Haven't had a day this quiet since the last major snowstorm hit this area. However, just happened (at 1346) to run across 260.9 and am hearing TANKER 11 with HUNTRESS. Not sure where a CAP is being run but it's not in this area - at least I don't think so. Also heard OPEC 13 (KC-10) with Atlantic City on 124.6 a few minutes ago heading home to McGuire.
1349: TANKER 11 asking HUNTRESS for flight level 280. «260.9»
There are no published TFRs that would indicate a CAP today anywhere in the country.
1352: COSMIC 45 and 46 (F-16, NJ-ANG Atlantic City) airborne from Atlantic City «327.125» at 7000 feet and climbing.
1353: COSMIC 45/46 handed off to ZDC-Casino «285.4» and are looking for a handoff to HUNTRESS. Heading for PNE (Northeast Philadelphia Airport) Currently over Sea Isle at 12,000 feet.
1354: COSMIC pair of F-16s working tac «138.2» and seem to also be working HUNTRESS on this freq.
1357: COSMIC 45/46 level at 17000...earlier mentioned CAP block is 250-270. «285.4»
1358: COSMIC 45 trying to contact HUNTRESS on «138.2». Flight leader sends wingman to notify HUNTRESS on primary freq they're being delayed in reaching the CAP.
1400: TANKER 11 mentions AR frequency will be Blue 10 to HUNTRESS on «260.9» (Blue 10 may just be 228.9. We had Blue 12 identified as 260.9 during a recent CAP, making 235.9 Blue 11 and 228.9 Blue 10.)
1403: COSMIC 45 notifies HUNTRESS that both jets have an IFF problem and are being denied entry into the CAP area (by ATC) as a result. He says they are going to have to abort the mission and return to base where they'll burn off fuel, land and then determine if they can get new jets, takeoff and resume the mission. «260.9»
1404: COSMIC 45 tells ZDC-Casino «285.4» that they're returning to Atlantic City...they'll stay on this freq until out over the water where they'll orbit to burn fuel and then change to Atlantic City Approach.
1404: COSMIC 45 to Command Post on «138.2» to repeat this info. Says Mode 3 and C are not working. He tells Command Post to get with HUNTRESS to determine what's to be done.
1406: COSMIC 45/46 handed to Atlantic City Approach (U-6) «327.125» where he explains the problem again, says they'll be over water circling for about 15 minutes and then will RTB one at a time. He also asks ACY Approach to confirm he's not getting Mode 3 or C from the two jets. He does.
(Must admit...this is a first and it doesn't say much for the maintenance team at the NJ-ANG. I'd bet there are some people steaming about now.)
1412: TANKER 11 still with HUNTRESS on «260.9» (Guess they're holding him until they decide if the COSMIC flight will be replaced by two new jets.)
1418: Have a couple of U/I fighters talking on tac «138.95» Might be the CT-ANG A-10s again that we heard last week.
1419: DC11 KC-135R coming home to Andrews with LIBERATOR on «351.2»
1421: BOLAR 73 (C-5 Dover) calling Dover CP on «349.4» Mentions they were scheduled for a 5 1/2 hour sortie today and want to coordinate for an extra half hour. Say they are heading for Stewart right now. (And the rest of the explanation is lost to noise -- or listener indifference.)
1429: WATERBUG 939 (Force Aircraft Test Squadron, NAS Patuxent River) to Pax River on «270.8» to say they're done and want to head for an approach at Webster (NOLF).
1430: DC 11 landing at Andrews «118.4)
1431: ROMAN 61 (VFA-106 Oceana NAS) calling Any Radio on FSS freq «255.4» IDs as a single F/A-18F and is doing a low level route.
1432: ARMY 1944 arriving Andrews with Approach «119.3» and then Tower «118.4»
1441: TANKER 11 still with HUNTRESS on «260.9»
1443: Navy 7N309 with ACY Approach «124.6» checking in at 8000 feet.
1445: COSMIC 46 calling HUNTRESS on «260.9» (Guess he got a new jet or got repaired and is going to try again. Not sure yet if this is a single jet or whether both are back.)
1447: COSMIC 45 to ZDC-Casino «285.4» (So both are up again.)
1449: COSMIC 45 to ZDC-Casino «285.4» to say he's making a turn and heading for the "Friendship CAP" at PNE.
1451: COSMIC 45/46 gets a Washington Center freq of 121.025 from ZDC-Casino. They asked for VHF freq.
1451: COSMIC 45 and 46 to HUNTRESS to report they've both been cleared to the CAP. «260.9»
1453: HAVE COSMIC 45 talking with ZDC-Coyle on «121.025» about entering the CAP.
1455: COSMIC 45 talking to HUNTRESS about another IFF discrepancy. Says they'll have to get that checked out because both were reset. «260.9» (Sounds like they got some quick maintenance on the ground rather than new jets.)
1456: COSMIC 45 taking altitude 250 and 46 will take 260. «260.9» (Okay, so the CAP is going but an hour later than planned.)
1503: COSMIC 45/46 established in the CAP, checked their datalinks and are given their first target and immediately given the "skip it" command.
1503: Hearing TANKER 11 on «311.0» Didn't get there on time to hear who he called but it must be his Command Post freq.
1505: COSMIC 45/36 switch to V-16 for chat and come up on «138.2» as expected per preset chart.
1516: COSMIC 45 tells HUNTRESS he's clearing 46 to the tanker at this time «260.9» and does.
1519: COSMIC 46 asks for bogey dope to the tanker «260.9». 45 tells him it's two miles off his left side «138.2»
1520: COSMIC 46 makes contact with TANKER 11 on «260.9» and the tanker asks if he wants to refuel on Blue 10 or stay on this freq. It's this one....so we won't get confirmation that Blue 10 is 228.9 but I'm fairly sure of it anyway.
1523: COSMIC 45 tells 46 to just take 3000 pounds now.«138.2»
1524: TANKER 11 clears COSMIC 46 to contact the boom. «260.9» (COSMIC 46 has called himself COSMIC 42 several times...he's either getting the flight mixed up as 41/42 or he's mixing his 46 with tac callsign 2 as the wingman.)
1529: COSMIC 45 tells 46 to Push V-15 and they come up on «138.425» as expected.
1530: COSMIC 45 now heading for TANKER 11 to refuel...cleared to contact the boom a minute later.
1530: NAVY JR 257 arrival message to Andrews CP on «141.55» landing on the airport side to drop off pax and then going to the Navy side. Parking in 10 row. (His first call was at 1526)
1533: COSMIC 45 completes his refueling and tells the tanker they have more than enough fuel to finish the mission. Guess this will be a one-shift CAP. «260.9»
1535: Looks like the COSMICs will stay with V-15 on «138.425» as their tac freq.
1536: TRACK 1 (and then 01) calling SAM Command on «141.55». Says he's an Andrews based C-21 about 15 minutes out and wants to know about the ramp freeze. He's surprised to hear it's just going into effect rather than going off as he expected. Says he'll slow down then
1546: Air Force 1 with ADW Approach «119.3»
1547: Air Force 1 switches to ADW Tower «118.4» and reports gear down, landing on runway 1L.
1550: Sounds like the CAP is done. «260.9»
1551: COSMIC 45/46 to Base Ops on «261.0» to report they're 20 minutes out and both Code 1. 46 comes back with the ATIS report and says they'll be landing on runway 13.
1553: COSMIC 45/46 report they've rejoined to HUNTRESS «260.9» 45 asks HUNTRESS if he'll get their clearance or should they get it on their own. (I'm sure the tanker is on a ZDC VHF freq but can't find him yet.)
1555: TANKER 11 is cleared to RTB and clears off with HUNTRESS. «260.9»
(I wonder if this CAP had anything to do with the return of Air Force 1 from overseas?)
1557: COSMIC 45 and 46 cleared off by HUNTRESS on «260.9» and are handed off to ZDC-DuPont «132.525» where they check in and heading direct Smyrna.
1558: COSMICs "Push Uniform-1" and come up with Ops on «261.0»
1602: COSMIC 45/46 with ZDC-Kenton «354.15» at 11,000 feet direct Sea Isle. They're also still with V-15 tac «138.425» where 45 talks about radio problems. I agree...his transmitter has very weak modulation and he says his receive is bad.
1604: COSMIC 45/46 flight cleared down to 8000 «354.15» and told to change freq to ACY
1606: COSMIC 45/46 to Atlantic City Approach «327.125», ask for the winds and then say they'd like runway 31 if possible. They're cleared down to 2000 feet and 45 says his wingman will be on his left side.
And that's enough for now. It's time to go take my new Uniden 996 out of the box and start playing and learning how to program the thing.
(Ref below): Thanks Dave. Thought it might be them. Had them through here Friday on their way to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Confirms CT-ANG.
