR 31 checking in w/ZDC-Sea Isle...281.45 (TABOR 31-36)
TABOR (F-16, 23rd FS Spangdahlem AB, Germany)
1123: TABOR flight cleared Snow Hill, Norfolk, direct (destination)...281.45 (destination should be Shaw)
1126: TABOR flight handed off to ZDC-Salisbury and check in as a flight of six at FL 260...257.7
Been searching for interflight freq but nothing heard yet...after that long flight, they're probably tired of talking to each other.
1129: TABOR 31 flight cleared direct Shaw....257.7
1130: Found the interflight freq for TABOR 31 flight....it's...140.5 (Just quick fuel reports...no chat)
1137: TABOR 31 flight handed off to ZDC-Norfolk and check in at FL 260...327.8 (All six count off at flight leader's command to see if they're all on freq)
1138: TABOR 31 again reports at 260 (no joy to first report apparently)...327.8
1139: TABOR flight leader telling everyone to make final checks now of stick, throttle, landing gear, trim, etc...140.5
1141: "TABOR 6 is racehorse" ...then 1 and 5 give their numbers...no idea what that was about....140.5 (Within the flight, the six are 1 through 6 to ID each other)
I haven't detected a KC-10A tanker flying with them although the tanker probably would have gone into McGuire. No KC-10A anywhere that I can find.
1147: TABOR 31 flight handed off to ZDC-Tar River and check in there...354.1
Last transmission heard was at 1152 descending while still on 354.1
TABOR is not just for F-16s from Spangdahlem...just to clear that up. TABOR, along with HURON, are the new Coronet East callsigns.

1204: Two (or more) unidentified aircraft on an unidentified freq...one pointing out a "heavy" going north to the other(s)...342.95
1206: Talking about getting in position for a photo shoot...setting up a left hand orbit in about 5 miles...one says when he gets ready for the photos, they should tighten up the formation...342.95 (Something to do with flyby over the Naval Academy stadium before the football game I'm presuming)
1208: Same guys with Potomac TRACON...290.475....LION 11 is callsign (F/A-18s from VFA-213 at NAS Oceana perhaps)
1209: Potomac TRACON ground controller confirms with the flight this is just a practice pass over the stadium now...says the real thing will be shortly after the hour, the 1 o'clock hour...290.475
1213: Potomac controller pointing out to a commercial flight that there's a flight of F/A-18s above him....LION 11 pops in to say he'll stay 500 feet above him....290.475 (confirming aircraft types for LION 11)
Fairly constant chat on the 342.95 freq about the flight path they'll take for the photo shoot and flyby. This will probably continue for awhile so no need to log it all.
1218: LION 11 reports they're done for now...will be flying outbound to their holding fix at 3500 feet...290.475
1220: LION 11 flight (thought I heard a LION 14 in there so it might be flight of four) flying out over the ocean I guess for their hold...will be difficult to hear until they come back due to altitude of 3500 feet on the way. At the hold point, they said earlier they'd be at 5000 feet so they might still be heard...maybe...342.95
1238: LION 11 came up on 342.95 and told the flight to change to 121.95 AUX.
I've been listening to 121.95 but have heard nothing yet (5 minutes later) This is probably the freq for contact with the controller at the stadium to coordinate flyby time.
1254: LION 11 flight tells the Potomac TRACOn controller they'll push from their holding point in about 6 minutes...controller asks if they need lower altitude....LION 11 says they'll stay at 3500 for now and will request lower when they need it...290.475
1257: LION 11 reports leaving 3500 for 1500 feet...controller approves it...290.475
1257: Controllers asks the LION 11 flight if they're going to Andrews when done...LION 11 affirms that's where they're going...controller says he'll work out a frequency for them to do that...290.475
1300: Potomac TRACOn gives the LION 11 flight freq 322.3 to change to as soon as they finish the flyby...tells them to go directly to that freq....LION 11 says they're going to 1000 feet for the flyby...controller points out a Civil Air Patrol aircraft that's near them....290.475
1301: LION 11 with the stadium controller...121.95
1302: LION 11 told to switch to 322.3 now by Potomac...11 says they're switching now...290.475
1302: LION 11 flight up on Potomac TRACON (can't hear ground on this one)...322.3
1304: LION 11 says they're passing the Academy and climbing to 2500 feet in a left turn...322.3
1304: LION 11 tells the stadium controller he'll seem him at the game....he tells the rest of the flight to come up on Tac 1...121.95
1305: LION 11 reports Andrews in sight...322.3
1307: LION 11 to ADW tower and reports a flight of four, nine miles to the northeast for the overhead...349.0
1311: LION 11 flight setting down at Andrews...cleared to land on the left...349.0 (And we'll call this one done too.)

Only one foreign flag so far today...
1156: Italian Air Force Falcon 900EX, tail MM62172, from 93 Gruppo into the area (this is not the same one that came in a couple of days ago)
And another...
1545: German Air Force C-160D, tail 50+85

 

[amickey1979]

Fly Over

I am over on the Eastern Shore on Tilghman Island. Around 1230 I had several fly overs of 5 fighter jet groups. They were low and fairly fast. I turned on my scanner but was unable to hear any chatter referring to them. I was wondering is anyone had any ideas as to who they were and what they were doing.