Sticky Thread for MilAir II

[SquelchKnob]

Tinear,

Regarding the PAX Departure freq. I have had a radio scanning the Clearance Delivery Freqs of 135.2/384.4 the best part of several hours now.

From what I can gather if the field is busy, in almost all cases they tell them to switch to Departure Control on 121.0/250.3. There were a few instances were they allowed them to remain on the C/D freqs earlier this morning but since about 9ish it has been totally on the Departure Control freqs I have given.

I also put the DEP CTRL freqs in and am watching those as well. Recording same. I'll review that later once I get a good handful and see what I get.

 

[SquelchKnob]

Squelchknob, we also have a db listing for Langley - and since we hear 1st FW a-a stuff from time to time, I'm willing to bet you will too. Unfortunately our wiki extensions server is kaput at the moment, so our Wiki article isn't very useful - but this is (even though some of these freqs look rather dated...)

http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?aid=2182

If you get yourself a premium subscription (as documented in the wiki) and use one of the packages that support this, you might be able to save yourself some copy/paste or typing by using the download features which can pull data directly from the database into the program. Certainly that would save you some time with the ARTCC freqs as well as at least some of the PAX stuff.

73s Mike

Thanks Mike,
I'll wait on that stuff. Still working with a seriously handicapped antenna install. Once I get some more gear unpacked and the rooftop setup I may start going for distance.

I'll get a premium subscription as well I guess. This software will grab the freqs off the webpages just fine but I don't mind paying for it if everything proves accurate.

 

[TinEar]

Tinear,

Regarding the PAX Departure freq. I have had a radio scanning the Clearance Delivery Freqs of 135.2/384.4 the best part of several hours now.

From what I can gather if the field is busy, in almost all cases they tell them to switch to Departure Control on 121.0/250.3. There were a few instances were they allowed them to remain on the C/D freqs earlier this morning but since about 9ish it has been totally on the Departure Control freqs I have given.

I also put the DEP CTRL freqs in and am watching those as well. Recording same. I'll review that later once I get a good handful and see what I get.

Thanks JR. I presumed the E-6 would use one of those two departure freqs. My problem is that they're still in my dead zone at lower altitudes when there so I generally can't hear the aircraft if he repeats the handoff freq for his first Washington Center contact where he'd be high enough to copy. They generally take off to the south, go about 30 miles and then head either west toward Gordonsville or northeast toward Salisbury. At the turning point, they're still only at about 10,000 feet. I've caught them a couple of times with ZDC-Gordonsville but never with ZDC-Salisbury. I suspect there might be a ZDC freq before either of those which are my prime targets. Your recording may very well turn up exactly what I'm looking for when they leave the Pax departure freqs. They most often use the VHF side and rarely the UHF. Many thanks for the help. I know it must be turmoil right now trying to get unpacked after a move so don't worry about this if it takes some time to do. I'm patient. Next time I note an E-6B flying from Pax, I'll note the time so you can check the tape within an approximate time frame.

 

[SquelchKnob]

Guess I'll make an attempt at starting to note what I come up with down here. Things are going to be rather sketchy until I get familiar with things. Coming from Edwards my main interest is flight test comms. And chances are that will be the bulk of what I log.

But I left the Pro-26 doing a Search/Autostore on the desk yesterday. Pulled in quite a handful. I don't have any decent database of everything in the area yet so in the interest of not wasting everyones time I am going to refrain as best I can on not commenting about what seems to me to be ATC freqs until I get a better grasp of them. Plus I really don't have the time to mess with all of that. Most of my logging will be from recorded audio and quite possiby may be a day after the flight takes place. I'll be sure to note this when logging.

1317: 376.8 Definate PAX flight test freq. Good copy of groundside. Referencing TM Data being intermittant.
1319: 305.3 Can't peg this one for Flight test as yet but sure looks that way, Comms few and far betweeen but good and strong when it goes active.

Tinear, No problem. I pulled out the 8500 and have it only working the freqs mentioned right now. Once I get into reviewing the audio I will add whatever switches w/ BTN numbers I can catch. I knew this place was gonna be busy but I did not think within the first four days of firing up radios I would be so swamped with freqs I need to identify. It's going to be a while it looks like till I can piece this place together. So far I have 2 PCR-1000s and 4 BC780s up and running under PC control as well as the R-8500. Borrowing the neighbors ladders on going roofside this afternoon to try to temporarily place the Scantenna.

1339: 376.8 Still unsure who this is but they just advised "We have a GREEN RANGE"

Ok Just found http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Patuxent_River_Complex and see that this freq is indeed a test freq.

1409: 143.025 (FM) PL 151.4 Being used at PAX. Unable to ID yet. Good Strong signal. Figured I would mention this Tin as I see you had something on it once before from a quick search of this thread http://www.radioreference.com/forums/showthread.php?p=473476&highlight=143.025#post473476. It is also not referenced on the WIKI. Last heard a reference to rolling up the roolup door to let IAP in.

 

[TinEar]

Coming from Edwards my main interest is flight test comms. And chances are that will be the bulk of what I log.

Dave (DPD1) who you may know from out Edwards way pops onto the thread here occasionally.

Tinear, No problem. I pulled out the 8500 and have it only working the freqs mentioned right now. Once I get into reviewing the audio I will add whatever switches w/ BTN numbers I can catch. I knew this place was gonna be busy but I did not think within the first four days of firing up radios I would be so swamped with freqs I need to identify. It's going to be a while it looks like till I can piece this place together. So far I have 2 PCR-1000s and 4 BC780s up and running under PC control as well as the R-8500. Borrowing the neighbors ladders on going roofside this afternoon to try to temporarily place the Scantenna.

Now you've shamed me into getting after my construction project to get my own R8500 working again. I've explained earlier that I took it down to construct a cabinet for my Icoms to match my Uniden radios cabinet and just haven't gotten around to doing it yet.
************************************************************

Some Royal Air Force aircraft in the area today...
1417: ASCOT 5102, C-130H (C3), tail XV-294, from Lyneham Transport Wing heading northeast and perhaps going home. Later heard over Cape Cod at 1516. (Last logged in the UK 10 Dec)
1446: ASCOT 2124, VC-10 (C1K), tail XV-102, from 101 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton (Last logged in the UK this morning at 1036Z)
1555: (missed flight number), C-130J (C4), tail ZH-877, from Lyneham Transport Wing. (Last logged in the UK yesterday morning at 0922Z)

 

[SquelchKnob]

Dave (DPD1) who you may know from out Edwards way pops onto the thread here occasionally.

Now you've shamed me into getting after my construction project to get my own R8500 working again. I've explained earlier that I took it down to construct a cabinet for my Icoms to match my Uniden radios cabinet and just haven't gotten around to doing it yet.

I'd know him if he was on my program.

Cabinet!! I tried that before. I do too much reconfiguring on a regular basis to try anything permanent. Everything I have runs off of computer control and I am constantly changing things around to take advantage of various strengths of different radios. I am not even going to consider making any wire harnesses up here for quite some time as I suspect I will be changing radios/pcs around all winter.

I am in the process of doing some BETA testing of some new software geared toward Speech Prediction Algorythms. The software is still a bit buggy but I am getting used to it. Gonna take to me while to figure out where I can fit that into the process here. But thus far I can see it coming in very handy on Orderwire. I'll likely find quite an assortment of other uses for it as well.

 

[TinEar]

I'd know him if he was on my program.

Cabinet!! I tried that before. I do too much reconfiguring on a regular basis to try anything permanent. Everything I have runs off of computer control and I am constantly changing things around to take advantage of various strengths of different radios. I am not even going to consider making any wire harnesses up here for quite some time as I suspect I will be changing radios/pcs around all winter.

I am in the process of doing some BETA testing of some new software geared toward Speech Prediction Algorythms. The software is still a bit buggy but I am getting used to it. Gonna take to me while to figure out where I can fit that into the process here. But thus far I can see it coming in very handy on Orderwire. I'll likely find quite an assortment of other uses for it as well.

I went blank on Dave's website earlier but just found the bookmark...it's thenorthspin.com (North Spin)

Agree that if you do a lot of moving/swapping/changing positions of your radios there's just no need for any kind of a built in cabinet.

As far as the Speech Prediction Algorythms, well, okay. Not a clue here what that's all about. I understand the words but not the application. Antenna, radio, pen/pad of paper, keyboard to type logs and that's the best I can do.

 

[SquelchKnob]

I went blank on Dave's website earlier but just found the bookmark...it's thenorthspin.com (North Spin)

Agree that if you do a lot of moving/swapping/changing positions of your radios there's just no need for any kind of a built in cabinet.

As far as the Speech Prediction Algorythms, well, okay. Not a clue here what that's all about. I understand the words but not the application. Antenna, radio, pen/pad of paper, keyboard to type logs and that's the best I can do.

I know the site.. Don't know the man.

Still getting the feel for this software and it has been giving me enough problems that I really have not gotten into the nuts and bolts of what it was designed to accomplish. Kinda gotta get it to run wiithout crashing first. LOL Runs like all get out as long as I don't touch the computer. As soon as I try do do anything, It freezes.

I was told the software is for a Rich Uncle and needs to be tested on MilAir freqs. The bad part was that I was given no help files. All these nice little sliders and buttons and knobs with Acronyms or Abbreviations next to them. I have no idea what half of them mean. I just fiddle with them and try to figure out what changes LOL.

I am going to have to shelve the BETA testing for a few days I guess. Tired of restarting that PC.

 

[BM82557]

Re Tin - 1158: ANNIS 01 (C-5A, 68-0211, 167th AS WV-ANG Martinsburg) to CASINO ROYALE (KCEF Westover ARB MA) with arrival message....30 minutes out, A-2 for a lot of minor writeups and requests to be put in an engine runup spot...252.1

Didn't hear that one but did hear a departure heading to Key West this morning. Was across the room so I didn't catch everything. I checked Flightaware but didn't see any civilian flights from MRB to there today. Wonder if it was from the 167th. Whoever it was is sure going to have better weather this weekend than the rest of us.

edit - correct typo

 

[SquelchKnob]

Just got back from the Store. Something else apparently flight test related.

1804: 272.4 Hearing "4-3-2-1 GADGET ON/ 4-3-2-1 GADGET OFF"

 

[Mark]

EVAC 33117 C-17 arrive Andrews 2110z,26 litter patients,26 amb
patients,9 crew,7 pax... One crowded C-17.largest single patient run I ever heard of.

The weekend Warrior C-5's into Dover probably headed over later..

REACH 9027 C-5 arrive Dover 2130z

REACH 8226 C-5 arrive Dover 2240z.

ASCOT 2101 arrive McGuire 2350z,req 23k US gallons of fuel.


Mark

 

[TinEar]

EVAC 33117 C-17 arrive Andrews 2110z,26 litter patients,26 amb
patients,9 crew,7 pax... One crowded C-17.largest single patient run I ever heard of.

The weekend Warrior C-5's into Dover probably headed over later..

REACH 9027 C-5 arrive Dover 2130z

REACH 8226 C-5 arrive Dover 2240z.

ASCOT 2101 arrive McGuire 2350z,req 23k US gallons of fuel.


Mark

That EVAC flight sure did have a full load. Was sorry to hear it.

Also had the ASCOT 2101 flight here - first heard 1852 and then descending into McGuire a few minutes after 1900 with ACY Approach. He was a VC-10 (C1K), tail XR-807 from 101 Squadron Brize Norton.

Had hits on the two C-5s also..
REACH 9027 (C-5A, 69-0027, 167th AS WV-ANG)
REACH 8226 (C-5A, 68-0226, 105th AW NY-ANG)

It turned out to be a fairly busy day afterall. Early afternoon got quiet but then picked up later as the heavies started moving around.
*********************************************************

Didn't hear that one but did hear a departure heading to Key West this morning. Was across the room so I didn't catch everything. I checked Flightaware but didn't see any civilian flights from MRB to there today. Wonder if it was from the 167th. Whoever it was is sure going to have better weather this weekend than the rest of us.

Brian, what time did that aircraft depart Martinsburg this morning? I'll check my notes to see if I've got anything that might match up.

And I just realized I made an awful mistake on that 167th C-5 this morning. Callsign was ARRIS, not ANNIS. I just went back and corrected the log. Sorry for that fumble-fingered mistake. I just had to go back and correct it in my callsign database too where I also entered it as ANNIS. Sheesh!

 

[freqhopping]

KNIGHT-51 is working ZDC on his way into Langley it seems. ??>Blackstone>Montebello>Irons
2215- Direct Patuxent.
2221- KNIGHT-51 just barely audible with Pax Tower 343.65
A female has been on Pax advisory 305.2 for a while. She's WATERBUG-215

 

[BM82557]

Brian, what time did that aircraft depart Martinsburg this morning? I'll check my notes to see if I've got anything that might match up.

And I just realized I made an awful mistake on that 167th C-5 this morning. Callsign was ARRIS, not ANNIS. I just went back and corrected the log. Sorry for that fumble-fingered mistake. I just had to go back and correct it in my callsign database too where I also entered it as ANNIS. Sheesh!

I believe it was in the 1000 - 1100 timeframe. Things were too hectic this morning for a more precise log. I do have a question about 68-0211 though. I've gone through my admittedly incomplete log and I haven't heard that one at MRB. It wasn't on the ramp when I've been able to stop by, which hasn't been lately. Is it a recent acquisition of the 167th?

Thanks

Brian

 

[JohnFB]

1158: ARRIS 01 (C-5A, 68-0211, 167th AS WV-ANG Martinsburg) to CASINO ROYALE (KCEF Westover ARB MA) with arrival message....30 minutes out, A-2 for a lot of minor writeups and requests to be put in an engine runup spot...252.1

Ahh, so that's what is was. I heard him on his "10 min out" call .... couldn't tell what the he he was saying. And is it ANNIS or ARRIS??

-----------------------------

FWIW - if anyone heard this guy ... no idea where he went.

1838Z : BACKY 91 wkg Westover Ops - T.O time :35 past the hour

-----------------------------

And Tin, glad I could contribute to the PIT tanker tally.

 

[TinEar]

I believe it was in the 1000 - 1100 timeframe. Things were too hectic this morning for a more precise log. I do have a question about 68-0211 though. I've gone through my admittedly incomplete log and I haven't heard that one at MRB. It wasn't on the ramp when I've been able to stop by, which hasn't been lately. Is it a recent acquisition of the 167th?

Thanks

Brian

Nope, I don't have anything in that time frame. At 0945 I had 68-0222 through the area but no indication where he came from.

Brian, the 68-0211 used to be assigned to the 337th at Westover. Scramble recently changed it to the 167th at Martinsburg which is where I got the affiliation. I know it can't be at Westover any longer since they got rid of all their 'A' models. I don't know the information Scramble had to justify that change.
***************************************

Ahh, so that's what is was. I heard him on his "10 min out" call .... couldn't tell what the he he was saying. And is it ANNIS or ARRIS??

FWIW - if anyone heard this guy ... no idea where he went.
1838Z : BACKY 91 wkg Westover Ops - T.O time :35 past the hour

You just want me to eat crow yet again. :twisted: ARRIS is correct. I have no idea why I typed it wrong when I heard it earlier today. Brain short-circuited I guess.

Nothing on BACKY 91 here. In fact, I didn't log a single KC-135 from Seymour Johnson today which was unusual in itself.

 

[Mark]

EVAC 33116 C-17 with ZDC Millville 0427z 125.450.Not sure which direction headed.sounded like climbing.
My guess is USAF trying to get as many patients back stateside before Christmas hence the full load
earlier today on EVAC 33117.

0451z ASCOT 2125 direct Boston on ZDC 125.450
0458z ASCOT 2125 direct Kennebunkport 125.325 ZNY Matawan .. Guess heading home.
0507z ASCOT 2125 McGuire metro 239.800 standing by.copy all,going enroute.
0510z ASCOT 2125 switching to ZNY 135.800,quick good day.
0515z ASCOT 2125 sw to 131.400,faded and gone after that.

Mark

 

[JohnFB]

Westover C-5

Brian, the 68-0211 used to be assigned to the 337th at Westover. Scramble recently changed it to the 167th at Martinsburg which is where I got the affiliation. I know it can't be at Westover any longer since they got rid of all their 'A' models. I don't know the information Scramble had to justify that change.

This Oct 2006 issue of the Patriot gives a time-line for Westover transitioning to B models.

http://www.westover.afrc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-060920-050.pdf

As of Jan 2007, there were 11 B models & 5 A models - the plan is to have 16 B models by 'early 2008.'

Accoding to jbaugher's site, these B's are @ Westover.

85-0006
85-0009
86-0012
86-0018
86-0021
86-0023
87-0033
87-0037
87-0041

 

[BM82557]

Brian, the 68-0211 used to be assigned to the 337th at Westover. Scramble recently changed it to the 167th at Martinsburg which is where I got the affiliation. I know it can't be at Westover any longer since they got rid of all their 'A' models. I don't know the information Scramble had to justify that change.

Thanks for the info Alan.

 

[SquelchKnob]

Tinear,
Just spent the better part of an hour reviewing all the Message traffic from yesterday on the C/D and DEP CTRL freqs from NHK. I was not able to key into anything specific for VQ-4 aircraft.

But most of the handoffs are going to POTOMAC. I have a bunch of stuff to do today and hope to get a bit better organized for this while at it. Do you have a good list of callsigns these guys might pick from? Kinda hard to listen for them without that on these ATC freqs. They are busy as heck.

I guess I'll plug in that Maint Freq, and see what else I can find directly associated with them. I have a feeling the best way I am going to be able to do this is catch them live, prior to take off at engine starts and follow them through the whole process. Doable, I just need to get better organized first.

The Scantenna is up and connected with LMR-400 in a temporary fashion but it's only about 7' lower than what I envision as a permanent position. I am able to get repectable coverage of the vehicles on the airfield on 138.975 FM so I am optomistic about being able to grab VQ-4's Maint Freq and may be able to have advanced warning of plan for engine starts and taxi. I'll likely have to focus on the Maint Freq, get used to their routine then catch them live and follow them out. Should not be to difficult once I get this palce put together a bit better.

Oh, adding an afterthought here. Is 310.15 their OPCON freq as well? Trying to figure out what to be listening for. And are there any other known freqs for them. Up to an including and Handheld freqs for Manintenance?