Sticky Thread for MilAir

[wadeless28]

Had a visual on the advance helos that crossed BWI mid field about 0955. The President's contingent passed about 1020 hours. Surprisingly, no ground stop as he passed mid-field. It a slow time of day so he just hit right I guess. Waiting for return trip now.

Edit: 1052 AACo Trunk TG 11L OPS 1 Advised POTUS is about to exit the building.

Edit: 1102 Spotted visually POTUS MidField BWI flying south. Did get a transmission from NIGHTHAWK 3 asking for an altimeter reading for BWI. Possibly related?

Mike

 

[TinEar]

Good catches Mike. Looks like you're the only one that caught anything. I heard mentions of helos crossing BWI but not with an ID that would make it Marine 1. Maybe they were just being careful with their comms.

NIGHTHAWK 3 is definitely one of the President's Marine helo unit. That's the callsign they use when the President is not aboard. It switches to Marine 1 if he is.

1120-1130: Have a couple of Navy aircraft using suffixes 146 and 545 (maybe SALTY DOG?) doing flight testing on Pax River freq «363.35» They're talking now about going to the tanker to refuel.

Early 1200 hour, there's a SALTY DOG 404 with Pax River Advisory on «270.8» doing supersonic runs. His last run was at 1.25 mach, lowest altitude during the run was 33,500 feet on the Pax River 160 radial.

1257: STEEL 71 (KC-135, 147th ARS PA-ANG Pittsburgh) calling Steel Ops on «311.0» to report he's 30 minutes from arrival, is A-1 and has about 22,000 pounds of fuel aboard. He also requests a parking spot.

1319: U/I fighter chat on tac «142.25»
1331: Flight of four F-16s off from Andrews...with TRACON on «348.725» and using tac «139.15» Callsign RAVAGE
1334: RAVAGE flight to ZDC Calvert on «281.4» leaving 12,000 for 17.000
1336: RAVAGE flight leader reports direct HARCUM (south of Andrews)...going up to 21,000. «281.4»
1337: RAVAGE reports in the block 210-230 (flight level) «281.4»
1340: RAVAGE changes to ZDC-Franklin VA on «269.4» checks in at FL210.
1345: RAVAGE mentions heading for Cofield «269.4» (They are not talking on tac freq 139.15 at all since right after takeoff.)
I wonder if they are heading for the Dare County Range in North Carolina.
If the RAVAGE flight switched to the ZDC-Cofield Sector (350.35), I didn't hear them.
1356: Have a U/I aircraft giving lat/longs to HUNTRESS on «271.0» Sounds like one of the E3B type aircraft. He's far off and weak.

1409: WAMO 51 landing Andrews on «118.4» (WAMO=Washington Aerial Measurements Office. The unit is based at Andrews.) I have erroneously reported this callsign in the past as WHAMO but it should be WAMO.
1430: Flight of BIKER (1st FW Langley) aircraft with Giant Killer on «238.1» BIKER 58 calls several times without a reply. BIKER was used by F-22A aircraft the last time I heard it.
1436: Langley tac «233.525» active.
1438: RAVAGE flight back within listening range on tac «139.15» Push 269.4. (That's the ZDC-Franklin freq but I never do hear them there.) They give fuel flow reports which indicate they must have refueled somewhere along the way.
1443: They are reporting their maintenance status to each other on tac «139.15» and then say to switch to V-1.
1444: RAVAGE 1 reports to SOF on «139.9» In the middle of it, he goes to «269.4» to tell the flight to push U-7, 281.4. (ZDC-Calvert) While with SOF, he reports something fell off RAVAGE 2. He says they'll check it on the ground but it's a cosmetic piece. RAVAGE 1 then switches to «281.4» to tell ZDC they're at FL180. Push V-6 and they go back to tac «139.15» that brings us to 1447.
1447: RAVAGE 1 starts looking for 2...he's not on V-6, he's not on U-7...he finally answers up and he's still on V-1, the SOF freq. 1 drags him back to V-6. He then sends 4 to fetch the ATIS report.
1449: RAVAGE 1 to ZDC-Calvert on «281.4» with a request...no reply.
1452: RAVAGE flight leaving 180 for 170 flight level. «281.4»
1452: RAVAGE at the same time on V-6 «139.15» is giving a geography lesson to one of his wingmen about flying over the Potomac River and pointing out the Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Station.
1453: RAVAGE flight to Andrews GCA on «335.5» where the flight will split into 2 + 2 for landing approach...leaving 10 for 7,000 at 1454.
1455: RAVAGE 1/2 leaving 7 for 3,000 flight level...3/4 break away. «335.5»
1457: RAVAGE 1/2 has airfield in sight, going down to 2,000...push U-4 «335.5»
1457: RAVAGE 1/2 come up on Tower freq «349.0» where he identifies as a flight of two F-16s...heading for runway 19L.
1459: RAVAGE 3/4 report field in sight «335.5» push 4
1459: RAVAGE 3/4 with Tower on «349.0» heading for runway 19L.

1513: MICRO 21 flight (1st FW Langley) into GK's area on «238.1» Says they'll be working in W-386 from G-J. He then goes on to say the MICRO flight with be working with a whole slew of aircraft from the 27th (Fighter Squadron).
1515: Langley tac «257.075» active and the speaker mentions something that will be done only by the F-22A participants. A couple of minutes later one of these is IDed as a BIKER flight.
1526: GRAYHAWK 6 (E2C, VAW-120, Norfolk NAS) with Norfolk Approach on «370.925» reports at 6,000 feet, heading 170
1535: COBRA 41 (1st FW Langley) with Giant Killer on «238.1» reports RTB...direct Langley at 14,000 feet.
1538: Had an aircraft that sounded like possibly BUGSY 11 with Norfolk on «370.925» saying he was switching to 249.8. Then heard him on that freq report in as a single ship to Kilo (altitude). Callsign could be HUSKY/RISKY/HUNGRY or almost any Langley callsign ending in Y. I just couldn't grab it.
1547: Navy TP18 (Tango Poppa One Eight) with ZDC-Irons on «360.85» through the area at FL180.
1552: Navy TP12 (yes, different aircraft) with ZDC-Irons reporting FL220. «360.85
1600: Time for....END OF REPORT. Still expecting that "slew of aircraft from the 27th" to come up out of Langley for those that are monitoring the area freqs.

By the way, I hinted the other day at hearing surveillance activity on a freq we sometimes hear aircraft on. If you got that hint, one of their other freqs has some real interesting surveillance going on at the moment. (Around 1600 local time)

By the way, it's 60.1 degrees at BWI airport at 1430. This IS January, right? And it hit 63 degrees at BWI at 1545. Open the pool!

 

[TinEar]

Not sure how much time I'll have for logging today but....

Mid 1000 hour heard NJ-ANG F-16 flight going home...on ZDC-Kenton «277.4» and then ACY Approach «327.125» preparing to land.
Also heard what sounded like a tanker in the Duke MOA on «301.6» talking about someone not showing up on time and, basically, it's just tough noogies because he couldn't wait around to refuel him. Be on time or be gone was the message.

At 1100...
AXEMAN A-10 flight from MD-ANG Martin State at the Bollen Range using «237.2»
Langley tac freq «276.675» active. Then about 1110 mention orbiting at 18,000 feet but don't say where.
At 1118, there is a pair of fighters at the Warren Grove Range just beginning their activity. No callsigns heard. «283.1»
1122: A RAVEN flight of two A-10s from Martin State working tac «142.3» and with BWI TRACON on «307.9». They are on their way home...with Raven Ops on «347.2» and Tower on «297.2»
1126: Have a DEVIL 11 flight (F-16 NJ-ANG Atlantic City) with ZDC-Casino on «285.4» coming my way.
1127: U/I fighters using tac «141.675»...they are at a range and might be the ones at Warren Grove.

At 1135, I have a TEAM 20 (KC-10 McGuire) calling Langley Command Post on «251.25» asking if they can contact Niagara Command Post to find out the status of FUZZY 21 (KC-135 NY-ANG Niagara Falls).
1137: DEVIL 11 flight into BayWatch area on «354.8» says he's a flight of two and will work 3500-26000 for the next 25 minutes. The DEVIL flight is using «138.425» for tac. They are at the Pax River Range around Vienna MD attacking targets. Love this activity! They are so close when using this range that every transmission sounds like it's in the room with me.
1148: The DEVIL flight leader tells BayWatch on «354.8» that his flight will be tied to the BANGER flight....indicating another NJ flight coming this way.
1149: U/I fighters using tac «142.9»

1154: Fighter activity being heard on «139.7» This has got to be a scramble or CAP.
1155: BRAVE 65/66 (F-16 DC-ANG Andrews AFB MD) heard with Reagan TRACON on «348.725» and then back on «139.7»
1156: DEVIL 11 with ZDC-Cape Charles on «256.8» checks in as two F-16s...changing to 285.4
1157: DEVIL 11 at 15,500 checking in with ZDC-Casino on «285.4» heading home to Atlantic City. (Was hoping they'd stay around longer.)
1158: BRAVE 65/66 with HUNTRESS on «139.7» mention they are heading to GUARD DOG. (This looks like it's the start of a CAP rather than a scramble.) Also hear the BRAVE flight check with HUNTRESS on «362.3» and then back to «139.7»
1159: BRAVE 65/66 do a fuel flow check on «139.7»

Continued below....

 

[dparana]

At about 1040 or so Axeman Flight tried to call Cleveland Center on 353.85, switched briefly to 291.65, and then back to 353.85. They were entering the Duke MOA to get with Steel 71 (who showed up in the Duke at 1000). They were informed to try and contact Steel 71. They got a hold of Steel 71 on 301.60. Steel 71 had returned to base since Cleveland Center did not have any contact with the Axeman flight either on the radar or radio. The Axeman flight was low level on the VR-705 VFR Military Training Route and Cleveland probably didn't get them on radar. To make a long story short, there was a SNAFU and the the Axeman flight didn't get any gas. I guess this is probably a useless post, but at least it's some more info on the Axeman flight.

Steel 71 was almost at Harrisburg when Axeman contacted them, that's probably when you heard them. They must be taking the long way back to Pittsburgh.

Dave

 

[TinEar]

It's not useless to me Dave. It fully explains why that tanker talked about not refueling the fighters that I mentioned above. Thanks for that explanation.

Dave, I forgot where your general location is. Do you mind mentioning it?

 

[TinEar]

1201: BRAVE 65 tells HUNTRESS they are established in the CAP at 21-23,000 and that he needs a squawk for BRAVE 66. 65 then goes to GUARD DOG on «288.35» to get the squawk for 66 and returns to «139.7» to give it to him.
1202: BRAVE 65 gives a PIREP to HUNTRESS where he says there's a little bit of haze down below but otherwise it's clear.
1203: DEVIL 11 flight leaving 15.5 for 13.5 altitude with ZDC-Casino on «285.4»
1206: Now I know why the DEVIL 11 flight left the Pax River Range so quickly...they are heading into the Warren Grove Range and checking in there on «283.1» They are still using «138.425» as a tac freq and are descending to 7700 feet.
1208: BANGER 21 flight (F-16 NJ-ANG Atlantic City) with ZDC-Kenton on «277.4» He mentions RTB Atlantic City and that he's a single ship. He must have been down there with the DEVIL flight at Pax...we did have a mention of him earlier by the DEVIL flight leader.
1212: BANGER 21 leaving 11,500 for 6,500 as reported to ZDC-Kenton on «277.4» and he's leaving the freq.
1215: BRAVE 65 tells GUARD DOG he'll monitor Guard but is being sent around to different freqs to do radio checks with HUNTRESS. He then goes to «228.9» for a radio check. I hear the ground station on 228.9 but don't on 139.7. There was a second HUNTRESS controller - a female - that also did a radio check on 228.9 with BRAVE 65. She sounds like she's very, very close to me - loud and clear. A third one I couldn't hear. So, three HUNTRESS controllers, one at about Andrews signal strength, one in my back yard, maybe at BWI and one I can't hear.
1218: They then go to «260.9» for the next radio check. I don't hear the ground station there.
1219: HUNTRESS (female voice) comes up on «139.7» to give a target to the BRAVE flight. This is a different controller - obviously - than the first one that was here that I couldn't hear. No sooner gave the target and track number when the "skip it" command was given. That was probably a DATALINK check.
1221: Another HUNTRESS controller, male this time, on «139.7» for radio check. He's the one at about Andrews signal strength for me. The female on this freq was not nearly as loud as she was on the 228.9 freq.
1222: BRAVE 65 then to GUARD DOG on «288.35» to let him know the checks are over with and it's back to normal.
1228: BRAVE 65 talking with Command back at Andrews on «139.7» about scheduling and refueling of jets on the ground and which to use. He wants it checked with Colonel _______ to make sure that plan is okay. The ground station, as usual, that he's talking to is CAPITOL. He then mentions he's showing about 30 unknowns on the "saddle" and wants to know if CAPITOL is showing the same thing.
1236: BRAVE 65/66 do an ops check on fuel flow and remainders. 65 tells 66 he should monitor his fuel use since he's lower than 65. «139.7»
1238: Have a pair of F-16s just came up on tac «138.0» This is probably a pair of SPIDERs from the ND-ANG Fargo which is deployed to Langley. Could they be CAP replacements? They've certainly had the duty in the past while in this area.
1240: GIANT KILLER's ops freq «391.2» is active.
Almost forgot to mention this one...between 1225-1235 there was an AIR 26 with Phillips AAF Tower on «126.15» doing "drops" of some kind. He mentioned doing both low level and high level drops.
1242: BRAVE 65/66 both mention external tanks are dry.
1242: HUNTRESS tells BRAVE to go to 288.35 for a radio check. BRAVE 65 says he's already monitoring there so go ahead. «139.7»
1243: BRAVE 65 does the radio check on «288.35» Don't hear the ground station there.
1243: BRAVE 66 reports he's ready to RTB «139.7» HUNTRESS tells him to have a good trip home and to switch to Center on 288.35. BRAVE 66 then switches to «288.35» where he says he'll be RTB with 65 behind hime.
1244: BRAVE 65 tells HUNTRESS he'll be about 10 minutes behind 66. «139.7» She giggles.
1245: BRAVE 65 to GUARD DOG on «288.35» asks whether he should hold where he is or go to Nottingham to hold. He says he has to be about 10 minutes behind 66.
1250: BRAVE 66 tells GUARD DOG on «288.35» that he's switching to «270.275», the TRACON freq, which he does to report he has field in sight. Reports he's beginning his initial run.
1252: That AIR 26 on Phillips AAf freq «126.15» is dropping parachute jumpers, not things.
1253: BRAVE 66 with Andrews Tower on «349.0» for landing. 5 mile initial to runway 1R.
1255: BRAVE 66, gear down, full stop, right «349.0»
1257: AIR 26 reports "jumpers away" «126.15»
1257: BRAVE 65/HUNTRESS on «139.7» where 65 says he has about 4 more minutes before he begins his RTB run.
1259: AIR 26 reports jumpers away again and says his drops are complete and he'd like to descend down to 12,500. «126.15»
Okay...so what was going on that we obviously had the President out and about that required a CAP and have jumpers that might be involved in a demonstration for some event?

1302: BRAVE 65 with GUARD DOG on «288.35» says he's ready to RTB and beginning his descent. He takes a heading of 270.
1304: BRAVE 65 switching to «257.2» for TRACON directions. He checks in at FL210. He calls 3-4 times without getting a reply so goes back to «288.35» to say he has no contact with Potomac (Reagan TRACON). He's told to switch to 335.5
1304: AIR 26 landing at Phillips AAF «126.15»
1307: BRAVE 65 to Andrews GCA on «335.5» heading home.
1308: HUNTRESS tells BRAVE 65 to continue his RTB and to contact ATC. BRAVE 65 says he's Code 1. «139.7» BRAVE 65 says, "You don't think we'd fly home on our own, do you?" She doesn't reply to that. Male controller then asks him to repeat. He says if he didn't call ATC on the way home, they'd scramble the other guy on him. (All said with chuckles) But HUNTRESS didn't think that was funny...he just grunts.
1308: BRAVE 65 has field in sight «335.5»
1311: BRAVE 65 with Andrews Tower on «349.0» for landing on runway 1R.
1313: BRAVE 65 with CAPITOL on «139.7» to say he'll be down in one minute. I can't hear the CAPITOL ground station.
(Don't know what happened to that possible SPIDER flight. I never heard them again.)

Continued below if necessary.....

 

[TinEar]

1315: U/I flight into GK's area using «249.8» Says he'll be there for the next hour.
1318: Have a FLYER 01 (A-10 PA-ANG Willow Grove) on tac «141.725» He appears to be a single ship - at least for now.
1321: Langley tac freq «233.525» active
1323: Bollen Range active...fighter giving his targets...will start with the circles, etc. «237.2» and also mentions doing some long range strafing.
1325: BULLPEN 1 (Unknown) into GK's area on «249.8»
1325: The Warren Grove Range is also active on «283.1»
1326: WOLF 11 (1st FW Langley) into GK's area on «249.8»
1327: BULLY flight (F-16 DC-ANG Andrews AFB MD) airborne...with TRACON on «348.725»
1328: BULLY flight working tac «127.275» Flight of at least three F-16s.
1329: BULLY flight to ZDC-Calvert on «281.4» passing 16 for 17,000 feet....cleared to 22,000.
1331: The tac «141.725» freq now has two fighters there. They are working one of the ranges - probably Bollen. This should be the FLYER A-10 flight from Willow Grove.
1334: SONIC 23 (1st FW Langley) into GK's area on «249.8» at 23,000...will work air G-J for 30 minutes.
1339: BULLY 2 heard on tac «127.275» mentions something abou the SPI. He's the only one I've heard from this flight since 1329. Now the others join in and it sounds like they'll be working ground attack missions around the Pax River area.
1342: DRAGNET (E3B Tinker AFB OK) to Giant Killer on «238.1» tells him that he'd like him to pass on the message that he'll be working in W-105 with MAD DOG and DRAGON at 1900Z.
(Paul...heads up...MAD DOG and DRAGON are both F-15s from Otis scheduled for 1400 local time.)
1345: Haven another Andrews F-16 flight up...ANGRY 1 on TRACON «257.2»
1347: ANGRY flight working «143.15» tac.
1348: Langley tac freq «228.175» active
1351: ANGRY 1 flight with ZNY-Big Flat PA on «322.4» They may be heading for Duke.
1354: SONIC flight from Langley working GK's «391.2»
1355: AIR 26 is back up with Phillips and talking about making high level drops of parachutists. «126.15»
1356: Earlier today, at 1149, I mentioned U/I fighter activity on «142.9» It's not fighters - it's our AIR 26 doing the chutist drops that's using that freq. He's no doubt talking to the drop controller.

1405: Langley tac freq «276.675» active.
1406: Martin State Ground on «121.8/253.4» tells RAVEN (A-10) flight to hold on runway 15 until a C-130 lands. He then talks to CODY 01 which must be the C-130.
1411: Martin State Ground tells CODY 01 to taxi to parking. «121.8/253.4»
1411: Meanwhile, AIR 26 says he didn't drop any jumpers that time and he's going to do a "racetrack" and try again. «142.9» I'm having trouble with the ground controller's name that 26 is calling.
1420: the RAVEN flight of A-10s took off from Martin State and began using tac freq «142.3» Then there was an AXEMAN flight heard taking off and they went to the Bollen Range where they were (and still are at 1435) working range freq «237.2»
1437: AXEMAN flight leaving Bollen Range at 14,500 feet and are southwest bound «237.2»
1437: ANGRY flight from Andrews still up and active on tac «143.15»
1439: ANGRY 1 with ZNY-Joliet on «239.05» mentions direct Baltimore, direct Andrews...climbing to 16,000.
1441: VODKA 81 flight (1st FW Langley) into GK's area on «238.1» Says he'll work Kilo for 15 minutes
1441: ANGRY 1 says he's a "flight of two F-16 Charlie Plusses" «239.05»
1442: ANGRY 1 checks in with ZNY-Modena on «335.6» 15 miles north of Baltimore...descending from 16 to 12,000
1443: BULLY flight back in the area using tac «127.275»
1444: ANGRY 1 to SOF on V-1 «139.9» to give mission results. Wants SOF to confirm west runway is closed. Push V-7
1445: ANGRY flight to V-7 «143.15» where leader clears wingman to go fetch the ATIS report. He brings back the report. Leader says current good freq is 307.9 (BWI TRACON).
1446: ANGRY 1 confirms west runway is closed. (That would be runway 19R/1L.)
1448: ANGRY 1 with Reagan TRACON on «269.0» requesting landing on runway 1R. He tells ANGRY 2 (on «143.15) to make sure he has his speed brakes on. 2 does a double mic click to indicate he understands.
1456: BULLY flight leader with SOF on 139.9 reporting mission results and Codes for all three F-16s in the flight as they approach home - 8 minutes out.

1500: BULLY flight landing at Andrews with Tower on «349.0»
1501: TESTER 25 and a chase aircraft have been working for the past half hour on Pax River freq «256.5» He's doing some fairly wild maneuvers. It took this long to finally hear a callsign from him.

There has been a ton of activity I haven't logged over the past couple of hours due to being busy with my day job. Today is one of the busiest MilAir days in a long time. I've missed logging many, many flights from Langley into GK's area for ops and even some local flights. And I haven't touched any of the transport freqs which are all busy and have been that way all day.

1506: AIR 26 is still dropping jumpers somewhere in the area. He's with Phillips AAf on «126.15» and with his ground controller on «142.9»
1513: Have flight of BICEP and AERO F-16s from NJ-ANG Atlantic City up on tac «138.425» Signal strength indicates they came down this way - maybe to Pax to get in some work. There are at least two BICEPs and one AERO I've heard so far.
1515: NJ flights are with ZDC-Salisbury on «257.7» at the moment.
1518: BICEPs push 305.2 «257.7» That's the Pax River Approach or GCA freq they're going to.
1519: AIR 26 tells his ground controller on «142.9» that he's going to push inbound to land.
1520: TESTER 25 reports RTB at this time «256.5»
1520: AERO has been having a problem with one of his primary attack pieces of equipment...not sure if it's a pod or something in his HUD. He's been looking for suggestions from the BICEP guys. (Turns out it's a pod that's broken according to later traffic.) The NJ flights check into BayWatch area on «354.8» These flights are BICEP 11 and AERO 21 on the ATC freqs.
1534: After some air combat exercises, the BICEP/AERO flights are doing ground attack on the Pax River Range and sounding as great as ever when there. «138.425»
1551: The three NJ F-16s are getting back into fighting wing formation as they finish their attacks on unsuspecting ground targets around the Pax Range at Vienna. «138.425» They all report fuel and all have dry external tanks.
1553: NJ flight with BayWatch on «354.8» to say they're done and are at 15,500.
1553: Navy jets doing maneuvers using Pax River freq «392.675» I haven't heard that freq used in ages. Believe it's a SALTY DOG aircraft. Just finishing their flights.
1554: Yes it is...SALTY DOG 100 to Pax River on «310.55» asking for straight in approach to the runway...he says he has unexpended ordnance.
1555: AERO/BICEP with ZDC-Casino on «285.4» to start their trip home. Report west of Waterloo.
1557: BICEP 11 reports his flight is working its way down to 5,000 feet so will lose them soon. «285.4» They are still chatting on «138.425» as they wend their way to an as yet unidentified range. They give their gun numbers to report to the unknown range controller....who turns out to be Warren Grove Range.
1559: BICEP 11 contacts Warren Grove Range on «283.1» to say they're going to do high level strafing only. He gives gun numbers as 3, 39, 24 for BICEP 1, 2, AERO 21. He says the BICEP flight will be MARSA with AERO. He also uses callsign RANGER for the Warren Grove Range controller which is the usual, known callsign.
1602: BICEP says they'll be working at 7500 feet at the range.
So they're going to expend some gun ammo and then go home. Sooooo...I'll call this the...
END OF REPORT

 

[dparana]

TinEar,

I'm listening from Kane, PA in McKean County. Kind of in the North Western part of the State. The approximate center of the Duke MOA is about 55 miles to the East of my location in Coudersport, PA - Potter County.

Dave

 

[TinEar]

Thanks Dave. Now I understand why you can hear them so well and how your traffic fits into what's happening in this area. That's a great location.

By the way, McKean County PA is one of a handful of counties in PA that has absolutely nothing listed for frequencies in the database...not a single freq. Hint.

Alan

 

[dparana]

TinEar,

I got your hint....I really don't listen to anything other than Air and MilAir too often but I can try to put some more accurate names to the freqs in the FCC Database.

Dave

 

[TinEar]

Yeah, I pulled up the PA database at this site to see accurately where McKean County was located after you gave your location. I noticed there was nothing listed there. Didn't mean to create any pressure to do anything unless you absolutely want to do it. I don't listen to anything but MilAir during the day either but listen to the police/fire at night after all the aircraft are on the ground.

Alan

 

[TinEar]

1852: Have Bollen Range active on «237.2» Fighters not identified yet.
1858: U/I fighter activity on tac «142.25» It sounds like the same guys at Bollen.
1917: The pair of fighters on «142.25» still going strong with buddy lase ground attacks. I haven't heard a callsign used which would identify them although it's most likely A-10s from Willow Grove. They are very loud and clear considering the distance involved.
(Guess it's just good conditions tonight. My police/fire scanner is picking up NYC-Brooklyn Borough loud and clear too.)

2323: GOLD 41 calling McGuire Command Post on «349.4» He reports he'll arrive at McGuire at 0500Z (later says it'll be 2350 local), is A-1, has 40K on the fuel but will land with 260K pounds fuel. (That confuses me...does it mean he's going to refuel before landing? Otherwise, how does he get from his present 40K to 260K?). He has 8 crew members and needs airstairs and a cart when he lands. He also has a Lt. Col. _____ on board who was the OSS Commander. He'd like the new commander notified that he's on board the aircraft. (The GOLD callsign is used during trans-Atlantic refueling flights. They use GOLD coming west and BLUE when heading east. This guy is probably a KC-10 stationed at McGuire.)
2331: BOLAR 91 (C-5 Dover) calls Dover CP on «349.4» to say he'll arrive in about 10 minutes. He has an emergency shutdown of a "hot box." (He describes it but was too weak to copy with six scanners yapping and Bourne Supremacy playing on the TV in the background during that wild car chase scene in Moscow. I didn't stand a chance to hear poor BOLAR.)

 

[TinEar]

Not much happening today. Temperatures around the BWI Airport area are in the mid 40s today with rainy skies which will keep down the fighter activity.

From approximately 1130 to 1230 there was a two ship F-16 flight from the NJ-ANG, callsigns BANGER 21 & 22, from Atlantic City to the Pax River area and back again. There was also a single ship DEVIL 11 flight separated by a couple of minutes that flew the same route. Once at Pax, they did some ground attack exercises. BANGER flight used 138.875 for tac, DEVIL stayed with Devil Ops on V-1 - 138.125. They flew the normal ZDC route...Casino 285.4, Cape Charles 256.8 and Salisbury 257.7 on the way down and Cape Charles 256.7, Kenton 277.4 on the way home. They entered the Pax River area with Pax Approach/GCA 305.2 and with BayWatch on 354.8. Just before landing back at ACY, they worked ACY Approach as usual on 327.125.

At the same general times, there were a couple of Langley flights into Giant Killer's area. They used Langley tac 228.175 and 276.675, entered GK's area using 238.1 and 249.8 and performed their ops using 383.1.

There are the usual transports to/from Andrews, McGuire and Dover Air Force Bases but I haven't logged them.

At 1309, I'm hearing what sounds like fighters talking on «265.775» which is a new freq for me. I'll keep listening to try to ID this activity. (Add: Never got enough to identify this activity - just a couple more nondescript transmissions.)

Early 1400 hour have a RACK 71 flight (1st FW Langley) up with Norfolk TRACON on 370.925 and then to Giant Killer's area on 238.1/249.8. Also have a _____31 flight with Norfolk TRACON, probably out of Langley also. Working on the callsign. Langley tac freq 233.525 is active.
Mid 1400 hour there's a distant flight working with HUNTRESS on 364.2 but is not loud enough to copy. Perhaps one of you in a different area can hear this. Fighter tac freq 143.0 also active with a couple of transmissions from an unknown unit.

1510: Have a PACK 91 (KC-135 Pease AFB NH) come up on 255.4 to ask for weather along his route. The ground station gave a long, detailed weather report over the east coast, including a PIREP (Pilot's Report) from Barnes in MA and from around the aircraft's declared destination of Pease AFB NH. This is a Flight Service Station (FSS) freq with remote transmitting capability from the BWI airport which is where the ground station appeared to be based on signal strength. I would think this is Leesburg Radio FSS and the VHF counterpart to this freq would be 122.2.

 

[DPD1]

I was just reading in Combat AC about the Grumman test bed they're using to test the AESA radar for the JSF out in MD.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/511825/L/

Just wondering if you guys have heard it... Typically they would set up a track and probably do a lot of talking with the ground facility. Kind of curious what their call is.

Dave
http://www.DPDProductions.com
- Custom Scanner, MURS, GMRS, & Ham Antennas -

 

[TinEar]

Dave, these are the guys I constantly log on the Northrup-Grumann test flight freqs 123.2 and primary 123.225. They almost always identify simply by their tail number - 162W and 161NG - while talking on ATC freqs or with Pax River when they're within that area. They often do something with ground stations that is very difficult to determine just what it is they're doing. The ground station seems to be mobile and marking off points along a route that the aircraft has some unknown relation to. Like most test flights, each action is from a "card" and they just refer to the item number on the card rather than describe what it is they're doing. (N-G also owns N160W)

And speaking of the JSF (F-35), I saw that Lockheed and the Defense Department want to keep the production line open on the F-22A until 2012 rather than stopping in 2010 as currently planned. They don't want to have to lose those few thousand experienced workers for the two year period between F-22A end and JSF start. There's an item in the 2007 Defense Department budget to accomplish this. It would seem to make sense.

Alan

 

[Wicomico]

jsf

DPD-1
I have seen that plane flyining over Salisbury airport at least 10 times...i think yesterday i was wondering what it was doing....

 

[DPD1]

Dave, these are the guys I constantly log on the Northrup-Grumann test flight freqs 123.2 and primary 123.225.

OK, I must have missed that before. I was curious about the call, because some of the contractor test beds out here have used named calls in the past. One of the guys that's up the most is Raytheon's, which they fly out of their LAX facility. I think the latest thing they used it on was the F15 radar upgrade. Without divulging too much... They typically talk with two different ground test facilities, and as you say, run the cards... Typically they will stay up for quite some time running predetermined tracks towards the facilities while taking readings. I've also heard them do the same on the sea range with water targets, and also in the desert with mobile targets... Which I believe are vehicles driven on some of the dry lakes. Raytheon also uses their various A-3 variants from Van Nuys the same way, with the spliced on nose radome cone. There's also an F22 test bed that Boeing keeps at WA which has a 22 nose grafted on. Sometimes they have a custom radome like the Grumman one, and other times they use an actual fighter radome.

Dave
http://www.DPDProductions.com
- Custom Scanner, MURS, GMRS, & Ham Antennas -

 

[Mark]

Early morning before work catch...

REACH 984 KC-10 from McGuire to Andrews on ADW CP 141.550
Also on ADW appch 119.850 from 10k down to 2k picking up localizer to runway,
then on tower 118.400

 

[TinEar]

Around 1000 I turned on the scanners and found fighters all over the place. It's a good flying day with sunny skies and current temperature around 50 degrees on the way to the 60s today. Among the flights are or have been a couple of F-16 flights from the DC-ANG. A pair of RAVAGE F-16s is flying around the area burning off fuel before landing. The Andrews fighters used all the normal freqs - 127.275/143.15 for tac, 335.5 GCA, 269.0 TRACON, 349.0 Tower, 139.9 SOF.

There is also a flight of A-10s from the MD-ANG at Martin State flying around the area using 142.3 for tac. I also have a pair of fighters chatting on a new tac freq of 140.2. They sounded like A-10s.

F-16s from the NJ-ANG active on tac 138.425 working down our way at Pax River. Callsign DEVIL. They are back up their own way by 1023 and talking to Atlantic City Approach on 327.125 as they head for runway 31 at ACY.

There is also a PANAMA 71 flight from Langley that just entered Giant Killer's area at 1015.

Halfway through the 1000 hour finds another flight of F-16s from the NJ-ANG using tac 138.875. This is a BANGER 21 flight of two F-16s. They mention perhaps going to "The Grove." They were also heard on ZNY-Modena 335.6 and then ZDC-DuPont 307.25. At this point they mention swtiching to U-13 and come up on Warren Grove Range freq 283.1 to ask if they can use the range. They're told there is a two-ship flight already working there and to call back in a few minutes to check again. They are with ZDC-Kenton 277.4 at flight level 15,000 and announce direct Atlantic City. They are descending from 15,000 to 8,000 and say they're going to work area R5002. Here they switch to ZDC-Casino 285.4. At 1040 they get permission to work the range and are back to 283.1.

1053 finds F-16s off the deck at Andrews using tac 127.275. It's a BULLY flight of two. They switch to ZDC-Calvert 281.4 to fly out of Dodge. The flight then shows up at Pax with BayWatch on 354.8 to get clearance for their work. It appears they are working the Pax River Range around Vienna MD and are looking for something on the ground that looks interesting to attack.

1115: Another Andrews flight of F-16s is airborne and using tac 143.15. Callsign RAVAGE. To TRACON on 348.725 and then to ZDC-Calvert on 281.4 and back to tac. It appears to be a flight of two. And, just as the BULLY flight did, the RAVAGEs go to Pax and clear into the area with BayWatch on 354.8 and back to 143.15 for their work.

1123: Flight of NJ-ANG F-16s airborne and using tac 138.425. Callsign DEVIL. It's a flight of two. At 1129 they report they have 45 minutes of playtime. They check into the Pax River area with BayWatch on 270.8 at 1132.

1131: COLT 45 (A-10 MD-ANG) with Raven Ops on 143.8 and landing with Tower on 297.2.

1133: There is also a BULLY 3 flight now airborne and with TRACON on 348.725 and then into Pax with BayWatch on 354.8. It's actually a flight of two F-16s - BULLY 3 & 4. They are working on 139.45, a new tac freq for this unit. At 1136, they switch to V-5, 127.275 to meet up with BULLY 1/2. BULLY 3 & 4 switch to "Victor Secure." At 1139, one of the BULLYs switches to a COWBOY callsign with a fake western accent to control the activity. Got the BULLY 3/4 flight switching back to 139.45 and identify it as V-8. This finalizes the freq placement for V-6/7/8 as 139.15/143.15/139.45. (Submitted to database) At 1158, BULLY 1/2 tell BayWatch on 354.8 they are 5 minutes away from RTB. At this point, BULLY 3/4 start working on their own in ground attack exercises.

1142: A BANGER flight of two F-16s from the NJ-ANG working their tac freq 138.875 and appear to be joining up with the DEVIL flight at Pax River. They are currently with ZDC-Salisbury 257.7 where they announce going to area R-4006.

We have the DEVIL, BANGER, RAVAGE, and two BULLY flights all working in the Pax River area. There have been mentions by various flights of seeing other F-16s in the area. No wonder.

Continued below...maybe.

 

[TinEar]

1211: OMAHA 2 (Customs) calling THOR on «282.425». After making contact, he says he's going to be on a patrol outside the ADIZ for about 15 minutes and is going to HSP. (HSP=Ingalls Field Airport at Hot Springs VA)

By 1220, the DEVIL and BANGER flights are heading back to Atlantic City, BULLY 1/2 are back to Andrews, BULLY 3/4 still doing ground attack and RAVAGE 1/2 are just finishing their mission in Pax and heading for Andrews. RAVAGE 1/2 and BULLY 1/2 both used Reagan TRACON 270.275 for approach to Andrews. At 1228, BULLY 3/4 to TRACON on 270.275 for tunnel back to Andrews.

1229: Have some chat about moving to Florida from a U/I tanker on refueling freq «123.525» He mentions he's from Binghamton. (KBGM=Binghamton NY airfield). It's just airman chat...only one side of the conversation can be heard. He refers to the boom operator position as the "tail gunner." He's full of profanity. He says he's starting his descent into "Dull Ass" - of course meaning Dulles - so he has to end the conversation.

After mentioning the V-6/7/8 frequency positions for the DC-ANG, it dawned on me that I should troll for some help with the NJ-ANG freqs. Here's what I have confirmed for the NJ guys...please jump in with anything you can add:

V-1 138.125 SOF
V-12 138.1 Tac
V-15 138.425 Tac
V-16 138.2 Tac
V-17 138.875 Tac
V-18 138.3 Tac

U-1 261.0 SOF
U-6 327.125 Atlantic City Approach
U-7 285.4 ZDC-Casino
U-13 283.1 Warren Grove Range

There are no doubt Uniform presets for other commonly used ZDC freqs and for BayWatch. As many times as they come to the Pax River area, I never hear them mention a preset for the switch from ZDC to BayWatch on 270.8/354.8. I just picked up that U-13 over the past couple of days when they made a stop at Warren Grove Range on the way home from Pax. I have had two confirmations of that freq after the first use. They get in the habit of using only V-15 and V-17 for tac the same way the DC-ANG guys use V-5 and V-7 (127.275/143.15) for tac before any others.

1304: OMAHA 5 (Customs) being patched onto 165.2375 but it's a poor patch - at least from this area.
1323: OMAHA 01 calling CRAB SHACK on a 165.2375 patch. Makes contact long enough to say he's 10-8.
1326: Bollen Range active on 237.2. A-10 sounding transmitters working there.
1328: Have CHALICE FOXTROT (E3B Tinker AFB OK, backend callsign) calling STARGATE (E8C JSTARS back end callsign) on HUNTRESS frequency 364.2. Female speaker is too weak to copy her traffic. She's mostly just calling STARGATE over and over again. Mousy voice with no inflection makes her difficult to read.
1330: OMAHA 1 calling CRAB SHACK again on 165.2375. Good patch this time.
1333: Have a U/I helo navigating around the Aberdeen Range on 248.4.
1337: The Langley guys are awake...tac 228.175 active. They go to Giant Killer's area using 249.8 and are very weak upon entry. Couldn't grab their callsign.
1338: Over the past few minues have had REACH 136, 193 and 692T either coming to or leaving Andrews using 378.1
1345: Have a CAVE 71 flight (1st FW Langley) into GK's area using 249.8
1358: Have an aircraft ID of 8009 calling Navy Base Ops at Andrews on 139.4 as he is arriving.

1341: Have a DRAGO 51 (memorial flyover callsign) with Andrews GCA on 335.5 and with Andrews Approach Radar on 279.575. Female speaker. I heard this same gal going into Andrews a couple of hours ago announcing as a flight of two but didn't copy the callsign - just the suffix. This is a two ship flight also...DRAGO 51 and 52. Leaving 5 for 3,000 while on 279.575. They are using 143.55 as a tac freq. By 1349 she's requesting instructions for after the flyby - indicating they haven't done it yet.
1351: DRAGO 51 flight leader making contact with DRAGO 02 who has been the aerial photographer during past DRAGO flyovers. I see nothing on the Arlington National Cemetery schedule for today that might warrant this flyover.
1359: DRAGO 51 requests leave IP «279.575» and descending to 1,000 feet for the flyover.
1400: DRAGO 51 announces she can't get in contact with DRAGO 02. «279.575»
1403: DRAGO 51 flight has finished the flyover and is positioning for return to base and climbing back up to 3,000 feet. «279.575»
1405: DRAGO 51 leaving 3 for 2,000 and heading for runway 19R at Andrews.
1406: DRAGO 51 flight changes to Andrews Tower on 349.0 for initial approach. 51/52 still working 143.55 for tac but doing very little talking during that whole flight.
1408: DRAGO 51 (male speaker this time) reporting initial to runway 19R. «349.0»
1409: Again he uses DRAGO 51 to report gear down, full stop 19R
1409: DRAGO 52 reports gear down, full stop 19R.
(The use of male and female speakers aboard DRAGO 51 obviously indicates a two seat/position aircraft. Although these seemed to be fighters, this would rule out the F-16 and A-10 as possibilities for aircraft type.)

1401: Have U/I fighters using tac 141.8
1405: Have SALTY DOG 534 reporting RTB to BayWatch on 354.8
1414: U/I fighters on tac 138.75....still there at 1422...flight of two doing ground attack at some range.
1415: U/I flight on GK's ops freq 389.1
1416: Navy 7W446 calling Navy Dispatch at Andrews on «386.8» Reports he's a King Air with an F-4 on board and will need gas upon landing.
1417: Not listening on the radio but just heard that Piaggio P-180 aircraft flying over my house on approach to BWI runway 33R - the short runway.

At 1420, it's 61 degrees at BWI and sunny and I'm heading outside to breath some of that spring-like air.

1430: Had to come back to report this one....DEFT reports as a two ship F-22 flight on GK's 389.1....he calls a SPIRIT callsign on the freq. I don't have SPIRIT listed as a Langley call or for anything that might fit.
1431: WAMO 51 landing 19R at Andrews on 118.4
1442: DEFT 11 flight (F-22A Langley) reports RTB to Giant Killer on 249.8...direct Snow Hill, direct Cape Charles, direct Langley. Out of FL240 for 220.
1445: There is also a ________81 flight RTBing from GK's area on 249.8 Callsign might have been TOTEM.
1451: There is a flight of fighters working with ZNY-ShipBottom on 307.8 that is talking about wanting to go to the range but they understand there is a flight of F-16s from Atlantic City there now. Apparently, they don't know whether to hold, to return or to cry. He gave his callsign but I missed it, suffix 1. (Carbineone, are you copying this? It's up your way.) They mention switching to ACY Approach on 327.125.
1455: Have the same flight with ACY on 327.125 saying he wants to do a low approach to runway 31 (that's at ACY) and he says something about the range which I couldn't copy. He has the field in sight. He's used his callsign a couple more times but I just can't copy it. He says he's holding for the range. (Apparently, Warren Grove Range).

1501: GRAYHAWK 3 with ZDC-Casino on 285.4 leaving 11,800 for 16,000. He switches to a VHF Center freq so I'll lose him.
1503: Marine 635 landing at Andrews...Approach on 119.3 and Tower on 118.4

1533: Came back to find a couple of F-16 flights from the NJ-ANG active. One flight is ground attack exercises on 138.3 and the other is on 138.875 for tac. They appear to be at the Pax River Range based on signal strength. Both are two ship flights.
1535: The flight on 138.3 is BICEP 11 & 12 working with range control RATTLESNAKE.
1544: A-10 flight from Martin State...flight of two approaching home with Raven Ops on 347.2...both are carrying unexpended rockets.
1545: BICEP flight doing a simulated attack on a van travelling down a highway. Flight leader reminds wingman that he has a hot gun so don't shoot. They chuckle over it but it's a valid reminder. «138.3»
1547: BICEP 11 calling WARHAWK on SOF freq 138.125.
1548: The other NJ flight on 138.875 is talking about how their mission is not so good while they're trying to duck T-38s flying in the area.
1549: BICEP flight giving mission status report on 138.425 to SOF...apparently couldn't make contact on 138.125. BICEP leader reports they need to go to the tanker now.
1549: Langley tac 358.85 active.
1550: Flight of A-10s going into Martin State is using callsign SANDY - a two ship flight. SANDY is used by A-10s of the PA-ANG at Willow Grove. Activity on tower freq 297.2
Weren't the A-10s from Willow Grove supposed to be shifted to Martin State under the auspices of the BRAC commission report?
1551: The 138.875 guys say the air isn't this busy in "the desert." The other says it's nauseating. This pair has not used a callsign at all although they have used suffixes 21/22.
1554: BICEP 11 flight with Dover Approach on «257.875»
1556: Langley's IRON Ops active on 357.1 and so is SOF freq 383.2 along with tac freq 228.175
1602: The 138.875 pair doing one final attack on a ground target described as Al'Queda marshalling around a tank. Based on fuel remainders they'll have to head for home soon. At 1606 they clear out of BayWatch's area using 354.8 and I got there just in time to miss the callsign. Only heard suffix 21 again. I'm gonna get it before they get home.
1606: Marine 595 landing Andrews «119.3/118.4»
1608: Finally got it...it's AERO. «138.875» Push 7
1609: SPAR 29 arriving Andrews «378.1»
1610: AERO 21 with ZDC-Casino on 285.4 descending to 11,000. Push 6
1611: AERO 22 fetches the ATIS report and comes back to tac «138.875» with the info. Leader tells wingman to watch out for a flight 1000 high. #2 says he never saw him.
1614: AERO 21 flight on U-6 with Atlantic City Approach as they head for home. «327.125» They are still chatting on tac «138.875»
1615: The Northrup-Grumman test flight aircraft, ID as 1NG (Full ID=N161NG), is up with Pax River on «291.15»
1626: Had to come back to put this in...the Northrup-Grumman 161NG aircraft is talking with Echo at Pax River on 291.15. He wants two emitters turned on - 1 and 40Bravo. He also wants confirmation that 40B is at Cedar Lake. He had earlier mentioned that he'd be working his "card" and said he assumed that Echo had the card to know what he needed.
END OF REPORT