Sticky Thread for MilAir III

[TinEar]

1417- Transair 1/Trans 01 (id as C-21 # 84-0065)-w/Griffin CP (378.1) w/inbound pax msg. (Sounded more like Transair 1, but also once sounded like Trans 01).

Anyone hear him clearer to confirm callsign?

Did indeed Ron and can confirm the callsign is TRANS 01. That 'S' on the end of TRANS is hard to hear because it runs right into the 'Z' from Zero and so I've seen it reported other places as TRAN 01 but I'm positive of the ID being TRANS 01. No bout adout it. :lol:
The same callsign has been used with other C-21s from the 458th AS...84-0135 and 84-0140 recently.

I never mentioned this morning that one of the KC-135R tankers from Andrews (58-0075) got an EVAC mission. It went out as EVAC 80075 shortly before 1000. A couple other of the 756th's tankers got duty today also...DECEE 31 (62-3556) in the 0900 hour and DECEE 32 (59-1469) in the 1100 hour.

 

[mdmonitor]

mdmonitor

Did indeed Ron and can confirm the callsign is TRANS 01. That 'S' on the end of TRANS is hard to hear because it runs right into the 'Z' from Zero and so I've seen it reported other places as TRAN 01 but I'm positive of the ID being TRANS 01. No bout adout it. :lol:
The same callsign has been used with other C-21s from the 458th AS...84-0135 and 84-0140 recently.

tin,

Thanks. These old ears aren't what they used to be.

 

[mdmonitor]

mdmonitor

JohnFB mentioned stuff he heard on 145.8 FM the other day. I have that one in my scanner as part of the ISS group. Today had several local ham operators up in radio checks (EM55 & W3AFE). Also had a smattering of Spanish on it.

 

[TinEar]

tin,

Thanks. These old ears aren't what they used to be.

Yeah, radio reception used to be much clearer in the old days.
You, JohnFB and I can all confirm it.
I don't use a headset because of the multiple radios but often wish I still did. It certainly helps. Once upon a time, I had a custom made pair of ear buds (I can only imagine what the government paid for those!) but they got lost somewhere in a move. They were the most fantastic aids imaginable for radio/scanner listening. The older I get, the more I wish I still had them.

 

[mdmonitor]

Yeah, radio reception used to be much clearer in the old days.
You, JohnFB and I can all confirm it.
I don't use a headset because of the multiple radios but often wish I still did. It certainly helps. Once upon a time, I had a custom made pair of ear buds (I can only imagine what the government paid for those!) but they got lost somewhere in a move. They were the most fantastic aids imaginable for radio/scanner listening. The older I get, the more I wish I still had them.

Tin,

I still have those custom fitted ear buds. At the time they were made by a firm here in the Glen Burnie area.

I use a scanner headset I bought at Radio Shack---has both mono & stereo settings---not bad for the price ($14.99 I think). The fit up close to ears--they don't cover them, so I can use them and still hear the phone, etc.

 

[TinEar]

Tin,

I still have those custom fitted ear buds. At the time they were made by a firm here in the Glen Burnie area.

I use a scanner headset I bought at Radio Shack---has both mono & stereo settings---not bad for the price ($14.99 I think). The fit up close to ears--they don't cover them, so I can use them and still hear the phone, etc.

I had to go somewhere down in D.C. to be fitted for mine. I believe it was on K Street if I remember correctly but I have no idea if they were made there or perhaps at the Glen Burnie company you mentioned. They sure were nice though. I'd be willing to bet that if they still provide those, they probably cost upward of a couple of grand per pair today - at the government price. I hadn't thought about those for years until you mentioned "old ears." I still had my old issue set of the regular headset until I moved to this house and those also disappeared along the way - the ones with the big earmuffs that you see in all the WW II movies. Too funny.

 

[ka3jjz]

JohnFB mentioned stuff he heard on 145.8 FM the other day. I have that one in my scanner as part of the ISS group. Today had several local ham operators up in radio checks (EM55 & W3AFE). Also had a smattering of Spanish on it.

A little OT here, but interesting nonetheless - some of you may be aware that the Kenwood radio they have on the ISS has a built-in repeater mode. It was used a couple of years back, then due to some damage, the firmware evidently had to be reloaded, and the astronauts have, gradually, begun to apply the fixes.

Evidently they've reactivated the repeater mode, because it's been widely reported in our satellite forum and other places, too. So when the radio is in this mode, there's no real telling where you'll hear there. The Spanish could have been hams, or intermod - and with the antenna 250 nm up, it's not hard to imagine that could be the case. Intermod is a serious problem up there, as demonstrated by Ron Parise WA4SIR during a Shuttle audio demo a few years back at the Howard County hamfest.

We have a link in our SATCOM wiki on how to use the repeater, if anyone's interested.

73s Mike

 

[CitationJet]

Re: PROPS 92

Ron,

Thanks so much for the tieup!

Tony

Tony,

That C-130 was Props 92-the first time I heard him he was a mush mouth---then they switched xmitters and he was clear.; They were enroute to Little Rock and were worried about the wx between Andrews & West Virginia.

 

[CitationJet]

speaking of TRANS 01

Hi guys,

Heard this one on ZDC-Linden 133.550, PT A/D 118.675, PT APP 119.850, and ADW CP 378.100, but my mystery is the guy that was in front of him, with some of the weakest modulation I've ever heard from a military aircraft. Reminds me of listening to Kinshasa Aeradio a few years back: anyway he came in ZDC-Linden 133.550, PT A/D 118.675, PT APP 119.85, PT APP 128.35, Andrews TWR 118.400 and IDed as ????? 01 heavy. This was starting at 1855Z about 20 minutes ahead of TRANS 01. Did anyone catch this guy?

1417- Transair 1/Trans 01 (id as C-21 # 84-0065)-w/Griffin CP (378.1) w/inbound pax msg. (Sounded more like Transair 1, but also once sounded like Trans 01).

Anyone hear him clearer to confirm callsign?

 

[TinEar]

Hi guys,

Heard this one on ZDC-Linden 133.550, PT A/D 118.675, PT APP 119.850, and ADW CP 378.100, but my mystery is the guy that was in front of him, with some of the weakest modulation I've ever heard from a military aircraft. Reminds me of listening to Kinshasa Aeradio a few years back: anyway he came in ZDC-Linden 133.550, PT A/D 118.675, PT APP 119.85, PT APP 128.35, Andrews TWR 118.400 and IDed as ????? 01 heavy. This was starting at 1855Z about 20 minutes ahead of TRANS 01. Did anyone catch this guy?

I fully agree about his modulation and his signal strength was not much better. I never could hear him loud enough to pick out a callsign but I know who he was because the only thing I got from his transmission on 378.1 was his tail number. He gave 58-0121 which is a KC-135R from the 465th ARS at Tinker. When he was with TRACON and landing with Tower, I couldn't read him at all. It was just barely breaking squelch.

I haven't mentioned we had a couple of E-4B aircraft through the area today. One was early in the 0500 hour this morning and I think he departed from Andrews. It was CONEY 64 (74-0787) and then late in the 1700 hour HANK 06 (73-1677) came through heading northeast. Very seldom see two of those guys in one day.

1842: COLT flight of two A-10s from Martin State reporting to Ops they're 15 minutes out, two Code 1s...347.2
1844: DC 33 (KC-135R, 62-3556, 756th ARS Andrews) at FL 230 talking to his receiver about getting to the IP on what should be AR-777 Secondary freq....315.9
1851: COLT flight with MTN Tower for landing runway 33 full stop...297.2
1853: COLT reports 12 miles out, gear down, full stop...297.2
1854: Weak A-10 transmissions on interflight...sounds too weak to be the COLT flight...142.3 (RAVEN)
1855: Sounds like same weak A-10s with Harrisburg A/D...273.525
1857: Another MTN A-10 flight reports 10 minutes out, both Code 1 to Ops...347.2 (It's a RAVEN flight)
1858: RAVEN flight to Ops on VHF...says he can't hear Ops on UHF...wants to know about using runway 15...143.8

1901: RAVENs discussing landing runway 15...they say 33 is for ILS...getting in position for a five mile final...report slowing to 200...142.3
1902: RAVEN to Ops declaring they'll be landing runway 15...143.8
1906: RAVENs check in w/MTN Tower for the final to runway 15...cleared to land...297.2
1907: SAM 2233 (C-37A, 99-0402, 99th AS Andrews) climbing out from Andrews....TRACON
1910: Someone departing Dover...with A/D climbing...it's RIDER 85 (C-17A, 06-6167, 512th AW AFRC Dover)...132.425
1912: JOSA 947 (C-21A, 84-0093, 458th AS Scott) landing ADw w/Tower...118.4
1914: NAVY JU-841 (C-9B, 159120, VR-56 Norfolk) landing ADW w/Tower...118.4
1920: DECEE 34 (KC-135R, 59-1469, 756th ARS Andrews) lifting off from ADW and climbing...W/TRACON...125.65
1921: DC 34 to LIBERATOR reporting airborne at 0020Z...378.1
1922: ARMY 1778 (C-37B, 04-1778) w/TRACON for approach to ADW...119.3
1924: ARMY 1778 to ADW Tower for landing runway 19R..."we'll call the gear"....cleared to land 19R...118.4
1926: ARMY 1778 reports gear down and locked...118.4
1932: DC 34 to ZDC-Sea Isle reporting thru 28,500 for FL 290...133.125
1935: AXEMAN flight of two A-10s from MTN to Ops with arrival report...both Code 1...347.2
1937: DC 33 "on AR Primary...how copy?...228.0 (AR-777 Primary)
1940: AXEMAN reporting 15 miles to the east for runway 33 to MTN Tower...297.2
1940: DC 33 again calling on AR...then DC 34 on freq...asks if the receiver is FORCE 36...then corrects it to MOVER 35 (KC-10A, 305th AMW McGuire)...says he 4 minutes late and currently at FL 290...will refuel at FL 270...228.0
1942: DC 34 to MOVER 35 (missed conversation - too many people talking at once)...228.0
1945: AXEMAN flight with gear down for runway 33 at MTN...297.2
1949: BLACKJACK 1 and 2 (HH-65C USCG DCA Detachment) w/ADW Tower about working in the area...118.4 (Heard them a few minutes ago on HUNTRESS freq 139.7 too)

 

[mdmonitor]

mdmonitor

Here's what I heard today:

1. VHF/UHF: ((Times are local))

0745- Force 31 (KC-10A 2/32nd ARS, McGuire AFB, NJ)-check in w/ZDC (127.7) at 8,000ft--cleared to 11,000ft.
0756- JOSA 819- land at Andrews (118.4).
0757- CG Sector Baltimore (157.15) in radio checks w/USCGC James Rankin (WLM-555, Baltimore).
0758- Force 31- check in w/ZDC (120.975).
0759- Jedi flt (4 X F-22s, Langley)- check into W386 (249.8)
0855- DeeCee 31 (KC-135R, 459th ARS Andrews)-w/Liberator CP (378.1) w/departure msg. Returns to Andrews in the late 1100-early 1200 hour for approaches.
0856- Venus 91 (VC-32 # 98-0001, 99th AS Andrews)-w/SAM Command (378.1).
0858- Reach 6025 (id as heavy)-check in w/ZDC (127.7).
0903- Reach 7029-w/ZDC (120.975).
0904- Giant 2232 (id as heavy-USAF contract)-land at Dover (132.425).
0923- Salty Dog 123 (F-18D # 164040, VX-23 Pax River)-working w/Echo Control (291.15).
0939- Cade 1 flt (2 X A-10s, 103rd FS PA ANG, Willow Grove)-check in w/ZDC (354.15) at 8,000 ft. Also w/Dover approach (257.875) cancelling unidentified acty due to wx. Then w/Pax River approach (281.8) trying to get into one of the restricted areas. Having trouble for some reason and asks if an incoming flt of A-10s (callsign Flyer) will have the same problem. Finally gives up and ask Pax River to hand them off to Dover approach.
0943- Cade flt w/Dover approach (257.875) trying to get clearance to Modena. Asks Dover to get clearance from Philly approach so they go into the Ravine (Kiowa MOA???).
0944- Two acft (no calls noted) on AAR common (228.0) trying to arrange rendezvous times.
0945- unid acft (no call noted) w/Salty Dog Ops (250.7) w/PIREP for restricted area.
0947- Navy 613 (unid)-w/ZDC (132.55).
0950- Unid acft (call not heard) w/Griffin CP (378.1) saying they swapped acft and now have C-21 # 84-0095.
0950- Scary 1 flt (F-16s, 121st FS DC ANG, Andrews)-check in w/ZDC (281.4)
1005- Cade 1 flt- w/Harrisburg approach (281.525)
1014- Bully 1 flt (2 X F-16s, 121st FS DC ANG Andrews)-w/approach (335.5)- land at Andrews.
1108- King 22 (HC-130, NY ANG, Gabreski Aprt NY)-w/McGuire Metro (239.8) asking for landing wx for 1700Z at Gabreski Aprt.
1115- TopCat 2 (KC-135RE 108th ARW, NJ ANG McGuire AFB)-check in at 26,000ft w/Giantkiller (118.125) for entry into AR 636 to work with Force 31 in block 20-22,000ft.
1202- Steel 71 (KC-135RT 147th ARS, PA ANG Pittsburgh)-check in w/Giantkiller (118.125).
1208 -Dragnet (E-3B AWACS Tinker AFB) working with Giantkiller (249.8) in the W386 area. He finished correlation checks with GK and asked about the status of Ryder 71 flt (F-22s, Langley) for event 0602.
1212- Props 92 (C-130E 154TH TAS AR ANG Little Rock)-w/Andrews Metro (344.6). Departed from Andrews enroute back to Little Rock but is concerned about wx between Andrews and West Virginia.
1223- Dragnet on Giantkiller discrete (292.3) w/Ryder flt chatting about Have Quick timing. Ryder also w/Dragnet on GK discrete (373.1)
1235- Royal 50 (C-17, Dover)-approaches at Dover (132.425 & 126.35).
1244- Reach 9741- w/Dover CP (349.4).Land at Dover (132.425 & 126.35).
1247- CG Sector Baltimore (157.15) establishing radio guard w/CG 6540 (HH-65C, CGAS Atlantic City).
1250- Pacer 82 (C-21 # 84-0077 457th AS Andrews)-w/Griffin CP (378.1) advising they will be on ground in 10 minutes and require the C-21 Maintenance folks to check out the acft.
1253- Payday 1 (unid)-calling Dragnet (249.8)
1304- Crab 57 (C-130J # 981357, 135th AS MD ANG Martin State)-w/Crab Ops (384.1) w/arrival msg. Asks Crab Ops if they are still sked for an ERCC (Engine Running Crew Change).
1310- DeeCee 32 (KC-135R, 459th ARS Andrews)-check in w/ZDC (127.7) descending from 19,000 to 17,000ft.
1326- Cade flt (A-10s, 103rd FS PA ANG, Willow Grove)-w/Dover approach (257.875) for clearance through their area enroute to Pax River.
1411- Sluff 62 (KC-135RR 121ST ARG RICKENBACKER OH ANG)-w/Bay Watch (354.8) trying to get clearance to refuel Cade & Flyer flts at 16,000ft in R4006.
1417- Trans 01 (id as C-21 # 84-0065, 458th AS Scott AFB IL)-w/Griffin CP (378.1) w/inbound pax msg.
1430- Boxer 12 (C-38/C-40, 201st AS DC ANG Andrews)-approaches (118.4).
1432- Raven 1 flt (A-10Cs, 104th FS MD ANG, Martin State)-w/ZNY (273.525) for clearance to Kiowa MOA.
1436- Flyer flt (2 X A-10s, 103rd FS PA ANG, Willow Grove)-w/ANG Ops (343.0) w/acft status report.
1438- Reach 527T-depart Dover (132.425). At 1444 w/Griffin CP (378.1) w/30 min inbound msg.
1439- Crab 57- approaches at Dover (132.425).
1442- Flyer 1 flt-w/Philly approach (343.725).
1500- Reach 1850-w/ZDC (127.7).
1501- CG Sector Baltimore (157.15) w/CG 6540 who reports departure from CGAS Washington (Ronald Reagan Nat'l Aprt) enroute back to CGAS Atlantic City.
1510- Axeman 1 flt (A-10Cs,104th FS MD ANG, Martin State)-w/Harrisburg approach (281.525) for clearance to the Kiowa MOA.
1612- Guard 525 (UH-1/UH-60 24525, MD ArNG Weide AAF)-w/Phillips tower (126.15)
1635- PAT 831 (C-12, NY ArNG, Albany)-w/Griffin CP (378.1)- land at Andrews. Wants quick turn around so they can head right back to Albany.
1637- Axeman 1 flt-w/Raven Ops (347.2) inbound to Martin State each w/3 unexpended BDUs. Land at Martin State (297.2)
1638- Avalon 19 (C-21, 458th AS Scott AFB IL)-w/Griffin CP (378.1). Says they will be using callsign SPAR 19 tomorrow when they depart Andrews.
1914- Navy JU-841 (C-9B, 159120, VR-56 Norfolk)- land at Andrews (118.4)
1924- Army 778 (VC-37B # 04-1778, OSACOm, Andrews)-land at Andrews (118.4)
1925- Guard 26082 (prob UH-60, MD ArNG, Weide AAF)-w/Phillips Ops (126.15 ) & Weide tower (126.2).


2. HF: ((Times UTC, Freqs KHz))

08983.0 Camslant Chesapeake at 1415 USB w/CG 2117 (HU-25, CGAS Miami) reporting departure from Miami enroute to Melbourne FL.
11175.0 Andrews at 1800 w/EAMs (TGUWND & TGSXQ2).
11232.0 Trenton Military at 2036 USB w/Tiger 341 (CC-130H # 130341, 435th Sqdn CFB Winnepeg) in pp w/Trenton Wing Ops asking about arrangements after they arrive in CFB Winnepeg. Tiger 341 is to brief the SAR personnel of 435th Sqdn when they arrive.



Ron
Baltimore MD
VHF/UHF: BC-895XLT/RS Pro-2045
Diamond D-130J discone
HF: Icom R75 & Sangean ATS 909
45-ft EF-SWL & 70-ft random wire

 

[mdmonitor]

mdmonitor

1948- Callsigns 1 & 2, two Coast Guard helos, prob HH-65Cs, on chnl 23A (157.05) in intercept training at 2,000 ft at speeds 100-120kts using 23Y as interplane.

First time I've heard them using marine FM chnls for this kind of training.

 

[TinEar]

1948- Callsigns 1 & 2, two Coast Guard helos, prob HH-65Cs, on chnl 23A (157.05) in intercept training at 2,000 ft at speeds 100-120kts using 23Y as interplane.

First time I've heard them using marine FM chnls for this kind of training.

It's BLACKJACK 1 and 2 Ron. They most often use that frequency for practice intercepts when not working with HUNTRESS.

 

[coronet]

Five VMAQ-2 Prowlers should be departing from Lajes to Cherry Point MCAS tomorrow (Thursday), but I have no further details I am afraid ......

 

[TinEar]

Five VMAQ-2 Prowlers should be departing from Lajes to Cherry Point MCAS tomorrow (Thursday), but I have no further details I am afraid ......

We'll see what we can do with that Rene. Thank you.

 

[SquelchKnob]

Just sitting here reviewing some audio on some unknown freqs and figured I would note this separate from the rest.

02/06/08 13:25:13 138.5 AM

I had a flight of 2 using this one as Interflight.
"19L is that ECHO 4 TAXIWAY where we go to the end."
"From 19L they have all the cables"

So I am not too sure who these guys were. This appears to be all I had on them. Just figured I would throw it out in case we had visitors in the area.

 

[JohnFB]

A little OT here, but interesting nonetheless - some of you may be aware that the Kenwood radio they have on the ISS has a built-in repeater mode. It was used a couple of years back, then due to some damage, the firmware evidently had to be reloaded, and the astronauts have, gradually, begun to apply the fixes.

tnx for that info, Mike. It makes a lot of sense. What I heard was like a "drive-by" ...... out of nowhere a cacophony of voices, talking over each other in some cases. It would last about 30-60 seconds, then pffffft. If there wasn't so much FM squelch, I might be able to understand more. As it was, it was just plain annoying after a while & I locked out the channel.

 

[TinEar]

Just sitting here reviewing some audio on some unknown freqs and figured I would note this separate from the rest.

02/06/08 13:25:13 138.5 AM

I had a flight of 2 using this one as Interflight.
"19L is that ECHO 4 TAXIWAY where we go to the end."
"From 19L they have all the cables"

So I am not too sure who these guys were. This appears to be all I had on them. Just figured I would throw it out in case we had visitors in the area.

JR, the runway references lead us to Andrews of course. In the 1200 hour, I had that TULSA 91 flight of two F-16s arrive at ADW. They used 143.825 for interflight. There was also a message about an hour later from bpittman that listed a TULSA 01 flight he heard working interflight freq 138.5. I guess it could have been another pair of F-16s from the OK-ANG using that freq on the way in.

 

[SquelchKnob]

JR, the runway references lead us to Andrews of course. In the 1200 hour, I had that TULSA 91 flight of two F-16s arrive at ADW. They used 143.825 for interflight. There was also a message about an hour later from bpittman that listed a TULSA 01 flight he heard working interflight freq 138.5. I guess it could have been another pair of F-16s from the OK-ANG using that freq on the way in.

Most likely then Tin. Strikes me as odd as I have no recorded audio for 143.825 though. I was recording on it. Maybe something else had the scanner busy during that time frame. But at least we have another freq for them now. I have heard the TULSA C/S used on/off over the last few weeks. So these freqs are gonna come in handy for us.

EDITING HERE. Tin I forgot I had 143.825 in another scanner. I have your flight of two lining up for ADW in the time block you show then around 13:30 I have another flight of two, likely the same as I had one 138.5 as I double checked that audio and the voices are similar. I did not copy much on them. Only had three transmissions, used as Interflight. Last transmission sounds like "39" Don't know what the reference is to.
Heard something about one being on the left side for downwind and the other being on the right.

 

[JohnFB]

a few Wednesday items

1155Z : CG 101 [USCG CMD's Gulfstream] wkg Boston ATC - I think heading west.

1328Z : BLUE 87 clg MAINSAIL 11175.0 HF USB looking for a p/p. Possibly KC-135 59-1502 that was reported leaving Mildenhall & coming home.

1500Z : INDY 62 [AFRC KC-135] wkg Casino Royale 252.100, then KCEF OPS 372.200. A rare visitor to Westover picking up a pallet.

2215Z : NAVY BK 064 P-3 with many calls to GK on 312.300
2221Z : NAVY BK 064 call to FSS 255.400 [I think to make sure his UHF was working
2229Z : NAVY BK 064 finally gave up on UHF. GK on 135.225 entering W107 @ FL170 down to FL050, rqst 020B050 ...... sorry ma'am, you're broken & unreadable.

[Why do I hear so many flts have comm troubles or comprehension problems with GK?]

I've never seen anything firm on whether BK is assigned to a particular squadron, or whether this is simply a mission callsign.

2327Z : ETHYL VICTOR 1 Flt wkg 293.700 interplane. This is STEEL's CP freq, so they were possibly from KPIT. They were chasing a receiver and having many IFF/Mode problems with center. "Shut yours off .... no, you shut yours off ...... no you!!"

They were up pretty high, 310B320, so I wonder who they were chasing?? They showed up again @0215Z [Thu] just before I came into work. I think they were to my northeast.