Sticky Thread for MilAir II

[Mateo]

Friday afternoon's hearings from Gravelly Point.

1640ish: SPAR 30 (C-37 01-0030) departure vectors; eventually cleared to FL400, but wants 380 as the final. [was driving, so no freq recorded]
1653: -119.3- VENUS 42 (C-37 99-0402 seen) will change to a full stop from the option.
1701: -128.35- PACER 13 (C-21 seen) cleared for the NDB 19R approach. To 118.4 where he did pattern work for the next 20 minutes, or so.
1703: -139.7- BLACKJACK 1 (USCG HH-65 seen) with Huntress.
1730: -118.4- something 21 (C-40 seen) contact departure. I didn't hear it again, but my best guess would be 02-0201, one of the DC ANG models.
1737: -119.85- NAVY 300 (C-37B seen) depart ELDEE heading 080. To 119.3 and 118.4 to arrive around 1748.
1744: -118.95- SAM 92 heavy (C-32 98-0002 seen) direct LDN and to 120.65.
1803: -128.35- ARMY 01052 (UC-35 00-1052 seen) depart OTT heading 010 with vectors for the approach.
1808: -378.1- SAM 1192 departed at 2302z, ETB 2350z, has a DV-2 +7, delay due to DV's late arrival.
1811: -141.55- JOSA 988 (C-21 seen) is inbound with 0 pax, and would like to notify C-21 maint--. It cut off here, probably right before he dropped the serial :<
1825: -139.7- HUNTRESS, this is BLACKJACK 1, read you loud and clear. How me? [USCG HH-65 was seen departing NE up the Anacostia River]

 

[TinEar]

1129 MUSEL 03 to KNXX tower (119.6) 8.5 miles to the south and inbound to rnwy 33; female voice
1130 MUSEL 03 (spells callsign) ids as a military helicopter; I only hear her say sierra once - I generally see eveyone on here spell it MUSSEL or MUSSELL
1133 can hear the signature sound of a UH-1 Huey
1136 MUSEL 03 on the ground and switches to KNXX ground (118.45)
First time I've ever heard the Musel callsign at Willow Grove

The spelling is the result of that 7 character limit for flight plans. Callsigns must usually be shortened to 5 characters since most have a 2 number suffix. So MUSSEL becomes MUSEL just like TANKER becomes TANKR. Nice catch though of hearing that one go to Willow Grove.

Speaking of that, I've always wondered whether the KC-135s from Andrews spelled their callsign DC or DEECEE. I thought it was simply DC because DEECEE sounds kind of juvenile to me. However, they do use the longer version and shorten it to DECEE for the flight plan.

 

[Mark]

1130 MUSEL 03 (spells callsign) ids as a military helicopter; I only hear her say sierra once - I generally see eveyone on here spell it MUSSEL or MUSSELL

Rgr that Big Red for some purposes with Mil ATC system callsigns have to be limited to 5 letters only.
For example I have had SUMMIT C-130 from Colorado arrive spelling callsign SUMIT.
If you glance thru a callsign list you will note most callsigns are 5 letters or less.
I believe this was discussed here quite a while ago and maybe Tin or someone else could clarify this better.

Thanks Tin...

Mark

 

[bigred10]

The spelling is the result of that 7 character limit for flight plans. Callsigns must usually be shortened to 5 characters since most have a 2 number suffix. So MUSSEL becomes MUSEL just like TANKER becomes TANKR. Nice catch though of hearing that one go to Willow Grove.

Tin/Mark, thanks for the clarification. I must have missed the previous discussions regarding the 7 character limit.

 

[TinEar]

Beat you to it Mark.

Stuff flying in the 1400 hour in our area...
FLASH 82, C-130H, tail 85-1368, 181st Airlift Squadron TX-ANG
ROGUE 36, C-130H, tail 91-1234, 165th Airlift Squadron KY-ANG
SPAR 48, C-37A, tail 01-0029, 310th Airlift Squadron McDill AFB FL
VENUS 42, C-37A, tail 99-0402, 99th Airlift Squadron Andrews AFB MD
REACH 297, C-17A, tail 01-0193, 437th Airlift Wing Charleston AFB SC
BICEP 21, F-16C+, 119th Fighter Squadron NJ-ANG, Atlantic City NJ (138.425/261.0/307.25/285.4/327.125)

Early 1500 hour and there's a ramp freeze coming up at Andrews...
AIR TERMINAL RAMP FREEZE 03 MAR 20:40 UNTIL 03 MAR 21:10
And 136.725 is active at 1506 with a report of flight conditions around Richmond so expect AF 1 shortly.

We also have REACH 276 and REACH 780T arriving Andrews shortly.
REACH 276, KC-10A, tail 79-1949, 305th Air Mobility Wing McGuire AFB NJ (36 pax to offload)
REACH 780T, C-17A, tail 04-4135, 6th Airlift Squadron McGuire AFB NJ

Lead SAM flight for AF1 reporting real bumpy ride coming toward Andrews on 136.725
SAM 92, the lead for AF1, just landing at Andrews at 1523.
SAM 92, C-32A, tail 98-0002, 1st Airlift Squadron Andrews AFB MD
Air Force 1 in voice range at 1524 on 136.725
AF1 with Andrews Tower 118.4 on a 10.5 mile final...cleared to land at 1536
MARINE 1 with Andrews Tower at 1555 taking the President home. And EAGLE 1 (US Park Police helo) being careful to stay away from the Nighthawk....warned away by both Andrews Tower 118.4 and DCA Helo Control 120.75.
At 1607 there's a NIGHTHAWK 1, flight of two, heading for Anacostia per comms on 120.75. Guess that was MARINE 1 and his backup.

And by 1600, all the MilAir has gone quiet. So I will too until it returns.

Have to mention hearing a RAIDER 23 calling Willow Grove Base Ops on 306.8 at 1628 to give an arrival message. There are too many choices for that callsign to put a definite ID on him. Maybe one of you guys living near KNXX had a visual??
At 1635, there's someone talking to Andrews on 378.1 that mentions tail 049 going to Willow Grove. I can't understand much - not even whether it's a male or female talking. It's one of those androgynous voices that's difficult to copy. This is not the RAIDER 23 from above.
Solved...it's...
Navy C-9B, BuNo 160049, VR-52 Taskmasters, Willow Grove NAS PA

Couple of transports in the area late in the 1600 hour...
REACH 781T, C-17A, tail 02-1106, 62nd Airlift Wing McChord AFB WA (Area overflight)
REACH 780T, C-17A, tail 04-4135, 6th Airlift Squadron McGuire AFB NJ (leaving ADW, heading for WRI)

 

[freqhopping]

Today I went down to DC to listen to the 380mhz systems. Listening to the ADW system, on TG11 they mentioned the SPAR-30 flight being 23 minutes out. Another airfield channel is 407. I wish I could listen to this from home and tie it in with the airborne stuff.

I was at Hains Pt across from the Ft McNair golf course around 1300.

First I saw a VH-3 landing at Bolling.

Then I saw and heard MUSSELL-1 heading westbound from ADW over DCA. A minute later MUSSELL-02 was coming up the river and went right past me, following the channel. I had my binos and got a tail # 9667.

At 1359 I noticed a smaller plane at 5k or so heading westbound and passing over DCA. I recognized it as an A-6. A short time later I heard WIZARD-330, don't know what freq, TRACON maybe. And after that I heard a pilot ID as an A-6B to Leesburg FSS. At that point he was fading so I couldn't catch his flight plan.

Then NIGHTHAWK-7 (VH-60) departed Bolling. Around this time I thought I heard Air Force-1 on one freq. I knew Bush was down south but didn't think he'd be back so soon. Before I left around 1430, NIGHTHAWK-1 and 2 (VH-3 HMX-1) departed Bolling for ADW.

 

[TinEar]

Good stuff Travis. I wish I could hear the Andrews 380 system for just the same reason. When I lived in Bowie, I'd copy the ADW 400 mHz trunked system 5x5. Once I moved here, the copy was scratchy but I could still get some of it. I get nothing on the 380 system at all. I used to listen to the APG 400 system when fighters used the Aberdeen Range and got some of those same type tieups. However, I haven't heard fighters at Aberdeen in well over a year now. Wish they'd start again since that's in my backyard practically (16 miles.)

A bit more activity between 1700-1800:
REACH 780T, C-17A, tail 04-4135, 6th Airlift Squadron McGuire AFB NJ (leaving ADW, heading for WRI)
VENUS 42, C-37A, tail 99-0402, 99th Airlift Squadron Andrews AFB MD (return to ADW)
REACH 276, KC-10A, tail 79-1949, 305th Air Mobility Wing McGuire AFB NJ (departing ADW, heading home to WRI)
Belgian Air Force 607, Airbus 310, tail CA-02, 21SM Squadron (overflying Maryland)
REACH 481 calling Quantico Base Ops on 355.3...several calls, no joy
SAM 1191 flying around Andrews...landing at ADW 1835
REACH 6154, C-17A, tail 06-6154, 21st Airlift Squadron/60th AMW Travis AFB CA (1845L)

1900 hour has HOIST 94 [female] and then HOIST 93 KC-10A types heading into McGuire. 93 can't make contact on 319.4 so went to Dover's 349.4 and asked that the message be relayed to McGuire they're 20 minutes out. He finally goes back to 319.4 and finishes his arrival report.
1952-57: REACH 483 calling Quantico Dispatch several times, no joy...355.3 (Had RCH 481 calling earlier)

 

[bigred10]

Have to mention hearing a RAIDER 23 calling Willow Grove Base Ops on 306.8 at 1628 to give an arrival message. There are too many choices for that callsign to put a definite ID on him. Maybe one of you guys living near KNXX had a visual??

We were getting ready to head out for dinner around that time...I do recall seeing a C-130 sometime between 1630 and 1645. Only other aircraft this afternoon were some USMC CH-53's (HUSTLER)

 

[TinEar]

We were getting ready to head out for dinner around that time...I do recall seeing a C-130 around that time. Only other aircraft this afternoon were some USMC CH-53's (HUSTLER)

Thanks. That might have been it. There is a listing for a C-130 type under the RAIDER callsign - "KC-130 USN VMGR-352 MCAS Miramar"

 

[Mark]

Sad to see on the CH 6 news out of Philly tonite the last active op flight of the 913AW C-130 out of Willow Grove.
The ROCKS are officially retired but they do still have 50 members overseas for now.
Mentioned the C-130 airplanes will be kept in storage there till new units pick them up.
Another poster told me C-130 #63-7769 has already been tranferred to the 61st AS at Little Rock

Like I posted last year after airshow there wasn't much left anyhow.
The Liberty Belle P-3's were gone along with any Marine Corp MAG-04 units.
Guess the A-10's will hold the fort down for a while.

Mark

I did take a pic of sign from the Navy C-9 VR-52 detachment last June.
Not sure if they are still there..

 

[Gemini]

1125: 139.9 - Just turned this scanner on to find this freq active. Will watch it a bit

 

[Mark]

Coincidently 1030am today had JT-843 Navy C-9 from Willow Grove arriving
Andrews to pick up some Marine pax.
Guess the VR-52 Taskmaskers are still in business.

CRAB 51 with Phillips Tower 126.150 doing some drops,coming back later for more drops.
CRAB 55 also doing drops,CRAB 51 says dropping sandbags.

Mark

 

[Gemini]

Interesting to note. I have recorded audio of 2 tankers from last night around the 0230 hour heading south. I have about 4.5 minutes of audio from them. Referenced heading to Puerto Rico Area. Also referenced going about 150 miles off of PALM BEACH to a point called "NUCAR". Spelled it out. Appeared to be 2 tankers but no C/S heard.

 

[TinEar]

1125: 139.9 - Just turned this scanner on to find this freq active. Will watch it a bit

Did you ever hear anything more on that freq Jeff? I ask because it's a good interflight freq for MA-ANG Barnes A-10s. Supposedly, more of them left this morning on a final flyout to their new base. I'm not sure if they were coming to MTN or somewhere else.

I did take a pic of sign from the Navy C-9 VR-52 detachment last June.
Not sure if they are still there..

Looks like they are Mark. You had that transmission from this morning and yesterday I reported the following in one log about a flight from Andrews to Willow Grove...
Navy C-9B, BuNo 160049, VR-52 Taskmasters, Willow Grove NAS PA
So, it sure looks like they're still around.

 

[bigred10]

Like I posted last year after airshow there wasn't much left anyhow.
The Liberty Belle P-3's were gone along with any Marine Corp MAG-04 units.
Guess the A-10's will hold the fort down for a while.

I did take a pic of sign from the Navy C-9 VR-52 detachment last June.
Not sure if they are still there..

I'm sorry to see the 913th go as well, hopefully all the personnel are able to get reassigned to other units.

Mark, it looks like you answered your own question, but the C-9's are still quite busy at Willow Grove. There aren't many days where I don't see or hear a C-9. Other active units (until 2010) are a squadron of Navy C-130's, a few Navy C-12's, a few Army C-12's, USMC CH-53's, and of course the A-10's.


First thing this morning (for me), STEEL 81 heavy; PAANG KC-135 from Pittsburgh arrived at KNXX . I caught a glimpse of him out the window around 0815 and turned on the scanner long enough to catch the callsign.

Then as we were getting ready for church, I heard some A-10 and CH-53 activity.
I was wondering if anyone has interflight frequencies for the CH-53's?? I've yet to come across one.

 

[Gemini]

Did you ever hear anything more on that freq Jeff? I ask because it's a good interflight freq for MA-ANG Barnes A-10s. Supposedly, more of them left this morning on a final flyout to their new base. I'm not sure if they were coming to MTN or somewhere else.

No Tin, Not after I posted. I just rechecked the recorded audio. I had them on/off from 10:50 unitl 11:37. Whoever they were they were not involved in any ACM. Comms were transit oriented. I suspect they flew over Norfolk area as I am very sure I caught a weak reference to "2 CARRIERS".

I am in the TS Server with TRAINMAN111 who had them as well but also advises no C/S heard. Maybe I'll pick something more out of it in a little while when I review some of my ATC recordings

 

[trainman111]

Yes I heard them. I listenend vigilantly but I heard no c/s. Not sure who they were...

 

[BM82557]

141.600

Haven't heard much of anything from my location for a week. Is anybody else having better luck? Only activity today has been several garbled transmissions on 141.600 & 143.800. On my way to work yesterday at 3:27pm I saw 5 helos southbound paralleling I81 which I took to be Army but can't verify as I didn't have my rig with me.

I posted the above on 3/01. I still pick up weak comms on 141.600 from time to time. I noticed them for quite awhile before I posted it the other day. I have that listed as an interflight freq for Shaw F16's. Anyone else been hearing it?

Brian

 

[TinEar]

1300 hour:
A couple of C-130H types from the 142nd AS DE-ANG at Newcastle heard on 343.0 calling Ops...HUSKY 58 reported airborne and HUSKY 54 was inbound.

EVAC 284 into Andrews on 378.1 He was a C-130H from the 328th AS AFRC Niagara Falls NY and had tail number 92-3284. You couldn't mistake his aircraft type. Those screaming turboprops almost blocked out the voice transmission. When not on an Evac mission, this guy uses callsign FLASH 19.

A Czech Air Force Airbus 319 flew over. Callsign CEF 01 with tail 2801. He was heading southwest across MD and VA at 387 knots.

FLASH 82, a C-130H from the 181st AS TX-ANG was in the area. Also heard JOSA 795 and 689 with Andrews 378.1. REACH 8125 reported takeoff from Dover at 1824Z. There was also a C-130H from the 169th AS IL-ANG in the area but I never caught his callsign. His tail was 94-6701.

1400 hour:
NASCAR road race on so attention wandering.
REACH 4125 and REACH 4135 (C-17A, tail 04-4135, 6th AS at McGuire) both coming into Andrews.
A U/I Navy aircraft coming into Andrews 378.1...couldn't catch his BuNo but it ended in 997. He had a pax to drop off.
JOSA 548 into Andrews to drop off a passenger...says he might have to hold over the airfield because of winds exceeding limits. MUSSEL 01 and 04 working around the Andrews area.
HOIST 98 [female) KC-10A returning home to McGuire with several maintenance problems...319.4
That IL-ANG C-130H back in the area and still no callsign from him.

 

[Mateo]

A Czech Air Force Airbus 319 flew over. Callsign CEF 01 with tail 2801. He was heading southwest across MD and VA at 387 knots.

A U/I Navy aircraft coming into Andrews 378.1...couldn't catch his BuNo but it ended in 997. He had a pax to drop off.

The Czech President is heading for Houston - http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=239619

164997 is a C-130T based at Andrews with VR-53.