Sticky Thread For MilAir IV

[TinEar]

Well, here we go off into a new year. As has been the custom the past couple of years, we've started a new thread on this day due to the growth during the year. The 2008 thread was the most successful so far. So, welcome to all who contribute or just read this repository of military air information. Happy New Year to you all.

 

[Mark]

Good idea Alan... I'll paste today's logs (01/01/2009) here if you don't mind from Milair 3.
Once again we start a New Year and Thread.


0820 First log of 2009,Happy New Year everyone! Surprisingly I feel pretty good today.
REACH 544T C-17 #04-4133 westbound out of McGuire climbing up.
Last heard handing off from ZNY 128.575 North Mountain, PA High at 34k.
1020 REACH 178 C-5 #83-1285 arriving Dover on CP 349.400
1234 REACH 545T C-17 #04-4135 climbing up NW also on ZNY 128.575 direct dryer sounded like.
1245 REACH 545T push 119.725 a ZOB freq (Cleveland Ctr)

Mark

 

[TinEar]

Good idea Alan... I'll paste today's logs here if you don't mind from Milair 3.
Once again we start a New Year and Thread.

Mark

Very good idea Mark. And off we go....

Dave, that's a nice link to the Warthog Territory forum site. I wasn't aware of that one so thanks very much. I'm envious that a visitor from the UK got aboard a SLUFF for some photography and they wouldn't even let me take a C-130 for a spin from Martin State. I told them I'd bring it back in a couple of hours - hopefully still in flying condition.

Early 1300 hour I've got another of those FoxFlight air ambos - an LJ-35 this time...C-GUAC, hex C0797B. Their logo really stands out.

 

[freqhopping]

Here's an interesting one. N139L Aero Vodochody L-39C. There are photos online showing it at KFDK.

 

[TinEar]

Here's an interesting one. N139L Aero Vodochody L-39C. There are photos online showing it at KFDK.

Ahhh, those Czechs - always out hustling business. LKVO is their home. The FAA registration is a surprise though.

1558: Have an ETHYL 93 with REACH 141 setting up for an AR operation at 1620 (local)...341.75 (Only can hear the ETHYL 93 tanker)
1612: ETHYL 93 tells REACH 141 he's just about to get MARSA (presumably from ARTCC)...asks if REACH 141 is at FL 190 and reports his own as FL 200...341.75
ETHYL 93 = KC-10A, 83-0081, 305th AMW McGuire
1624: ETHYL 93 doing a boom radio check with REACH 141...341.75
1631: ETHYL 93 gives tail and unit confirming what I have above...341.75
REACH 141 may be C-17A, 04-4138, 729th AS March...that one was operating on the other side of the pond (way over) a few days ago with that mission number. Should be coming in off the Atlantic.
1634: REACH 141 ready for boom contact...93 confirms...341.75
1642: REACH 141 has connected and disconnected several times. Not sure if there's a problem or if it's training....341.75
Never did get a Mode-S hit from REACH 141. While that was going on, there was REACH 799 contract flight arriving from Europe. It was a DC-10, N621AX from Omni International.

1612: Have been watching a C-32A, 98-0001, 1st AS Andrews coming into the area and descending. He's displaying AF1 in his Mode-S but I haven't heard him on the radio yet to confirm that callsign.
1617: And another C-32A, 99-0004, 1st AS Andrews is coming in showing AF2.
1619: Nope...98-0001 is with Andrews Tower as SAM 91 for landing...asking if he can get runway 19R...118.4
1621: SAM 91 wants a wind check and he's told to land on runway 19L...asks if he can go to the "hammerhead" instead of going to the Navy side, like, uhhh, Pad 92...118.4
1625: Air Force 2 with ADW tower on an 8 mile base for runway 1L...118.4 (The VP gets the same runway just denied to SAM 91...RHIP)
1626: AF2 reports gear down...118.4
1628: And here comes AF1...82-8000 on the way in.
1637: Air Force 1 to ADW Tower reporting on a right base for full stop...118.4
Colonel Rick Tillman's time is getting short. The primary AF1 pilot retires when the President leaves office. Custom. Hope the new pilot for 44 speaks as clearly as Col Tillman does. Never miss a syllable with him.

Didn't intend to monitor this afternoon. Just came to check on the beeps and boops the PC was making. It decided to run a virus scan of the entire system which is scheduled to be run every Friday. Either it's confused or I lost a day.

Actually have spent most of the afternoon reading and trying to digest the PRO-197 manual. It's an interesting radio with lots of excellent features that aren't readily obvious - unless you read the manual. Too bad the scanner isn't sensitive enough to grab the signals I could try those features on.

1655: And now...back to the manual and to the daily grub roundup.

 

[ka3jjz]

Has anyone ever heard Martin State a/d on the TRACON on 228.4 as listed in the database? I think that's a very old listing...73 Mike

 

[freqhopping]

FBI Bell 407 N407TP is airborne at 5200ft.
I think 167.4625 could be related. In the Springfield area.

 

[Mark]

FBI Bell 407 N407TP is airborne at 5200ft.
I think 167.4625 could be related. In the Springfield area.

Dumb question here but FAA shows that tail N407TP as.
AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATES INC MANASSAS VIRGINIA.
Is that the normal FBI address?

Mark

 

[TinEar]

FBI Bell 407 N407TP is airborne at 5200ft.
I think 167.4625 could be related. In the Springfield area.

I've got that one marked as possible FBI but have wondered if it's really that agency or one of the other law enforcement types. I've had it on the log since 2006 (time, not year). It's kind of a strange Mode 3 he's squawking though - 0400. If he was out of Manassas, he'd have one of those 4xxx squawks. He's flying at that approximate 5000 foot altitude the FBI has been using recently though.

Has anyone ever heard Martin State a/d on the TRACON on 228.4 as listed in the database? I think that's a very old listing...73 Mike

I haven't Mike. However, as soon as you delete it, we'll start hearing it used regularly. That's the way that works. Actually, I've never heard that freq active.

 

[freqhopping]

Dumb question here but FAA shows that tail N407TP as.
AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATES INC MANASSAS VIRGINIA.
Is that the normal FBI address?

Mark

Just one of several. The guy I'm hearing on 167.4625 is no doubt airborne. The CTCSS tone is 167.9 which is FBI.
They are actually following someone, not in a fixed pattern. Northbound, Rt1 I believe.

 

[TinEar]

Just one of several. The guy I'm hearing on 167.4625 is no doubt airborne. The CTCSS tone is 167.9 which is FBI.
They are actually following someone, not in a fixed pattern. Northbound, Rt1 I believe.

He is loud and clear here. I heard someone on TRACON freq 118.95 respond to a controller with, "I'm operational," in response to whatever he was asked. It's the type terminology he'd use. I've been listening since but haven't heard anything further. Will be up another two hours and then has "the caravan" covering after that. (2105) Nothing on the helo to indicate an agency. Then again....

 

[Mark]

I've got that one marked as possible FBI but have wondered if it's really that agency or one of the other law enforcement types. I've had it on the log since 2006 (time, not year). It's kind of a strange Mode 3 he's squawking though - 0400. If he was out of Manassas, he'd have one of those 4xxx squawks. He's flying at that approximate 5000 foot altitude the FBI has been using recently though.

Probably some front company.AIRFRAMES org has as EDWARDS & ASSOCIATES INC.
http://www.edwards-assoc.com/
Law enforcement mod supply company?
Guessing they do mods on Bell Choppers.
2105 getting weak A/A on 123.025 talking about heading towards Ellicot City.
2110 following Red Jeep Liberty SB I-95 123.025,must be 2 choppers up.
Nice pic by the way...

Mark

 

[TinEar]

Mark, I think the one going to Ellicott City was N407HC - the Howard County PD helo. Strange coincidence they'd have the same numbers - and both Bell 407s. There's also a County Air (Balt County) I heard a few minutes ago on 123.025.

2011: REACH 547T (C-5A, 69-0008, 137th AS NY-ANG Stewart) w/ADW Twr for landing 19R...118.4
2115: REACH 548T (C-17A, 06-6167, 436th AW Dover) w/ADW Twr for landing 19R...118.4 (T missions bringing "stuff" back from Crawford?)
2116: EVAC 00323 (C-130H, 80-0323, 158th AS GA-ANG Savannah) w/ADW Twr for landing 19R...118.4 (Dep ADW at 1125 this morning. Arrived at ADW as DAWG 19 a few days ago to begin his EVAC mission work)
2202: REACH 4068 (C-17A, 94-0068, 437th AW Charleston) into the area at FL 310.
REACH 544T should be in this area about 2245 or thereabouts. It's a McGuire C-17. Also coming from the west.
2250: And there he is...REACH 544T (C-17A, 04-4133, 6th As McGuire) into the area.
2258: GIANT 8307 (B742, N524MC, Atlas Air) departs Dover, heading to JFK.
2301: REACH 544T to ADW Twr reporting on a right base for runway 19R...118.4
2302: " And REACH 544 Tango is gear down."...118.4 (Tracked down to 700 feet)

JENA 150 is the callsign of N407TP confirming FBI assignment. Just heard on 118.95 at 2126 reporting that he's going west. Guess I can take the question marks off the "User" column in the system and assign the FBI logo to that hex code. (A4C859)
I pulled up Google Maps and have been following him as they call out the roads he's passing.

Ref Mark below: Yes, confirming A4C859. (Just noticed County Air 2 from Balt County came up (N804CP - hex AAF0F9). Howard County still up too (N407HC - hex A4C754)

 

[Mark]

JENA 150 is the callsign of N407TP confirming FBI assignment. Just heard on 118.95 at 2126. Guess I can take the question marks off the "User" column in the system and assign the FBI logo to that hex code.

Nice confirmed catch..
You have a mode S for that aircraft? A4C859?
Awsome work Alan/Hop.. Thanks.
Choppers were not flying last night that's for sure..
Airline Pilots didn't get today off.Seems like a regular Thursday for air traffic.
Wonder if they get Holiday Pay as well?

Mark

 

[freqhopping]

I wouldn't be surprised if N1132F is the replacement.

 

[Mark]

2215 RCH 4068 #94-0068 C-17 437th showing RB at 31k and
KC-135R #59-1490 PA ANG also at 29k.Prob headed for AR at Nantuckett.
2225 119.700 Pot appch low..Trooper 1 enroute Key Bridge for jumper..also A/A 123.025 with Foxtrot 2.

2230 (A66CA5) N513AS 737-890(WL) Alaska Airlines into area.New tail for 2008.

Speaking off topic again Cathay Pacific has interesting airline history.
logged this one earlier today,Non-stop Hong Kong to New York.
(780212) CPA840 VHHH-KJFK B-KPF B773 Cathay Pacific Airlines 2009/01/01 16:02z
Flies a 16 hour non-stop Polar route and rated one of 5 best in the World.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathay_Pacific

(Boo!) On 30 January 2008, the chief Boeing 777 pilot for Cathay Pacific, Captain Ian Wilkinson, performed a low-level flypast, reportedly with permission of the control tower, but without permission from the airline, at the Boeing Everett Factory when taking delivery of a new Boeing 777-300ER. Captain Wilkinson was dismissed for his actions. No injuries or further incident was caused

Mark

 

[freqhopping]

JENA-033 has just reported airborne from KHEF. Female pilot. N208EB Cessna 208.
Yet another to be tied to Manassas.
Cleared to 3500. 124.65

 

[TinEar]

More helos...TROOPER 1 (MD State PD) to FOXTROT 2 (Balt City PD) talking about looking for a jumper at the Key Bridge. Says family is fairly sure he jumped and they found an unoccupied car there. Boats are searching for the body....123.025

JENA-033 has just reported airborne from KHEF. Female pilot. N208EB Cessna 208.
Yet another to be tied to Manassas.

Waiting for her to appear here...nothing yet (2229)...and there it is at 2232 at 4700 feet. Just heard JENA 150 (400 operational callsign) say his relief is coming on. The new helo is callsign 900 on the op freq. So, to recap for those keeping score...
JENA 150 = N407TP, Bell 407, op call 400 (A4C859)...squawk 0400
JENA 033 = N208EB, Cessna 208, op call 900 (A1741A)...squawk 4414
I just figured out why 900's transmitter sounded full of static...it's transmissions are encrypted so that's the end of the fun for this mission.
2248: 400 tells the ground team he's pulling out and that 900 is the new air surveillance. He sends them a Happy New Year and off he goes. Guess I can turn it off now.

But I do have N980ME and N984ME Air Ambos up. One of them is STAT 18 on 120.75.

FOXTROT 2 just told TROOPER 1 he just got the call about the jumper at the Key Bridge and will head up there to take the north side search, TROOPER 2 on the south side...he also said there are 30 boats involved in the search...and had to add the guy would be dead even if they do find him.

And that's all for tonight. Not much milair but had to do something. Happy New Year to everyone.

 

[Mateo]

But I do have N980ME and N984ME Air Ambos up. One of them is STAT 18 on 120.75.

984ME was using STAT 10 at ILG last week.

 

[mdmonitor]

Trooper 11

Tin,

0813 EST- Have Trooper 11 w/ZDC (133.9) cleared to Fayetteville NC. Female pilot. The MSP used to have a BE-200 using that callsign. Did you get him/her on your box?