Thanks Mark, yes that's what I expected. There seems to be a problem with the second tanker,
GOLD 91 which is not anywhere near yet ...... MAZDA 51 wants to try a HF phone-patch
to their Command Post, and see what the plan is.
GOLD 92 should be working Boston center on 299.700 but can't hear him yet.
Not looking good for the second cell I fear ......
René.
They must be moving fairly slowly. Nothing on Adrian's box for either the GOLD 92 or the two A-10s with the Mode-S units working. Perhaps they're just in an orbit awaiting that GOLD 91.
Heavy snow starting at Mildenhall according to the locals there - expecting flight activity to be curtailed.
0721: MAZDA 47 checking in with ZDC-Casino at 16,000 feet...285.4 (Guess he got released and is heading home)
0724: MAZDA 47 gets clearance to Baltimore...285.4
0726: MAZDA 47 cleared to 12,000 feet...asks if he can stay at 16,000 for now...nope, he can't and is on his way to 12,000 direct Smyrna...passing 15 for 12,000...285.4
0732: MAZDA 47 cleared to 11,000 feet...285.4
0735: MAZDA 47 cleared to 10,000...285.4
0739: MAZDA 47 to RAVEN Ops reporting 10 minutes out, Code 1...347.2
0747: MAZDA 47 to MTN Tower reporting setting up for landing on runway 33...cleared to land runway 33...297.2
0748: MAZDA 47 reports gear down, full stop, cleared to land...297.2
0805: Finally...MAZDA 51 checking in with ZNY-Manta requesting direct Sea Isle when able...353.5
0806: GOLD 92 calling STEEL Control...no joy...311.0
0810: MAZDA 51 cleared direct Waterloo but asks for Sea Isle...353.5
0811: MAZDA 51 handed off to 133.125 and then gets the UHF for ZDC-Atlantic City...and checks in there...281.45
0812: MAZDA 51 still asking for direct Sea Isle...cleared routing to MTN...281.45
I don't have any indication MAZDA 51 is more than a single ship. Where'd the rest of them go? (Mark clears it up below...heard five of them count off when 51 switched to ZDC-Casino on 285.4)
0815: MAZDA 51 requesting descent below the weather...wants something around 4,000 feet...281.45
0817: Either MAZDA 51 has changed back to ZDC-Casino or it's the others...someone requesting below the weather at 4,000 feet...285.4
0818: Nope...it's still MAZDA 51 requesting the new altitude...requests local altimeter...285.4 (Didn't hear him get sent to 285.4 from 281.45)
0821: MAZDA 52 to RAVEN Ops reporting 20 minutes out...all Code 1 except MAZDA 55 which is Code 2 for HUD and radio...347.2
The AE18FF hex (79-0129) is up again so that's part of the MAZDA 51 flight.
I've also been listening to a DECOY 25 (C-5A, 68-0225, 167th AS WV-ANG) working PIKESIDE on Martinburg's 297.0 but haven't paid much attention to it.
0826: MAZDA 51 flight handed off to Dover Approach and checks in the block 4-5000 and requesting direct Martin State...257.875
0828: MAZDA 51 would like to cancel IFR...gets permission to do just that...257.875
Sheesh...took me this long to find the air-to-air on 293.2 and see that Mark reported it below. Kind of a strange freq for them. I had been searching the 225-260 block all this time until about 2 minutes ago.
It seems these guys have been flying out of MTN the past few weeks - maybe gaining proficiency in the C model while there.
0835: One of the MAZDAs wants to "know the story about fuel in the wingtanks" (700 pounds)...flight leader tells him not to worry about it and that he'll probably burn it off...tells the flight to push over to tower...293.2
0836: MAZDA 51 to MTN Tower reports a flight of six 15 miles to the southeast and wants straight in to runway 33...297.2
0838: MAZDA 51 tells 52 to do a low approach and burn off some of that fuel since he's not burning it off fast enough...52 had suggested holding at SWANN to burn it but the low approach will work faster...293.2
0838: MAZDA 51 explains what 52 will do and says the rest of them will land...297.2
Another A-10 hex showed up...AE1951 (80-0166)
0841: MAZDA 53 reports 2 miles, gear down, full stop...297.2
0842: MAZDAs counting off as they put gear down and head for the runway...297.2
0844: MAZDA 52 reports he's cleared to land...297.2
And that should account for all six of them now on the ground at Martin State - plus the seventh, MAZDA 47 earlier. So, today's big overseas adventure gets scrubbed and they'll have to do it all over again tomorrow or in the near future sometime.
René, I was confused when you reported earlier the MAZDA 51 flight cleared ZIZZI-OTT since OTT is way south of Martin State (about 45nm). But that's apparently exactly what they did since I heard them checking in 15 miles southeast of MTN when they first contacted tower. Strange routing.
