Sticky Thread for MilAir

[TinEar]

2303: COSMIC flight of NJ-ANG with HUNTRESS on «260.9» Not sure where this CAP is operating - possibly over NYC. COSMIC giving a PIREP and reports a solid cloud deck at 15,000 feet.
2306: COSMIC flight leader sends his wingman to «364.8» for a radio check with HUNTRESS. I'm not sure why they do this on almost every CAP flight. «260.9»
This CAP is a flight of two aircraft, callsign COSMIC 41 and 42 from the NJ-ANG in Atlantic City.
2310: COSMIC 41 doing a DATALINK check with HUNTRESS on a "friendly" track. He got an easy one - at 37, 000 feet.
I'm having doubts that this CAP is over NYC. The aircraft are seemingly too loud for that. It's definitely not over our area though (DC or Thurmont).
2313: TANKER 1 on freq asking the two COSMICs how much fuel they need. COSMIC says 9,000 pounds each...then changes it to 10,000. The mission will run until 1 a.m. «260.9» TANKER 1 wants to give them as much fuel as possible. COSMIC says he'll run in afterburner for a bit to burn some off before he hits the tanker.
2324: COSMIC 41 going for the tanker...they are using primary for a boom freq. «260.9» 41 reports nose cold and weapons safe before moving up to the tanker.
2329: TANKER 1 mentions that he just got back from his deployment except it wasn't to "The Desert" this year, it was to sunny and warm Guam. «260.9»
2331: COSMIC 41 is being flown by Bob _____ - your friendly pilot for this flight. (The boom operator aboard the tanker went to school with the sister of Bob's friend. They agree it's a small world. Just thought you'd want to know that.) He finishes refueling and sends in 42.
2331: COSMICs are using «138.125» for tac. 41 reminds 42 to turn off his strobe before going in to the tanker.
2333: COSMIC 42 toward the tanker...reports weapons safe. «260.9»
2335: COSMIC 42 reports in 1/2 mile trail with TANKER 01 and his tail #84-1292. TANKER 1 clears him in to the boom. «260.9» And then clears him to make contact.
2340: COSMIC 42 has full tanks. «260.9» Think the boom operator said he took 15K.
2346: TANKER 1 says that if the COSMICs can take about another 6k apiece, he'll be okay for landing. COSMIC says they'll burn some off and come back in about 25 minutes to take more gas. «260.9»
Well, it does seem this CAP has a bullseye of New York. COSMIC 41 is in the southern part of the CAP and so I hear him loud and clear...42 is in the north and I can barely tell he's there. Both were loud and clear when they went up to 24,000 feet to meet up with the tanker.
The COSMIC pair has been chatting for several minutes on their tac 138.125 about various settings on their DATALINK.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2006

0000: COSMIC 41 tells 42 to stay at altitude 21,500 and he'll stay at 20,500. «138.125»
0012: COSMIC 41 tells HUNTRESS he's going to climb up to 22,000 to pursue the tanker again. «260.9» 41 tells TANKER 1 he's 10 miles away....at 8 miles away he reports nose cold. TANKER asks how much he wants and 41 says to top him off. He also says they'll be good after this refueling because they only have 45 minutes to go. It's 0014.

0016: TANKER 1 clears COSMIC 41 to contact the boom. «260.9»
0018: COSMIC 41 asks TANKER 1 if he has any coffee...TANKER says no but he has grape soda, champagne, crackers and cheese. «260.9»
0024: COSMIC 42 sidles up to the tanker, makes contact and takes 3,000 pounds, finishing at 0027. «260.9»
0038: TANKER 1 with HUNTRESS on «260.9» I think he's trying to go home.
0040: TANKER 1 says COSMIC 41 took 15,500 pounds and 42 took 11,100 pounds altogether during the mission. «260.9»
0044: COSMIC 41 calls Command Post on «138.125» to say their CAP mission will end in about 15 minutes and they should be home in Atlantic City in about 30 minutes.
0050: COSMIC 41 and TANKER 1 boom operator swapping notes on their home town doctor and where they live. They chat, they remember old times, they wish each other a Happy New Year, they say goodbye. Oh, and Bob was an American Airlines pilot but is on a 3-year leave of absence. (Sounds like he got laid off to me.) «260.9»
0055: TANKER 1 cleared off the missions and freq...he's sent to 282.3 (NY Center-Matawan NJ) to begin his trip home. «260.9»
0057: TANKER 1 comes back to tell HUNTRESS he's leaving with 65K of fuel and is Code 2. «260.9»
0058: COSMICs on tac «138.125» to make the trip home.
0059: COSMIC leaves the HUNTRESS freq.
0059: COSMIC 41 contacts ZNY-Matawan NJ on «282.3» reports at FL210. He tells NY Center he can descend at any time because he has lots of fuel.
With both the COSMIC pair of F-16s and the TANKER 1 KC-135 gone home, it sounds like the CAP is ended and will not be replaced by others.

0102: COSMIC 41 reports descending to 8,000 «282.3» (And this might be the last I hear from him due to altitude and being north of Atlantic City.)

 

[ka3jjz]

This needs to be checked, with all the shifting of A/C all over the place, but I have 138.75 as A10s being deployed to Pope AFB NC. Don't know whose A10s, tho 73s Miie

 

[Mark]

**********

 

[Mark]

Had a few Southern visitors to McGuire today,Not sure if they were deploying overseas or what.

DIXIE 10 KC-135 #58-0106 arrive McGuire 1630z on CP 319.400
DIXIE 11 KC-135 #63-7984 arrived shortly after above followed by
DIXIE 12 KC-135 #63-8007

All are from the 106th ARS down in Alabama.
DIXIE 12 reported departing at 1840z

 

[TinEar]

New Year, New Format...

For context...temps are in the low 40s and skies are overcast with rain falling around the entire listening area this morning. By early afternoon, temps remain the same, most of the rain has stopped - other than some scattered showers around the listening area but skies are still cloudy.

Fighter Activity
E3B, Tinker AFB OK
Backend callsign: BANDSAW KILO
Front end callsign: CENTURY 40
Around 1041, he came into listening range trying to contact GIANT KILLER on 249.8 but got no reply. He then switched to 238.1. He explained that he's here to conduct activities with Langley fighters in W-386 but because of weather that might get changed to W-72. Another issue is that he was to refuel with a KC-10 from McGuire (TEAM 40) but because of maintenance issues that aircraft might not take off. Later, we learned TEAM 40 did not take off. The front end, CENTURY 40 then makes contact on 238.9 with a FUZZY KC-135 from the NY-ANG at Niagara Falls and arranges to take 30,000 pounds of fuel in AR-636.
While awaiting the Langley fighters, the backend operator, at 1109, asks GK if he has a freq for a couple of fighters he identifies on his scopes so he can go see if they want some airborne control while he's waiting for the Langley guys. If he is given a freq, he doesn't mention it on the air. He also mentioned they are one C and one D model - so don't know if they are F-15 or F-16 types. I can't hear them on any freqs I monitor and would guess they are from units farther south like Pope or Shaw.
BANDSAW KILO, at 1138, tries calling IRON Ops at Langley on 357.1. He is weak enough that I couldn't copy the gist of his message but it had something to do with being within listening range and inquiring about the fighters. Weather radar at this time shows showers around the Langley area.
Finally, at 1159, BANDSAW KILO tells GK on 238.1 that he'll be working the Langley fighters (one callsign will be SONIC) on 391.2 for ops. They will be working in area W-386. He also wants a backup freq since that 391.2 is very close to something else he's working and if he gets interference he wants a plan in place. He doesn't repeat what GK tells him so it remains unknown if there is a backup plan for freqs.

Langley tac freq 358.85 becomes active around 1215. This must be part of the mission that will work with the BANDSAW E3B. He mentions that they'll have 292.3 for Blue Air, 373.1 for Red Air and 391.2 as a common frequency. Callsign sounds like CAJUN.

Around 1215, had a U/I aircraft, suffix 71 check in with GK on 238.1 to say he's going to refuel with ROCCO 61 - a KC-135 from the NJ-ANG at McGuire AFB. He'll be in W-386 and arrange his refueling in AR-636 in altitude block 27-29,000. GK tells him to use 249.8 later on in his mission. Callsign might be CAJUN which would make him a Langley fighter from the 1st Fighter Wing. At 1222, he says that ?CAJUN? 72 has a problem and will RTB Langley.

The SONIC 81 flight from Langley came up and checked in with GK on 238.1 around 1235. At 1255, he confirms with GK on 238.1 that he no longer has an altitude cap of 33,000 and now has unlimited airspace. SONIC 81 flight reports to GK that his flight is going to RTB and is at 18,000 at 1317.

Meanwhile, another flight (missed callsign) suffix 71, states he's a flight of two F-15s to GK on 238.1 and inquires about area (W)-72, 1B to see if anybody is working it. This is also at 1317.

A MAD DOG 91 flight from Langley is just finishing up work somewhere and telling GK they're RTB Langley at 1328.

Maybe it's atmospherics today or distance and altitude problems - or maybe it's just me - but I'm having a difficult time hearing all the Langley activity today. I usually have no trouble with activity within the W-386 area which is where all this stuff is supposed to be.

F-16s DC-ANG Andrews AFB MD
Callsign RAVAGE. Flight of two.
Two F-16s airborne at 1321 on their tac V-5 freq 127.275. They go to 348.725 with Reagan TRACON and then to Washington Center Calvert on 281.4 at 1324. They get into the necessary one mile trail. Leader tells Center they are scheduled for R-4006/4008. At 1327, they switch to Patuxent GCA on 305.2 and then back to their tac freq for ops. RAVAGE 1 calling BayWatch on 354.8 at 1333 for their oversight during the mission. They are very weak on the BayWatch freq but booming on their tac freq.
They are preparing to do some ground attack exercises using JDAMs. They also go through a period where they are identifying various aircraft flying in the air around them and doing simulated attacks on those aircraft. One of the RAVAGE aircraft is using callsign MONDO during this part of the exercise. They also simulate SAMs being fired at them. The SAM missed them - is anyone surprised? At 1402, they have finished their joint ground attacks (by joint agreement they decide they've had enough of that) and split up into Red and Blue Air and remain on the same freq. They are cleared up to 35,000 feet if they need or want it - RAVAGE 2 to the south and 1 to the north where they will attack each other. RAVAGE 2 begins at 10,500 feet (8,500 cabin altitude). They are in position at 1407 and give the "fight's on" command. RAVAGE 1 is back to being MONDO. I wish I could put this on the webcast during the day since this flight is providing several excellent examples of fighter flight activity and it's all extremely loud and clear and easy to follow. Nearby F-16s transmitters are just beautifully clear sounding. Near 1420, they perform a neat exercise with RAVAGE 2 playing the part of HUNTRESS and 1 as the interceptor where 1 is given the command to intercept a slow moving, gray, low flying aircraft and head-butt it to the north. He even gives an imaginary tail number and says it was successful. They decide to do it again beginning at 1423. The BRA of the next target is 118/17/12,000 and 1 is told to ID it and begins closing on the target. Great stuff! Eyeball on the target at 1427 as a single engine jet. ID it as an F-16 tracking west and "knock it off."
RAVAGE 2 reports "joker" fuel at this point indicating they better start wrapping up and heading for home soon. At 1431 they switch to BayWatch Advisory freq 281.8 to say they are starting for home and are in a non-standard 2 mile trail for recovery. Flight leader gets a squawk from BayWatch of 5372. The flight will head direct Nottingham at 6,000 feet. On tac freq 127.275, RAVAGE 1 reports Code 2 and 2 is Code 3...2 is cleared off to get the ATIS. He comes back with it a minute later and in addition to the normal stuff, he reports runways are wet back at Andrews. He forgot the visibility and is going back to ATIS to get it. They are with TRACON on 270.275 and head over to SOF on V-1 139.9 to give mission results and state they still don't have the visibility from ATIS, finish there and back to V-5 on 127.275 to finish up on their way home. Funny happening...RAVAGE 1 asks 2 what he gets when he enters Steer Point 20...2 says he gets PHIK which is Hickam (in Hawaii). They both show the same thing. Someone made a programming mistake obviously. Back to 270.275 for more TRACON maneuvering on their way home at 1441. They are lining up for their usual runway - 1R. Runway in sight reported so "push 4" and go to 349.0 where RAVAGE 1 tells Tower they are in a two mile trail. Gear down as they head onto the deck where it's all over by 1445.

At 1535, a flight of three STUD aircraft from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley are airborne and using their tac freq 228.45.

The Bases:
Andrews
1006-1014 had a C-38 from the 201st at Andrews (BOXER 32) doing ILS approaches and then finally landed on runway 1L. He used Approach 119.3 and Tower 118.4 freqs.

At 1023, JOSA 236, on 378.1 with SAM Command, reported his takoff time was 1517Z.
JOSA 538, at 1232, approaching Andrews for landing. With SAM Command on 378.1 he says he's a home station C-21, tail # 84-0073 arriving in 20 minutes, is empty, mission complete and only needs crew transportation for two to (Bldg?) 1420.

At 1350 on 378.1, PACER 88 reports his takeoff time from Andrews as 1850Z

COBRA 40 from VAQ-209 at Andrews outbound with Reagan TRACON on 257.2 at 1450 and six minutes later with Washington Center at Elkins on 387.1.

At 1523 on 141.55, REACH 7287, a C-130 reports arriving Andrews in 15 minutes, is A-1 and will need around 15,000 pounds of fuel and transportation for 8 crew members. He says he tried on the UHF freq but coudn't raise anyone and wants to know if the freq has changed. He didn't say which freq he was trying and I didn't hear anything on the 378.1 freq so no telling where he was. Andrews questions his tail # - he repeats it as 79287.

At 1531, REACH 2548 calls Andrews on 141.55 to report he'll be arriving in 30 minutes, is Code 1, has 60,000 pounds of fuel on board, needs parking. He also requests "the patient's" 4 pallets be ready for uploading when he arrives if possible. He says he has nothing to download and requires no services.

1539 on 141.7, MUSSEL 6 calling MUSSEL 3 to say he's going to try to find the ceiling but then is going to call it quits and RTB.

At 1546 hava a COBRA aircraft with a very bad transmitter attempting contact on 378.1 and then 141.55. Can't read him.

Dover
REACH 2403 going into Dover with no pax or cargo. Needs 22,000 pounds of fuel and a parking spot. He's given parking in C-3 spot. Activity on 349.4 at 1345.

NAVY JT581 with Dover Tower on 126.35 reports ready for a touch and go at 1449.

Continued below....

 

[TinEar]

Reached character limit on last message so moved one portion down here and that gives me a bit of room for additional activity which popped up in the fighter section and added flights in the Andrews section. I may have to rethink this new format.

Other Activity:
Early 1000 hours had a RIPPER 22 with Washington Center - Calvert on 281.4 and then Azalea on 263.1. He disappeared from the area about 20 minutes after first being heard. No firm ID on that callsign. I had it for F-14s back in their day and that same callsign, spelled RIPPR, is used for B-52s. Don't know if that's still valid.

The Northrup-Grumman test flight freq 123.225 becomes active at 1258 with the ground station at BWI talking to an aircraft still on the ground. At 1314, the aircraft is finally in the air and says he breaks through the cloud deck at between 6500 and 7000 feet. He states he should be able to get his work in. It eventually turns into the usual two aircraft flight - the tester and a trail. Still going at 1356. At 1429 they mention they are on the last run and will start working on their clearances out of the area. AT 1434 they report they are heading for home and say they'll see each other on the ground.

At 1505, Customs aircraft OMAHA 1 calls THOR on 282.425 and says simply, "10-8."
1506 he calls again and says he's on Blue 1 and is 10-8 - still on 282.425.

And at 1600 I call a halt to reporting - wherever 1600 happens to be in this and the post above this one. END OF REPORT

 

[TinEar]

How about some suggestions from those that read these MilAir logs about a format? The old format listing by time was easy to come back and pick up where you left off but nothing was together. It was all little bits and pieces and if you wanted to follow an activity you had to search through the whole thing. The new format keeps stuff together but it's hard to find what has been added when you go back to the thread trying to pick up the latest postings throughout the day.
I'd like to know which is easier to follow for those of you that read it or if you can suggest something entirely different. I'm sure open to suggestions.

 

[cipher66]

Callsign sounds like CAJUN.


A MAD DOG 91 flight from Langley is just finishing up work somewhere and telling GK they're RTB Langley at 1328.

I find it interesting that Langley uses the same callsigns as Otis??? Just an observation.

Also, I have updated the ZBW and ZNY database entries here on RRef.com.... Please take a look at them and PM me with anything that you find erroneous, or wrong. Thanks

 

[TinEar]

I find it interesting that Langley uses the same callsigns as Otis??? Just an observation.

Also, I have updated the ZBW and ZNY database entries here on RRef.com.... Please take a look at them and PM me with anything that you find erroneous, or wrong. Thanks

Langley uses the same callsigns as everyone Paul. Their callsign list is about 100 entries long. It has always puzzled me how they select calls from that list - whether it's random or on some kind of predetermined rotation. I've been meaning to set that up as a project - if I ever find time - to analyze it although it will be difficult since my daily logs obviously don't catch all their activity.

Thanks very much for those Center updates. I'll check ZNY especially against what I have since I have those all programmed and hear them often. I don't have ZBW programmed although I'd like to find the closest transmitting sites to my area and program just those to check my listening range.

 

[TinEar]

Not much time this morning for logging but upon turning on the radios I find a couple of F-16s from Andrews just going home - WILD 1 & 2. They are on 127.275 tac, 270.275 TRACON and 349.0 Tower. There is another pair of WILD F-16s - WILD 3 & 4 - using 139.15 for tac and working with callsign DARKSTAR which turns out to be one of the F-16s playing the part of the airborne controller.
There are also some A-10s from Martin State on their tac freq 142.3 and I just heard them switch to Dover Approach on 257.875 with one using callsign WARDOG, an OA-10.
Around 1015, WARDOG is working with Atlantic City Approach on 327.125 and it almost sounds like the A-10s from Martin State will be landing at Atlantic City although that's not confirmed by the traffic.
There is also a flight of aircraft from Langley's 1st Fighter Wing entering GIANT KILLER's control area using callsign SONIC 91 around the same time. They are later heard with ops on 391.2.
The WILD 3/4 pair going home at 1021...still 139.15 tac and no doubt will do the 270.275, 349.0 routine too.
A TESTER aircraft is with BayWatch on 354.8 entering his area for maneuvers and there are also some flights of military aircraft moving through the Washington Center UHF freqs which I don't have time right now to try to identify. There is also a SALTY DOG 320 working in the Pax River area.
Got to leave the radios for awhile now but am hearing a F-16 BULLY 1 working Andrews SOF on 139.9. He was probably with the WILD flight working 139.15 tac.

 

[TinEar]

Lots of MilAir this morning in our area....

0900 hour:
There have been several flights moving through the Washington Center freqs working ZDC-Gordonsville/Azalea/Moorefield.
And somebody flying through the area using 138.0 for tac/chat.
There is a COWBOY 11 flight from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley first heard on tac 233.525, then to ZDC-Cape Charles on 256.8 mentioning going direct Snow Hill, then back to tac with a stop at the SOF freq 383.2. Still up at 0945.
A flight of A-10s from the MD-ANG at Martin State is flying and using tac 142.3
Heard somebody at 0924 on Quantico Base Ops freq 355.3 asking when the "special ops is going to hit the airways."
Tanker interplane freq 143.825 active with suffix 43 and 44.
Also had a DC tanker on squadron freq 351.2 mention shutting down the number 2 engine...that was about 0936.
VENUS 26 in the pattern at Andrews using approach and tower - 119.3/118.4
ZDC-Casino on 285.4 has a BANGER 21 flight. That's NJ-ANG F-16s. Reporting at 7,000 feet.
MD-ANG A-10 flight is callsign RAVEN...now with BayWatch on 354.8 and saying they're going VFR to Atlantic City.
Refueling on 238.9...U/I tanker talking with aircraft he's refueling who isn't heard...funny because the tanker is very loud and clear - but nothing from whomever he's talking to.
SALTY DOG 205 with ZDC-Calvert on 281.4 leaving 15,000 for 22,000...then to 24,000 at 0954. He changes to ZDC-Brooke at 0955 where he checks in at FL260. Then to ZDC-Montebello, also at FL260 at 0958. He then states his desire to go direct Pulaski.
0955: BANGER 21 flight checks in with BayWatch on 270.8. Says when they leave they'll stop in Dover and then go to Atlantic City. It's a flight of two F-16s and they're working 138.875 for tac.

1000 hour:
Early in the hour is a British speaker aboard what is probably an E3B or E2B working with GIANT KILLER, first on 249.8 and then to 255.0 when he couldn't be heard. I can barely hear him also. I did copy that he's going to W-107, A through E, and is currently at 11,500 feet.
At 1014, a U/I flight with Norfolk Approach on 370.925...sounds like fighters...push 7.
Flight of three fighters from 1st FW Langley on tac 228.175.
U/I fighters, possibly the MD-ANG flight with Atlantic City Approach on 327.125
Northrup-Grumman test flight active, flight of two around the Bay Bridge at the moment...freq 123.225 in use.
1018 I have SCARY 1 active (F-16 DC-ANG Andrews) SCARY is a flight of three aircraft using 127.275 for tac. Wingman is going to check on status of SCARY 4. He comes back and says they're going to be a 3-ship. They are going to do air-to-air intercept, swapping out Blue/Red positions. SCARY flight with ZDC-Swann on 360.7 and then to ZDC-Coyle on 254.3 at FL210. Flight leader mentions channel 43 to the flight on tac freq. Few minutes later heard on ZDC-Sea Isle on 281.45.
Mid 1000 hour have a fleet of cars doing surveillance on a subject on the roads near DC. I'm not going to print the freq but it's one we sometimes have air activity on. Figure it out.
Last I heard from the A-10 RAVEN flight, they were over water attacking some boats. Flight leader mentioned one of the boats had a weapons cache (which he pronounced as "cash-AY") aboard and that was their target.
At 1035 there is a 1st FW Langley flight using 276.675 tac.
BANGER 21 flight getting ready to leave Pax River area, tell BayWatch on 270.8 they're going to Dover first.
The Northrup-Grumann freq 123.225 has someone that very much sounds like he's ground based counting off mile markers on the ground. Not sure if this is a frequency bandit or is working with the aircraft.
At 1039 I'm hearing a very upset pilot on Pax River freq 256.5 saying a flight came very, very close to them, way too close. He wants to know what those F-16s thought they were doing. He must be referring to the BANGER 21 flight. He then goes on to tell the ground controller that he wants him to notify every flight that comes into the area about the pattern and altitudes he's working. He never identifies himself - at least that I heard but he's a fighter aircraft.
There is also a possible A-10 flight working with BayWatch on 314.0 reporting to be just leaving his area. Time 1043. Nope...it's the F-16s from NJ again - the BANGER 21 flight. They are switching to 257.875 which is Dover Approach. They do and mention they are heading for the TACAN for runway 1.
The guy on the Northrup-Grumman freq 123.225 is talking about holding something out the window but only getting two satellites. Still not sure what this activity is.
At 1052 the Warren Grove Range is active on 283.1.
At 1053 the Bollen Range is active on 237.2.
1055 have a BANDSAW aircraft with HUNTRESS on 364.2

Continued below if necessary....

 

[dparana]

TinEar,

Starting at about 1015, Axeman Flight was going to begin working with Team 44 (McGuire Tanker?) in the Duke MOA on 301.60. I had to turn my radio off for a meeting but I just caught them at 1051 with New York Center on 338.30, perhaps you will be getting them shortly. On a side note, I caught a show on the A-10 last night at 11PM on the Military Channel. Alot of the interviews and footage were with the MD ANG guys at Martin State.

Dave

 

[TinEar]

That must have been the 43 and 44 that I had chatting on the 143.825 tanker interplane freq. They never used TEAM while I was listening.

Dave, I keep missing the program on the A-10 with the MD-ANG. They've shown it on various Discovery channels but I always hear about it after the fact. The one time I tuned in a few months ago, they had a bad tape and it was a complete hour of a signboard saying they were having problems. Someone else told me it was on in the week between Christmas and New Year and was produced in 2002 so it's still relatively new.

 

[TinEar]

Sounds like the BANGER 21 flight from NJ either landed at or just did a touch and go at Dover and then went on to Atlantic City.
Around 1120, the RAVEN flight is working it's way home to Martin State on ZDC freqs and then with Raven Ops on 347.2.
At the same time, the SCARY flight of F-16s from Andrews is coming back to this area and is sounding great on tac 127.275.
Also had a fighter aircraft coming into Andrews using 322.3 Reagan TRACON and then to Andrews GCA on 335.5 and finally Tower on 349.0 to land on 19R. I went deaf on his callsign although he seemed to be loud and clear. Maybe ?NORDIC/ARCTIC/ATOMIC? 31. Only the 31 am I sure about...and the IC on the end of the callsign.
DC32, a KC-135 tanker from the 756th ARS at Andrews is up on 351.2 and complaining about an autopilot problem during his entire flight.
At 1139, the SCARY F-16 flight is with TRACON on 270.275 as they approach Andrews. Leaving 3200 for 2000 and has field in sight at 1141.
The other part of the A-10 MD-ANG flight, callsign AXEMAN, is with Martin State Tower on 297.2 preparing to land.
At 1144, PAT 728 with Andrews on 141.55 reports 15 minutes out, is a C-12 aircraft type, tail # 24149, has 6 duty pax...2 D/Vs with an A-4, needs about 350 "gallons" of gas and will release 6 seats on the outbound flight.
1146, the SCARY flight is reporting gear down, etc. with Tower on 349.0....runway 19L of course. (I gather their ops building must be on that side of runway 1R/19L where they always want to land when possible.)
Someone working with Norfolk Approach (East) on 370.925. He has suffix 1.
1159 there is a TROOPER 11 (MD State Police something) landing at Martin State with Tower on 121.3. This is another example of TROOPER flight with a suffix over 10. This one sounds like a fixed wing aircraft rather than a helo.

At 1214, the temperature is a balmy 54 degrees at BWI airport and skies are partly cloudy. The SCARY flight leader before landing said flying conditions today are fantastic. Nothing flying at the moment so I think I'm going outside to enjoy the weather for a few minutes.

No sooner said that and didn't quite make it out the door when I heard DC 02 (KC-135 Andrews) in the pattern at Andrews using 119.3/118.4. At 1218, he said he flew through a flock of about 100 birds. He says he doesn't think he took any...he didn't hear anything hit the aircraft and feels he got lucky but feels it is an issue. He adds they were definitely large birds. (Guess they weren't starlings.) They're on the east side of the runways.
At the same time, there's a 535 (probably SALTY DOG 535) with BayWatch on 354.8 saying he's going to RTB in two minutes.
U/I transport at 1230 going into Pope or Shaw, both of which use 381.3 for a Command Post freq...he's dropping off 39 pax and 13 pallets and needs Customs and Ag to meet the plane - indicating he's arriving from overseas.
Meanwhile, DC 02 is still going 'round and 'round at Andrews.
At 1242, SPAR 30 calling RENEGADE on HUNTRESS freq 260.9. RENEGADE has been heard as one of the Customs controllers during scramble activity. (SPAR is a Special Air Mission VIP aircraft). The SPAR 30 aircraft is also heard with Andrews Approach on 119.3 at the same time - different radio, different speaker aboard the aircraft. These SPAR aircraft were also heard during that Project Falcon Virgo exercise. Back on 260.9, the SPAR 30 speaker mentions he's in the pattern now, indicating he's done on 260.9.
A BOXER C-38 from the 201st ALS at Andrews in the pattern at Andrews on 119.3 at 1251.
There are a couple of helos working with Andrews at 1254 - Lifeguard TROOPER 7 with Tower on 118.4 at 800 feet through the area and Chopper 4 (TV channel 4 in D.C.) with Andrews Approach on 119.3 skirting the base.
There's also another DC ?? tanker (female) in the pattern with Andrews Approach on 119.3. Time 1255. Her next transmission sounds like her suffix is 42. Meanwhile, DC 02 is still flying the pattern around Andrews. And that brings us to 1259....and so...

Continued below if necessary....

 

[TinEar]

1304: VENUS 44 ariving Andrews at 20 past the hour, is A-1, needs transportation for 4 crew members and a parking spot. «378.1»
1305: I think it's DC 02 on squadron freq «351.2» talking about having 40K of fuel at the moment and describing his various maintenance problems - nothing major. At the same time, DC 42 is spitting out her positions as she goes around in the pattern.
At 1309, VENUS 44 reminds ground they are still standing by awaiting their parking assignment. «378.1» (Impatience is sometimes a virtue.)
1311: Sounds like DC 42 is going to land this time...with approach on 119.3 and so is DC 02 reporting at 2,000 feet and he's also looking for a full stop this time.
1312: VENUS 44 reminds SAM Command they're still standing by for parking. «378.1» (Think they'll get a reply?)
1314: BOXER 55 calling Boxer Ops on squadron freq «314.25» a couple of times. Someone in the background says he thinks they have a radio problem at Boxer Ops. They don't. They answer. He - 55 - says he was airborne at 11 past the hour and is going to make a writeup for the thruster lights.
And at 1316 there is a BOXER 77 with Approach on 119.3 heading for runway 19R.
At 1318, VENUS 22 reports airborne from Andrews at 1806Z for about 3 hours of pattern work and can be contacted on this freq - 378.1
And at 1320. REACH 1192 reports arriving at Andrews in a few minutes, not downloading anything, needs no services other than parking and crew transportation for five.
There is also a BOXER 33 in the pattern at Andrews working with Approach on 119.3
That whole BOXER squadron of C-38s must be in the air. I've never heard more than one at a time active. Getting in flying time? Or did they screw up their inspection and are up for remedial training?
1323: Langley 1st FW tac freq 358.85 is active and that might be the MARLIN 71 flight I hear enter GIANT KILLER's area using 249.8 at FL230 and then moving to FL 210 immediately after the tac activity. Flight leader reports they are direct to the assigned airspace and that the test track is active. At 1327 he reports they are 10 miles east of the test track. Push 16 Prime. And there they are on 358.85 again.
1328: Langley fighters (think this is still the MARLIN flight) on ops freq 389.1 and here mention 2 AUX. Yes, it's the MARLIN flight. After the switches, I believe 16 Prime is their tac 358.85, and 389.1 is their 2 AUX. Or at least that's the way they have them programmed for this flight. And after carefully listening to all the CAP activity done by Langley fighters recently, almost every mission, and even within the same mission by a different flight of aircraft, the radio buttons are different. They seem to be given their freq assignments and then program them within the flight of aircraft according to a plan for just that flight.
1336: JOSA 552 to SAM Command on «378.1» reports 30 minutes out from Andrews and is A-1. They are a home station aircraft (C-21, although they didn't report that), tail #40073 and need crew transportation. Guess they didn't get a reply because he then began calling on Victor (141.55) with no reply after a couple of calls. He finally gets a reply and repeats the above info...this time he does say he's a C-21 and is now 25 minutes out.
1339: LYNX 21 (1st FW Langley) reports to GK on «249.8» that he'll RTB in 5 minutes. (Didn't even know he was up there. He doesn't seem to be with the MARLIN flight on 389.1.)
1343: Have a 420 and 323 working Pax River's 363.35 freq. They seem to be going into a tanker hose and drogue system for refueling which makes them definitely Navy, with 420 on the right side asking for a topoff. Not sure if these are SALTY DOGs but probably.
1344: MD-ANG A-10s from Martin State are up again and using tac 142.3
At 1351, the tanker that's refueling 323/420 says he's bingo fuel and shutting 420 off. The tanker doesn't ID himself. «363.35»
1353: Langley 1st FW tac freq 233.525 active.
1355: WILD 1 (F-16 DC-ANG Andrews AFB MD) with Reagan TRACON on 348.725 leaving 2,000 for 11,000. It's a flight of three aircraft and they're using tac 139.15. WILD 1 with TRACON on 348.725 says they're turning righ to PALEO and say to switch to 317.425 with BWI TRACON.
1357: The Navy pair on 363.35 is on a course of 240 at 36,000 feet.
1359: WILD 1 reports to ZDC-Swann on 360.7 that they are a flight of two aircraft. (Okay..so what happened to WILD 3? He was with the flight earlier. Split maybe?

Continued below if necessary....

 

[TinEar]

1400: WILD 1 flight leaving Swann Sector for Coyle Sector on «254.3» and report in there at FL210.
1402: T-BOLT 31 (Might be either F-16s from the VA-ANG at Richmond or something from Langley or even Shaw) entering GK's area on «249.8» They are going to 391.2 for ops. That callsign has recently been often used by the VA-ANG but I didn't hear any of their tac freqs before they showed up with GK which is why I'm not giving them the VA ID.
1405: Langley activity on tac freqs 228.45 and 233.525 where someone is talking about going into runway 8.
1406: VA-ANG tac freq 141.875 active so let's call the T-BOLT 31 flight F-16s from Richmond.
1406: SCARY 1 (F-16 Andrews) who might be the missing third aircraft in the WILD flight with Swann Sector at ZDC on 360.7.
1409: SCARY 1 is sent to 281.45...oops, says the Sector controller...I meant to send you to 254.3 (Coyle) which is exactly where SCARY 1 goes...and calls and calls and calls with no reply. Som, SCARY 1 goes back to 360.7 with Swann and tells his tale of woe and Swann tells him to get right back there and try again. He does and immediately gets a reply...guess Swann woke up Coyle....SCARY 1 reports at FL210.
1411: Meanwhile, WILD flight leader says to push 337.225 while on 139.15.

And, after a short break, midway through the 1400 hour finds the 228.45 Langley tac freq with a flight of DEFT fighters. The 3 ship WILD 1 and 3 along with SCARY 1 F-16s from Andrews are still operating on their tac 139.15 and 337.225 for ops. The A-10s from Martin State are still meandering around on their tac 142.3. Various transports are coming and going from Andrews. There has been a steady stream of aircraft flying around the Andrews pattern to include DC, BOXER, VENUS types - more so than usual. I really haven't had time today to bore in on the McGuire and Dover AFB Command Post freqs to see what's flying there although we know there are tankers from McGuire in the air as there almost always are. There is a constant fleet of tankers in the air at all times to service the many military aircraft operating within listening range of my location between Baltimore and Washington. My listening area extends from just about New York City to the north and down to Norfolk or thereabouts to the south. My only weak area seems to be to the west but, fortunately, there isn't much MilAir activity in that direction. It's mostly along and off the coast. That explanation is for the many that have asked recently how far I can hear now that so many people seem to be interested in and listening to this activity.

1441: Have a SUNDOG 71 flight entering GIANT KILLER's area using «238.1» That callsign isn't listed in my database but I suspect it's also from Langley's 1st Fighter Wing. I'm tentatively adding that callsign to my Langley list.
1445: DC-ANG F-16s using tac «127.275» No callsign heard yet.
1450: The 127.275 freq has SCARY 1/2/3 using it. Don't know if SCARY 2 & 3 were part of the earlier SCARY 1 flight we heard going north with the WILD flight or whether they came up separately to join in the fun.
1451: CAVE 93 (1st FW Langley) with GK on «238.1»
1451: F-16s from the NJ-ANG at Atlantic City active on tac «138.425» flight of two, callsign BICEP.
1452: U/I fighters on HUNTRESS freq «234.6»
1454: The 234.6 freq is where the SUNDOG flight is working.
Found another callsign database among my collection that lists the SUNDOG callsign for the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley. It shows them as F-15s but I'm not identifying anything at Langley by aircraft type any longer...just 1st FW. I've had three callsigns from Langley so far that I can say are F-22As - BIKER, BOBCAT and MICRO. Everything else is just 1st FW.
1455: WILD flight is also now working the 127.275 tac freq. They're much louder so I suppose they're coming back this way.
1458: PAT 612 to Andrews on «378.1» IDs as an Army C-12 with tail #60088, arriving in 10 minutes to pick up 6 pax, among them a Code 06. No Space A seats available on the outbound leg which is expected to takeoff at 1600 local time.

Continued below....(I keep hitting that 10,000 character limit and lose lines so I'm trying to not even get close)

 

[TinEar]

1501: The SUNDOG flight is doing air/air combat exercises on the HUNTRESS 234.6 freq.
1503: The WILD/SCARY flights are identifying aircraft on the ground at Dover as they fly over the base.
1504: JOSA 102 to SAM Command on «378.1» will arrive Andrews in 20 minutes and will be on the ground for about an hour. He's a C-21 with tail #40088. He's picking up an A-5 for the outbound flight and will need 2500 pounds of fuel before he takes off again. They're going to park him in 3 row.
1508: A-10s coming home to Martin State and with Raven Ops on «347.2»
1509: The BICEP flight from Atlantic City is doing ground attack exercises...they are currently attacking a lead bus of a convoy which they identify as hostile...(actually a bus heading down the road with tired senior citizens coming back from Atlantic City after losing all their nickels in the slots. I made that part up if you couldn't guess.)
1513: the BICEP flight is under BayWatch control on «354.8»
1514: RAVEN A-10s with Martin State Tower on «297.2»
1517: SUNDOG flight tells HUNTRESS they are ready to RTB and will change to 249.8 «234.6»
1518: SUNDOG flight leader with GK on «249.8» says they're finished and are ready to RTB. They want to stay at FL180 for weather reasons if possible.
1519: SCARY/WILD flight coming into Andrews for landing with Tower on «349.0»
1520: JOSA 614 to SAM Command on «141.55» reports as a C-21, tail #40100, arriving in 20 minutes with 5 Space A pax to offload, will be on the ground for 45 minutes and is picking up an A-3, A-5 plus 1 pax. They need 2,000 pounds of fuel, will not release any Space A seats for the outbound flight which is going to Wright-Patterson AFB
1521: CAVE 91 (1st FW Langley) with FK on «249.8» Later they go to GK's ops freq «312.3» to work
1522: The two ship BICEP flight (11 and 12) has been joined by another BICEP (13) and maybe a fourth ship but no confirmation on that fourth F-16 yet. They are all together now attacking ground targets.
1525: Also have tac freq «138.025» active...this is usually a NJ-ANG freq but haven't heard a callsign yet. It's a two ship flight on this freq in air combat exercises. Heard a DARKSTAR callsign but that's just someone playing the part of an E3B, not a unit callsign.
NOTE: After listening to all that SUNDOG activity, I'm leaning toward them being F-16s rather than F-15s even if they were from Langley. If F-16s, they could possibly be the Fargo ND-ANG unit that regularly deploys to Langley. This is just gut feeling.
1532: The fighters on «138.025» say to "push secure V-5" and then I hear noise that indicates they are in scrambled/encrypted mode. Callsign heard is MAPLE 24 & 25 which makes them F-16s from the VT-ANG at Burlington. This unit is supposed to be deploying to Iraq according to news reports I've seen recently. They must be deployed to somewhere within this general area today because I'm sure not hearing them from Vermont or even the Yankee MOA up that way.
1537: OA-10s with Raven Ops on «347.2» using callsign WARDOG coming home.
1540: The BICEP 3 ship flight (yes, only 3 of them) are still in ground attack activity. They are working with a Special Ops ground controller and are doing very realistic activity - such as the group they are now chasing that are trying to escape into Iran. «138.425»
1543: The MAPLE 24/25 flight is just chatting now on the «138.025» tac freq after finishing their air combat exercise. No indication of where they are or where they're going...yet. They can't be that far away from my location based on signal strength.
1545: A-10s from Martin State working tac «142.3»
1546: MAPLE flight leader, while on «138.025» says to push 138.625.
1547: MAPLE 24/25 meet up on «138.625» where flight leader says he'll be off Victor for a minute and goes somewhere...I'm looking.
1551: MAPLE flight leader back to «138.625» where he says, "3310 back home" and I have no idea what that means. He says something about being with New York flight service.
1554: The BICEP flight leader asks his wingmen if they've had enough or want to do more. They decide they'll go home so are forming up to do that. «138.425»
1555: The MAPLE flight is still working «138.625» but are getting weak and noisy now as they fly home or wherever they're going. Funny that I'm not hearing them on any of the NY or Washington Center freqs.
1558: Have the Northrup-Grumman «123.225» freq active again...not sure how long they've been up since I've really only been listening to the BICEP and MAPLE flights
1558: MAPLE flight talking but can no longer understand them...just too noisy on the «138.625» freq.
1559: BICEP 11 with ZDC-Cape Charles on «256.8» IDs as a flight of three, through 15,500 to 13,000 and direct Atlantic City. They are variously slowing and speeding up to get in the proper formation for the Center. They'll go to ZDC-Casino on 285.4 and then ACY Approach on 327.125 and land on runway 31 since that's the current active runway. Someone will also break away from the flight to go to Base Ops on 261.0 to give mission and maintenance status for the three F-16s.

1600: And this has been one hell of a busy day for MilAir due to excellent flying conditions for one reason. Time to quit until later and so...
END OF REPORT

 

[JackTV]

Cade Flight

Hey All,
Sounds like Cade flight is down at Pax.
They are using 142.25 A/A & 270.8

Jack

 

[TinEar]

Can't listen or log at the moment but there are flights of F-16s from the DC-ANG at Andrews currently airborne. There is a SCARY flight on tac 127.275 and another on 139.15. Time is 1920.

And that callsign that I went deaf on this morning going into Andrews I'm fairly sure now was NODAK 31 - an F-16 from the ND-ANG at Fargo. NODAK is their travelling callsign. NODAK aircraft were also apparently at Langley. Perhaps those were the SUNDOG aircraft I logged today that I thought might be F-16s even though I was guessing they were from Langley. Funny how things fall into place with a little nudge from your friends.

Speaking of travelling callsigns, I believe that SPORT flight from Martin State that we heard go out a few days ago has returned home. He was heard at Wright-Patterson AFB requesting the weather for KMTN and placing a call to let them know he was arriving.

 

[Mark]

Rgr that TIN from milcom board caught departing Denver Colorado Dec 31....

SPORT-1, (A-10A, MD-ANG), cleared to Los Alamitos AAF. Outbound on
379.95 and 319.00; climbing to 260.