Sticky Thread for MilAir

[TinEar]

Dan, the ARC250 file of mine that's posted at CHM does not contain MilAir freqs and is very old and out of date. I've been saying I need to get an update to them and haven't managed to do it yet. If you'd like a list of the MilAir freqs that I have programmed, I'd be happy to send it to you. Just give me your email address in a PM and I'll zip it off to you. That doesn't help you at all to recover the NC MIlAir but some I'm sure can be heard from there.

On another totally unrelated note, I've been hearing a Potomac TRACON freq operating on 376.05 which I don't believe belongs there. It must be a harmonic or an image or something like that. I'ts duplicating the traffic on 124.55/317.425. I'm just curious if anyone else can hear it.

One of the other HUNTRESS freqs - 228.90 - has callsign DRAGNET operating there. That's an E-3B Sentry aircraft from Tinker AFB, OK.

Also have fighters chatting on 138.30...no callsign heard yet.

The Northrup Gruman test flight freq 123.225 is also active - has been for an hour or more.

[Edit] The fighters chatting on 138.30 are using callsign BICEP which are F-16s from the NJ-ANG.

The DRAGNET aircraft mentioned above has been operating in the GIANT KILLER area (VA Capes) and was working with the NJ guys. He just got clearance from GK on 255.00 to leave the zone and go to Atlantic City (which is the home of the NJ-ANG).

 

[Mark]

I copied WIZARD alpha on AICC 364.200 talking with another E-3 DRAGNET UNIFORM.
Sounds like a couple E-3's working the area with BICEP 11 and SMASH 11 F-16 fighters from Atlantic City offshore.


SENTRY 60 E-3 with McGuire metro 239.800 req wx for Dover at 2000z.This is backend callsign for either WIZARD alpha or DRAGNET UNIFORM.


WIZARD E3 OK ACC 552 ACW TINKER AFB OK

Mark

 

[ka3jjz]

On another totally unrelated note, I've been hearing a Potomac TRACON freq operating on 376.05 which I don't believe belongs there. It must be a harmonic or an image or something like that. I'ts duplicating the traffic on 124.55/317.425. I'm just curious if anyone else can hear it.

All quiet here on that freq. I'm easily picking up the 317.425 side, but nothing on 376.05 Could be a spur or image. I've been checking on and off since I saw this note during the afternoon

73s Mike

 

[TinEar]

Thanks Mike for confirming what I suspected. Funny that it never happened before today. That 376.05 freq is one I have programmed for something else and I've never had that problem before.

Mark, thanks for the ID on WIZARD. He almost had to be an E3 but I was reluctant to guess. I'll put that in with the other E3 callsigns out of Tinker.

 

[TinEar]

Flight of four COLT A-10s up with Raven Ops on 347.2 at 18:49 saying they are ready for the flyby. Not sure where they are scheduled for a flyby. This being Flag Day, perhaps there is a ceremony somewhere.

Here's a pic of one of our Maryland A-10 Warthogs. Notice that it doesn't have the usual "sharkstooth" paintjob on the nose.
http://www.a-10.org/photos/p.asp?FileName=011024_01.jpg

Here is one with the shark. Note the 7-barrel nose gun in the sharks mouth.
http://www.a-10.org/photos/p.asp?FileName=020429_58.jpg

That nose gun looks small but take a look at a closeup and what it spits out.
http://www.a-10.org/photos/p.asp?FileName=05.jpg

 

[n3bxv]

This being Flag Day, perhaps there is a ceremony somewhere.

It's not just Flag Day, it's also the Army Birthday!

 

[TinEar]

You just hadda get that in. :roll:

Flight of A-10s shooting up the range at Kiowa. Callsign BALKY at the range, haven't heard a call for the aircraft up to this point. Freq 237.2

[Edit] The A-10s at Kiowa are COLT aircraft from Martin State. They must have gone there after doing the flyby. They are using their nose gun, bombs and Maverick missiles at the range.

21:10 There is now an UGLY flight (A-10s from the 103d Fighter Squadron, PA-ANG at Willow Grove) at the Kiowa range...237.2

 

[doctordave]

Speaking of the A-10s....the Military Channel has been re-running a 1 hr documentary on those planes.....very well done....and they have focused on pilots from MD. Worth checking out, if you have access to that channel. The 30mm cannon is really something to see in action.

 

[TinEar]

Thanks Dave...I'll have to check that out. I love that plane. It's probably the only aircraft built since WW2 that's a "pilots" plane. Damn near indestructible and can lay some serious damage on the enemy. And it's not expensive. How'd that ever get through the channels? I know they tried to kill it one time - just about at the start of the first Gulf war - and then it proved itself by wiping out most of the Iraqi tank force.

 

[doctordave]

Sure is an impressive plane....amazing to think that they can kill something w/ the (3800+ feet per sec rate for depleted uranium rounds) 30mm cannon from 2 miles out - beyond the range of even being heard well by the target on the ground. Can keep flying w/ one wing near blown off. They mention the lack of built-in IR gear for flying in poor conditions...so the pilots improvise by just carrying one wing-based missile w/ an IR camera in the nosecone (for final guidance into the target)....they do not fire it and simply view the live feed on a several inch TV monitor in the cockpit. The weight of the titanium armor plating is impressive...no wonder the plane can take so much abuse.

Lots of great rural Maryland footage on the documentary. I love that plane, as well.

 

[TinEar]

Yes indeed. I wanted a photo of that plane as my avatar for this site but I couldn't make it small enough and still look like an airplane - so I settled for the Texas/US flag.

 

[TinEar]

BULLY flight from the 121FS (DC-ANG) just finished working at the Kiowa range on 237.2 and now is on squadron freq 139.90 indicating he'll be back on the runway in 15 minutes.

Landing on Andrews tower freq 349.00

11:29 A-10s from Martin State just returning home...5 minutes out...freq 347.2 with Raven Ops. At 11:34 with Martin State tower 297.2

11:32 DRAGNET (E-3 Sentry from Tinker AFB OK) on 255.0 with GIANT KILLER announcing he's going to be doing refueling in the area.

 

[TinEar]

Something new - at least to me.
Have had both CRAB 51 and CRAB 56 talking to CRAB Ops on 143.80 after taking off from Martin State Airport. That freq is at Martin State but has usually been used for just the A-10s as the SOF (Supervisor Of Flying) freq for the 104th Fighter Squadron.

They mentioned using this freq when they return to Martin and if they couldn't make contact on it they'd switch to the normal CRAB Ops freq of 385.90. I have no idea why they are using the 143.8 rather than their own Ops freq. There is no interference I can hear on 385.90 but, of course, from the air they could have totally different conditions than I have on the ground.

CRAB = C130J aircraft at Martin State.

 

[freqhopping]

I just heard Nighthawk-15 landing at Mt. Weather.

Apparently the pilot activates the landing pad lights by keying up on the tower frequency until they get the desired brightness. I wasn't quite sure I heard what I did. But sure enough, a minute later once the helicopter was closer, the radio was keyed up several times. Only a few corner lights were available tonight, but the pilot had NVGs.

Kind of like the "clapper" I guess.

 

[TinEar]

What freq(s) was this activity on?

 

[freqhopping]

What freq(s) was this activity on?

241.0 The "Bluegrass Special Facility" tower

The ATIS is on 242.375. You have to be within about 20 miles to hear that.

 

[Llwellyn]

I just heard Nighthawk-15 landing at Mt. Weather.

Apparently the pilot activates the landing pad lights by keying up on the tower frequency until they get the desired brightness. I wasn't quite sure I heard what I did. But sure enough, a minute later once the helicopter was closer, the radio was keyed up several times. Only a few corner lights were available tonight, but the pilot had NVGs.

Kind of like the "clapper" I guess.

Pilot-controlled lighting is very common... it saves power and gives pilots who desire brighter lights or more lights the option, without making the airport look like a Christmas display during all hours of the dark. :lol:

 

[TinEar]

HARASS 31 & 32 working with HUNTRESS on 260.90. Presently intercepting a target in the ADIZ.

The F-15s have identified the target as a DC-9.
They are going to headbutt it to the north.

HARASS = F-15s from Langley AFB
HUNTRESS = NORAD

The F-15s are doing the Combat Air Patrol over the D.C. area. They are refueling with TANKER 53 on 320.60.

Looks like this CAP may be in place until 5:30 pm on Sunday. Reference:
http://tfr.faa.gov/tfr/detail.jsp?notam_id=5/4814

[Edit] Eventually, HARASS 31/32 were replaced by 33/34 and now just before midnight 35/36 are taking over the CAP. TANKER 53 was replaced by 54 who is still on station. They are running the tankers until they are just about dry. 53 was rationing fuel before leaving station.

 

[TinEar]

Start 14:45...flight of two F-16s from DC-ANG using callsign ANGRY up and working w/HUNTRESS to intercept someone in the ADIZ. They are working with HUNTRESS on the squadron tac freq 143.15. [Edit] Turned out to be nothing.

14:55 Flight of 4 F-16s DC-ANG also now up on 127.275 using callsign BULLY. They are talking to a callsign AIREDALE.

 

[md_p97]

hey Al,

I heard them on 143.1500, but it is muffled...is this NFM, FM, or and AM freq?

Paul