Sticky Thread for MilAir

[TinEar]

Excellent Jason. That strip info accurately shows (of course) their altitude block in the CAP of 21-25,000, that it's a flight of two F-22A aircraft and that the flight route is Langley-HARCUM-Langley which is what they confirm with voice traffic during the trip.

Sending you a PM.

(Log continued in message above.)

 

[JackTV]

Does anybody have an A/A freq on the Raptors?

Jack

 

[TinEar]

Not yet Jack...been searching both my list of normal Langley tac freqs and block search but haven't found it yet.

 

[TinEar]

1816: The AERO 25/26 Eglin AFB F-15s still have the CAP along with TANKER 10. Primary and boom freq is «260.9» AERO 25 is at the tanker right now getting a top-off he estimates to be about 11,000 pounds. (It wound up being 12,000) Since this is a new tanker since the last time he refueled, he was asked for his tail number and squadron again. He repeats the EG 80-0031 tail number and gives his squadron as the 60th Fighter Squadron. It has been extremely quiet since the F-15s rerplaced the F-22As. And I bet TANKER 10 is envious of TANKER 09 that got to refuel the Raptors and take all those pictures.
1825: AERO 26 going to the tanker...10 tells him if he can steady his lights, he's cleared in to the boom. He's also getting a top-off. 26 repeats his tail number as EG 80-507. Contact with the boom at 1827. «260.9»
1828: HUNTRESS/AERO 25 do a DATALINK check and 25 reports timber sweet. He also says both F-15s are equipped with NVGs. «260.9»
1830: AERO 26 disconnects from the boom after taking 12,000 pounds and heads back to his place on station at 22,000 feet. «260.9» Refueling takes place at 24,000 feet.
1837: AERO 25 to 26 telling him that Langley is not going to be an alternate landing site. Back at Eglin the weather is "broken, ceiling 200 feet and expected to be 600 feet at the time they're scheduled to arrive back there." Their alternate landing site is Warner-Robins AFB GA. (KWRB) «260.9»

1926: AERO 25 calls TANKER 10 to ask if he has enough fuel to offload about 50,000 pounds to his flight and his replacements - about 12,000 pounds to each of the four fighters. TANKER 10 says that would put them very short. He does some quick calculations and decides he can give AERO 25/26 12,000 each before they leave for home and the replacements can have 6,000 each. Both the current F-15s and the tanker have about an hour left on station. «260.9»
1931: TANKER 10 calls HUNTRESS to ask about TANKER 11 and the fighters arrival time. HUNTRESS tells him the AERO 27/28 replacements are due in at 0135Z as is TANKER 11 at that same time. He has TANKER 10 scheduled to depart at 0123Z. That fits with the plans of 10 who says he'll be about bingo at that time. He wants to make sure he has enough fuel to give AERO 25/26 to get home - who say they need about 18,500 pounds in their tanks when the depart for home. TANKER 10 also wonders about TANKER 11's offload and who he'll give fuel to upon arriving in the CAP. «260.9» Hope this doesn't turn into another situation like last weekend where the long trip to/from Eglin caused problems with fuel loads. It almost seems like they need a bigger tanker than the KC-135s that always fly the CAP mission - especially if the TANKER has a long trip himself.
1953: AERO 25 gives HUNTRESS a DNS 875-XXXX to call to ask about the weather at Eglin and at Macon. "He'll know what I mean." He also wants the winds aloft at 27,000 and at 43,000. «260.9» He then rechecks with TANKER 10 to make sure he and his wingman can gt 12,000 pounds of fuel each. TANKER 10 confirms and then the replacements can top off from TANKER 11.
Apparently, HUNTRESS tells AERO 25 that phone number isn't working. 25 sends him back to try again because they really need the info. He repeats the number on the chance that HUNTRESS screwed it up. Just a bit earlier, HUNTRESS mentioned that both AERO 27/28 and TANKER 11 were in the air and on the way.

2004: HUNTRESS comes up with a long wx report for the areas of AERO 25's interest. «260.9»
By the way, AERO 25/26 made the flight from Eglin to here using the air/air freq 369.15 but I have not heard a peep on it since they arrived.
2006: TANKER 10 talks to AERO 27 flight leader as he gets within radio range to let him know he can only give them about 5,000 pounds each and it has to be quick. Then AERO 25 says that, based on the new weather report, they may just be going to Langley so let's wait to see what the final decision is before anyone decides a firm fuel giveaway. «260.9»
2008: HUNTRESS and AERO 25 switch to «228.9» to talk about the situation. They are trying to set up a phone patch.
2014: TANKER 10 jumps in to say he has a sat phone on board and can make it available. «260.9»
2014: Meanwhile, on «228.9» HUNTRESS tells AERO 25 to wait on the 260.9 freq to see if the phone patch goes through.
2015: TANKER 11 shows up on primary «260.9» to make contact and 10 tells him the AERO 25/26 pair is probably going into Langley so no problem with fuel loads for anyone. TANKER 11 also says he's from Meridian MS while checking weather with TANKER 10. AERO 25 says because they ar diverting to Langley, they won't need anymore gas from 10. Everyone is happy in the tanker world but the fighter pilots are not so happy about diverting. When 27/28 arrive, they'll take fuel from TANKER 10 and that will leave 11 with enough gas for the rest of the night....according to 11. 11 says he's just waiting for the chicks to arrive. The "chicks" are currently chatting on «369.15» as they fly closer to the area.
By the way, HUNTRESS is very weak but readable on the 260.9 freq but absolutely booming loud on the 228.9 freq.
2022: TANKER 11 officially checks into the area with GUARD DOG on «288.35» at FL250
2022: AERO 27/28 check in with HUNTRESS and say they are 60 miles out. «260.9»
2023: AERO 27/28 with ZDC-Monebello on «284.7» and then with GUARD DOG on «288.35» getting clearance and altitude assignments, etc.
2024: AERO 25 getting his phone patch which is about the weather and diverting into Langley which they are definitely going to do «228.9»
2028: TANKER 10 getting ready to hook up with AERO 27/28 to fill their tanks before he gets out of here. «260.9» AERO 25/26 wants HUNTRESS to start working their clearance back to Langley. They go to GUARD DOG «288.35» with the same request.
2031: AERO 27 going to the boom and AERO 28 to the wing of TANKER 10. They both gave tail numbers but were blocked by a ton of noise from other scanners and I missed them.
2035: AERO 25 tells GUARD DOG they need another 5-10 minutes before they leave the CAP «288.35» (They've got to wait for 27/28 to refuel and get back on station before they can leave.)
2038: AERO 28 off the boom where he took 14,000 pounds....27 is waiting for fuel to begin flowing through the boom to fill his tanks. As soon as fuel starts flowing, 25/26 are going to head for Langley and TANKER 10 will also head for his home plate.
2041: AERO 25 says his flight is departing and down the road they scoot. «260.9»
2041: AERO 25 to ZDC-Calvert on «281.4» checking in and going up to 23,000 direct Langley. Also on tac «369.15» with his wingman.
2044: AERO 27 off the boom...also took 14,000 pounds from TANKER 10. «260.9»
2044: AERO 25/26 talking about Langley's wx...ceiling 12,000, winds 25 knots. «369.15»
2045: AERO 25 flight leaving 23,000 for 20,000. «281.4»
2046: TANKER 10 reports at bingo and looking to get out of here. «260.9» He's cleared out. He gets his clearance from GUARD DOG on «135.525»
2047: AERO 25 reports 35 north of Langley and descending to 10,000. «281.4»
2047: TANKER 10 cleared out for home by GUARD DOG...going to 24,000 «135.525»
2048: TANKER 11 settles down at 24,000 for his mission requirements now that TANKER 10 has cleared out of that flight level. «260.9»
2049: AERO 25/26 still chatting on «369.15» as they head home...starting to get a little weaker now that they are decending.
2050: AERO 25/26 cleared for landing at Langley on runway 26. «369.15»
2051: AERO 27 performs an Alpha check on his DATALINK (SDL) to the bullseye. «260.9» Not good...he needs to reset and reenter the info. Since there has been a date rollover, (they use Zulu time) they may have the same problem many F-15s have had in the past getting it to work right upon date change.
2053: Okay...AERO 27/28 settled into the CAP along with TANKER 11 so everything should stay relatively quiet unles someone violates the no-fly areas. No further logging unless it's important.

2154: TANKER 11 calls HUNTRESS on primary «260.9» to say he's getting drift in his navigational system and if HUNTRESS notices the tanker getting too close to the edge (of the CAP area), he wouldn't mind being notified.

2224: AERO 28 heading to TANKER 11 for gas «260.9» While on the boom, AERO 28 talks about folks he knows at Meridian, Mississippi where TANKER 11 is based. His bud is a C-17 driver and the boomer doesn't know him - as expected. It's a big Air Force. 28 comes off the tanker at 2232 and returns to the CAP.
2238: AERO 27 now going to the tanker for fuel. «260.9»

2338: AERO 27 to HUNTRESS inquiring about the next TANKER and it sounded like they said 0505Z is time of arrival (about 25 minutes from now). AERO 27 also wants HUNTRESS to check with the Ops Supervisor back at the 60th Fighter Squadron for an Eglin area weather report. He says the Sup can call him via landline with the info. TANKER 11 jumps into the conversation to say the current fighter pair should take fuel from him rather than waiting for the next tanker and he would still have enough to get home (to Meridian MS). So 27 decides that 28 should go in first for refueling which he's doing. TANKER 11 only has 20 minutes left on station. «260.9»
2347: HUNTRESS gives the weather for home plate Eglin to AERO 27/28 and for Meridian to TANKER 11. «260.9» AERO 27 tells TANKER 11 he's going to hang out on his wing until 28 finishes refueling.

Continued below...reached character limit...

Kim, the transmissions on 228.9 were only for a relatively short time which may be why you're not hearing anything there. There was just a phone patch about the weather. Everything is back on primary 260.9 now.

 

[hartgk01]

2030: I have 260.9 booming and don't hear anything on 228.9.

 

[ka3jjz]

While we have a break in the action, I'd like to take a moment to address some of the lurkers that I know we have here, and address the subject of antennas that aren't going to cost you an arm and a leg.
Both are ground plane types, which are essentially omnidirectional - feed these with good quality coax, and you'll be in business. These antennas are certainly not ScanTennas or Diamond Discones, but they will get you off the ground
The first is something RS sells for 'outdoors', but I've seen comments where a good windstorm knocked it apart; it's the 20-176 ground plane, and it's advertised to have part of it's reception range in the milair bands. I'd suggest putting this in an attic, or somewhere where the winds won't get to it.
The second antenna - The NA4IT Cheap Dual Band Ground Plane - is very similar, but is totally a homebrew job. This is a great little starter project that will introduce you to building antennas without breaking the bank. If you're interested in the formulas for the vertical and radials, here they are, direct from NA4IT...

Vertical elements: 234/fMHz X 12 = length in inches
Radials: 228/fMHz X 12 = length in inches

Remember, don't skimp on the coax. When going up near 400 mhz, losses from cheap coax start to become an issue. If you put any antennas outdoors, Don't put it near power lines, and make sure the coax is sealed against the elements with Coax Seal or similar products.

Both links can be found on our
Antennas Wiki page.

73s Mike

 

[TinEar]

2349: TANKER 12 in voice contact with HUNTRESS...says he's as fragged. «260.9»
2350: TANKER 12 with GUARD DOG on «135.525» cleared to enter the CAP at FL250.
2355: TANKER 11 to TANKER 12 (female op) saying he's at FL240 and will stay there until they deconflict in airspace. TANKER 11 finishes refueling and clears out of the area with GUARD DOG on «288.35» He's cleared direct Meridian at FL240. 11 then back to primary «260.9» to tell 12 he's climbing and leaving the area.
2359: TANKER 11 handed off to Center on 133.975 by GUARD DOG on «288.35» And that's the end of him.

0004: AERO 31 approaching the area and calling HUNTRESS on «260.9» I'm not sure 32 is with him. 31 is chatting with 32 on «369.15» but I don't hear 32. Something about landing at Hopewell which doesn't make a bit of sense to me.
0008: AERO 31 tells 32 he's changing to 10 AUX «369.15» which should be the primary 260.9 freq. Sure enough, 31 talks to 32 on «260.9» but I still don't hear 32. He must be flying way behind him.
0011: AERO 27 calls 31 and asks if he took off from Langley. Yes he did. And he says 32 is delayed and he can take the CAP by himself if 27/28 want that. Nope, they don't. They'll stay as a pair and RTB together because he says he has plenty of gas. «260.9»
0012: AERO 31 tells GUARD DOG on «288.35» that he's approaching Nottingham and also advises that he's a single ship...32 will join him shortly.
I'm not sure why 31/32 were at Langley. Are they the pair that had to go in there last night because they couldn't get home and just stayed since they had to come back tonight anyway? Makes sense.
0015: TANKER 12 and AERO 31 decide the boom freq will stay here on «260.9» AERO 31 reports he's 21 miles southeast of the CAP at this time.
0016: AERO 31 cleared into GUARD DOG on «288.35»
0016: Now they make the decision that the boom freq will move over to 320.6 - they didn't say why. «260.9» That's just where TANKER 12 wants it and he's the boss when it comes to refueling.
0017: TANKER 12 calling AERO 31 a couple of times on «320.6» with no reply from 31. They make contact a couple of minutes later on this freq.
0021: AERO 31 requests permission to contact the boom...TANKER 12 clears him in. «320.6»
0022: 31 makes contact with the boom and 12 asks him for his tail info. AERO 31 reports it's EG 80-0028. «320.6»
0025: AERO 31 pulls away from the boom. «320.6»
0025: AERO 31 tells HUNTRESS he has finished refueling and will maintain his track. «260.9»
0026: AERO 31 tells HUNTRESS he's working timber at this time and is NVG capable. «260.9»
0028: AERO 27 asks the status of AERO 32 (He wants to go home.) He also asks HUNTRESS for the resutls of the phone patch to his HQ to find out if they will RTB to Eglin or to Langley. «260.9» 31 tells 27 that Langley is landing runway 26. 27 acknowledges.
0031: AERO 31 tells HUNTRESS the last he heard from AERO 32 was just as 31 was entering the CAP and 32 was shutting off his engine and looking for another jet back there at Langley. «260.9»
0046: HUNTRESS is getting worried about AERO 27/28 having to leave and only having one fighter in the CAP which just won't do. He asks AERO 27 how much longer they can stay and 27 tells him that he and 28 have an hour to an hour and a half of playtime left. «260.9» I'm sure HUNTRESS breathes a sigh of relief. HUNTRESS then contacts 31 to see what he's heard about 32. I think 31 tells him he's not sure 32 has a jet yet. 31 then changes the subject and does an Alpha check on his DATALINK to the bullseye.
0050: AERO 31 calls 32 on «260.9» and then goes to chat «369.15» to contact him. Apparently, 32 is still on the ground in his third jet and 31 is trying to help him change certain settings to see if that will help. Says he's going back to 10 AUX and does go back to «260.9» where he tells 27 about 32 being on his third jet and still can't get a good one to fly.
0052: AERO 27 tells 31 he and 28 can stay until 0745Z but then they run up against crew rest regs and will have to leave. «260.9» 27 asks if they absolutely have to have 2 aircraft and 31 says it's desired but what can they do if 27/28 have to leave. 27 then tells HUNTRESS that 0745Z is when they have to leave to get back on the ground and be out of their jets by 0830Z according to regs.
0053: 31 calls 32 on the ground back at Langley to tell him to keep trying and he'll be back on 10 AUX if he needs him «369.15»
0056: AERO 31 asks HUNTRESS to call landline back to ops and let them know that 32 is on his third jet and has problems. He gives him the DNS to call. «260.9»

0102: AERO 27 and 28 go over to tac on «369.15» where 27 asks 28 if he wants to head back to Langley and set up some quarters for them. 28 says he'd rather just stay with his wingman right here. They push back to 8 PRIME on «260.9» The 27/28 pair has different designators for the tac and primary freq than any of the other pairs recently. But once you have the freqs figured out, it doesn't much matter what they call them.
0104: AERO 31 calling 32 again on «369.15» to ask his status. I don't know what 32 tells him but 31 responds, "Cool." Maybe that's good news - or maybe he's going to the fourth jet.
0106: HUNTRESS tells AERO 27 that Ops back at Eglin suggests that one of them could leave for Langley at 0605Z (about now). 27 says, nope, they'll stay together for now. 27 also tells Langley that they are going to run out of "Power ????" before they run out of gas so they won't be going back to the tanker for more fuel. «260.9»
0109: AERO 31 asks HUNTRESS to set him up with a phone patch on a discrete UHF frequency to DNS 875-XXXX. (That's a number back at 60th Fighter Squadron Ops at Eglin) «260.9»
0111: HUNTRESS calls AERO 31 and tells him to go to 228.9 «260.9»
0111: HUNTRESS and AERO 31 make contact on «228.9» where 31 tells HUNTRESS he is on Blue 13 on the other radio. (I think he means 260.9) They then go back to «260.9» where 31 tells 27 that 32 is taxiing right now and should be taking off shortly.
0115: AERO 32 to CROW Ops at Eglin on «228.9» in the phone patch tells them back there about 32 just ready to take off and also recaps the problems that 32 was having with the various jets he was trying to use. He also tells them that 27/28 will stay until 32 gets there - they have plenty of gas. I can't hear the other end of the phone patch. He also tells them that if they - 31/32 - recover back at Langley, rather than going to Eglin, they can spend another 90 minutes. He wants CROW Ops to pass those words to HUNTRESS and signs off. AERO 27 was listening in and says goodbye to the person on the phone patch. «228.9» They both go back to primary «260.9»
NOTE: CROW Ops is the callsign for the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin - which was pretty obvious.
0132: HUNTRESS tells AERO 27/28 they can RTB. «260.9» 27 goes to GUARD DOG freq «288.35» to tell them they will RTB to Langley. Direct Langley at FL220....changed to 210.
0134: AERO 27 says goodbye to 31 and 31 tells him they'll probably see them there in a little while. «260.9» AERO 27 back to GUARD DOG freq «288.35» to say their ETA is 15 minutes and they have 75 minutes of fuel. He also reports they'll be in a 2-mile-trail if able. (Non-standard formation) Back to «260.9» to say goodbye to HUNTRESS and then to «369.15» to tell 28 they'll be going into runway 26...Langley 112 miles off.
0135: AERO 32 checks into GUARD DOG CAP on «288.35»
0137: AERO 27/28 with ZDC-Calvert on «281.4» to report FL220 in a non standard 2 mile trail.
I noticed that AERO 27 and 28 didn't say a damn word to AERO 32...nothing, nada. They said, we're outta here and left.
0140: AERO 27/28 cleared down to 10,000 feet. «281.4»
0140: AERO 32 reports as a single ship and will RTB with AERO 31 when they leave the CAP....this was to GUARD DOG on «288.35»
Not even AERO 31 is talking to 32. Too funny. Finally, 31 tells him his altitude and gives him clearance to the tanker. «260.9»
0143: AERO 32 calls TANKER 12 on boom freq «320.6» reports in trail.
0146: AERO 27/28 handed off by ZDC-Calvert «281.4» to 353.7 (and I'm not sure who that might be and I'm starting to get too tired to look it up...or care.)
0148: TANKER 12 gives AERO 32 the clearance to approach the boom for contact and tells him to turn down his lights...please. «320.6» then clears him to contact the boom at 0150, which he does.
0153: AERO 32 disconnects from the boom. «320.6»
0154: AERO 32 reports back in the CAP and yardstick sour. «260.9» Both 31 and 32 report timber sour. He also says they are NVG equipped.
And now that a new pair has the CAP and no tanker change is coming up, I'm calling it a night. See y'all later.
END OF REPORT

And now that it's Sunday, don't forget we've got this little jewel coming up tonight....

NORAD exercise planned for Washington D.C.

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. The Continental United States NORAD Region (CONR) will conduct Exercise Falcon Virgo 06-04 in the National Capital Region (Washington, D.C.) January 22-23. The exercise comprises a series of training flights conducted in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, the National Capital Region Command Center, the Joint Air Defense Operations Center, the Civil Air Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Air Force Flight Standards Agency, and the Northeast Air Defense Sector at Rome, N.Y.

Exercise Falcon Virgo 06-04 is designed to test intercept and
identification operations. It will involve multiple Cessna aircraft, Learjets (C-21 and Citation 550), F-16 fighter aircraft out Andrews AFB, and an H-60 Blackhawk helicopter all flying at low altitudes along the Potomac River and around Washington, D.C., late night Sunday and early morning Monday. In the event of inclement weather, the exercise will roll over until training requirements are met.

 

[BK217]

The problem with one of the jets was a hat got sucked into the intake.

AERO 32 is taking a beating this morning..

 

[TinEar]

He sure is. It's all yours Bob. Take it away. And I just noticed that's your first post here at RR.com. Welcome.

 

[ka3jjz]

It's busy this morning. The DC ANG guys are doing laze attacks on 127.275, and I heard a brief checkin on their 348.725 freq as well. 260.9 and 320.6 are up, and I even got someone on the Northrup 123.225 frequency as well. 369.15 just became active with the Eglin boys.

I wonder if that poor soul in the building and vehicle that got targeted ever knew what he was in for on a peaceful Sunday morning? :.>> 73s Mike

 

[carbineone]

1155 navy SD103 with mcguire approach just airborne out of lakehurst nas 363.8
1157 navy SD103 handoff to washington center 285.4
1210 Flyer1? flight of 4 with willow grove 340.2
1326 Blue 61 with Mcguire Cp 349.4
1356 team71(kc-10 visual ID I'm near Mcguire this week)with Mcguire tower touch and goes 118.65
1359 rocco64 with Mcguire twr 118.65
1446 Reach 7121 with Mcguire departure 124.15
1840 Razz01 with Mcguire for full stop 255.6
1938 Rocco73 with Mcguire for full stop 118.65

Tinear is this the first time Raptors have been used for a cap?
Ok thanks putting cap hours on brand new Raptors is surprising

 

[TinEar]

1207: RAPTOR 11 and 12 (F-22A Langley AFB VA) have the CAP at the present time. Primary is still «260.9»
1208: RAPTOR 11 going to the tanker to refuel. The current tanker is TANKER 15 and they are using boom freq «320.6» for this activity. RAPTOR 11 indicates this will probably be his last refueling need. (I'm guessing he said that because the CAP will end before he needs gas again.)
1211: RAPTOR 11 cleared to contact the boom by the boom operator. «320.6»
1212: RAPTOR 11 makes contact with the boom and asks for 4,000 pounds. «320.6»
1214: 4,000 pounds has flowed into RAPTOR 11's tanks and he's good to go. «320.6»
1214: RAPTOR 11 reports back in the CAP. RAPTOR 12 says he's going to the tanker. «260.9»
1215: RAPTOR 12 reports in trail with the tanker, nose cold and ready to contact. The boom operator gives him the okay to contact the boom and in he goes. «320.6»
This is probably not the first refueling for this pair of Raptors since the boom operator did not ask for tail numbers or unit - not that the unit would be any big secret.
1219: RAPTOR 12 finishes his refueling on «320.6» and then tells HUNTRESS he's back up in the CAP on «260.9»
Why do RAPTOR 11/12 have the CAP instead of the planned Eglin F-15s? I would think it's once again because of bad weather at Eglin. The F-15s that had the CAP last night/early this morning had to divert into Langley because of storms and low ceilings in the Eglin area overnight. In addition, the F-15s had maintenance problems as evidenced by AERO 32 running through four jets to find one that was air worthy. I didn't stick around long enough last night to learn if AERO 32 was flying one of his own jets or had to borrow one from Langley's few remaining F-15s to be able to take his place in the CAP.
1230: RAPTOR 11 takes the south and 12 the north part of the CAP «260.9»
1231: RAPTOR 11 given a target BRAA...141/47/9000/southeast...then given a "skip it" command when the target turns north. RAPTOR 11 also reports he has zero surveillance targets on his DATALINK. «260.9»
1233: RAPTOR reports playtime as 60 minutes...I guess HUNTRESS is lining up replacements - or trying to. «260.9»
1235: RAPTOR 11 doing bullseye check in the southern part of the CAP. He also says that "SENATORS" is now the bullseye. (I take that to mean the Capitol is now the primary point of interest for RAPTOR 11 rather than Camp David.)
1236: TANKER 15 given the RTB command at 1736Z (now). «260.9»
Although TANKER 15 repeated his RTB time as 1736Z, I heard absolutely nothing from him that was expected - like getting clearance from GUARD DOG to head for home.
1249: I just heard what is probably a tanker getting ready to land with 65,000 pounds of fuel on board. He was using «311.0» and I didn't hear a callsign but this might be our TANKER 15 going home. Considering that he was still readable and that 311.0 is a Command Post freq many places, including the PA-ANG at Pittsburg, this might be a STEEL KC-135 tanker talking to STEEL Ops.
1252: RAPTOR 11 asking HUNTRESS if he expects them to stay until the end of the "fragged bull." I can't hear HUNTRESS today so don't know what the reply was. (the "fragged bull" would be the scheduled time at the bullseye.)
1253: RAPTOR 11 gives his fuel as 11.0 and says he's Code 1....12 is 12.0 and Code 1. «260.9»
1253: RAPTOR 11 with GUARD DOG on «288.35» Looks like the mission might be over. He gets no reply after a couple of calls and reports that to HUNTRESS back on «260.9»
This might just be finishing up in time for football.
1256: RAPTOR 11 makes contact on «288.35» and reports clearance request and RTB in 5 minutes....he gets clearance to Nottingham, HARCUM, Langley at course 210.
1257: RAPTOR 11 says to push 21 AUX which is «233.525» where they chat and say no need to save gas on the way home...so they are "pushing it up"...indicating speed increase.
1301: RAPTOR 11/12 with ZDC-Calvert on «281.4» at FL210. They'll get permission to descend shortly and into Langley they'll go. However, ZDC has them orbiting in place for a couple of minutes until they can work something out with HUNTRESS so they go back to «260.9» to do that. Apparently, the route wasn't open right now to Langley or there is something they are being held for...anyway the RAPTORs are staying in place flying circles until cleared out of the area...flight leader reports he has 30 minutes of playtime left. This is at 1303.
1305: RAPTOR 11 tells HUNTRESS there is a low cloud deck between him and the TOI (Target Of Interest). «260.9»
1310: RAPTOR 11 asks HUNTRESS for the status of the TOI. Not sure what HUNTRESS says but 11 reports timber sour...meaning he doesn't see the TOI on his screen...he wants to know if HUNTRESS has a Mode 3 squawk for the TOI. «260.9» Apparently, something turned up where it didn't belong just as the Raptors were ready to begin their RTB trip.
1311: RAPTOR 11 reports having the track and gives the BRA as 137/29/3000. «260.9»
1314: RAPTOR 11 tells ZDC-Calvert «281.4» he expects it (whatever) to be 2-3 more minutes...then back on «260.9» he asks HUNTRESS how long it will be...he gets clearance to RTB so back to «281.4» he goes to get his clearance back to Langley and is given HARCUM, Langley as his route. He's cleared down to 16,000. The Raptor pair is also chatting on tac «233.525» as they once again begin their trip to Langley. That should be the end.
1317: RAPTOR 11 reports to ZDC-Calvert on «281.4» that they're 15 miles north of HARCUM and at 10,000 feet. They go back to «233.525» to yak their way home.
1319: RAPTOR 12 went to get the ATIS info and comes back to «233.525» to say it was valid as of 0600 local and ends it right there since it's totally outdated. They will assume runway 8. They are trying to talk to someone back at the base but say he's weak and unreadable to both of them.
1320: RAPTOR 11 switches to 13 AUX which puts him back on «281.4» where he reports further descent. Then it's back to chat on «233.525» That should be the last I'll hear from them.
Good thing football starts later than the usual 1 p.m. time. They'll get home in time to catch the kickoff.
THE CAP HAS OFFICIALLY ENDED

1325: BLUE 61 (tanker flying from Europe to the U.S. -- BLUE going west, GOLD going east) calling McGuire Command Post on «319.4» He'll be arriving at McGuire and is A-2 for a generator. He has no cargo or pax and will land with 40,000 pounds of fuel. He needs airstairs and also needs Customs to meet the plane upon landing. Usually, they accompany a flight of aircraft coming across the pond.
1328: TREND 11 flight with ZDC-Salisbury on «257.7» in altitude block 26,000 to 28,000 in non-standard formation. It appears to be a flight of at least 5 aircraft as they ticked off upon switching to this freq. The TREND callsign is used for missions to/from Europe so I guess we can assume that's who BLUE 61 was accompanying.
1340: TREND 11 flight handed off to 327.8 «257.7»
1341: TREND 11, now almost sure it's a flight of five aircraft, to ZDC-Norfolk on «327.8» checking in in block altitude 26-28,000 and reports direct Shaw
1341: RAVAGE flight (F-16 DC-ANG Andrews) up on tac freq «139.15» Flight of three.
1342: RAVAGE with ZDC-Calvert on «281.4»
1344: RAVAGE 1 reports solid cloud deck where they are and will want to descend down below it soon. «281.4»
1346: RAVAGE flight doing weapons systems checks before descending. «139.15»
While the TREND 11 flight came through the area, I searched the tac freq range - and extended it from 138-149 mHz but found nothing.
1349: TREND 11 flight handed off to 354.1 «327.8»
1349: TREND 11 checks in with ZDC-Tar River NC on «354.1» (And this will no doubt be the end of them as they get weaker and weaker as they fly south.)

carbineone: No, they used them yesterday too when the Eglin F-15s were prevented by weather from leaving/arriving back at their home base. But, yes, this is the first weekend they have ever been used in the CAP.

Wow! I just noticed we've had over 50,000 page views of this thread. That's amazing and indicates the interest in MilAir that has developed over the past few months. There have been upwards of 1,000 page views a day for the past couple of days.

End of log for now. If anything else pops up, it will be in a new message below.

 

[TinEar]

1427: Have an A-10 with Potomac TRACON (Reagan) on «270.275» He's requesting direct Martin (State) due to minimum fuel.
1428: RAVEN 1 with Raven Ops on «143.8» again reporting minimum fuel and says he's over Nottingham at this time. It appears to be a single ship flight...or not.
1433: RAVEN 2 with TRACON on «270.275»
1435: Also have a U/I flight with ZDC-Montebello on «284.7» at 11,000 and then to ZDC-Irons on «360.85» also checking in at 11,000. Callsign is ??? 109. He then switches to ZDC-Calvert on «281.4» at 1439. Callsign sounds like TESTER 109 but I've never heard a three-digit suffix with TESTER aircraft.
1440: A RAVEN flight reports 15 miles out to the south and coming in to runway 33. He's with Martin State Tower on «297.2»
I think I'm having trouble with callsigns right now due to having one ear on the TV with football pre-game nonsense. It'll be two ears shortly when the game begins.
1443: RAVEN 1 reports gear down, ready for full stop landing «297.2»
1448: The RAVAGE F-16 flight of three from Andrews is back in listening range on tac «139.15»
1450: RAVAGE 3 cleared off to get the ATIS report. «139.15»
1452: RAVAGE 3 comes back with ATIS info "R" and reports active runways are 19L and 19R.
1452: Have a heavily accented pilot trying to talk to Andrews on «119.3» Says he'll contact Andrews later...whatever that means.
1453: JOSA 219 to SAM Command on «378.1» to report he's arriving in 20 minutes, is a C-21 with tail #40115, has 2 pax to offload - 1 D/V who's an A-4. When he drops off the pax, he's done for the day.
1455: RAVAGE flight checks in with ZDC-Calvert on «281.4» 15 miles south of Notthinham.
1455: RAVAGE 1/2/3 report fuel remainders as 2800/1900/1500 pounds «139.15»
1456: RAVAGE to SENATE SOF on «139.9» to report missions results and that 1 and 2 are Code 1 and 3 is Code 2...60 miles out. Back to tac «139.15» they go.
1459: RAVAGE fligh to Potomac TRACON (Reagan) on «269.5» as they approach the field.

1500: RAVAGE flight leader wants 3 to let him know if he gets to minimum fuel (Remember he reported having only 1500 pounds a bit ago.)
1500: RAVAGE descending from 13,000 to 10,000...request direct Andrews «269.5» cleared to descend to 6,000.
1502: CRAB 56 (C-130J MD-ANG Martin State) heading into Martin with Tower on «121.3»
I still haven't found a replacement freq for CRAB Ops that used to be on 385.9.
1504: RAVAGE flight cleared down to 2,000 feet. «269.5»
1505: RAVAGE 1 again asks 3 about fuel...3 says he's okay «139.15»
1506: RAVAGE flight down to 1,000 feet and reports field in sight. «269.5» Push 4
1507: RAVAGE flight on U-4 with Andrews Tower on «349.0» as they prepare to land.
1508: RAVAGE 1 reports gear, stop, left (gear down, full stop landing, runway 19 left is the translation). «349.0» RAVAGE 2 and 3 report the same and this flight is declared done. Just in time for the kickoff.

 

[TinEar]

A little behind here but...I have a couple of radios set up on freqs to possibly hear that Falcon Virgo exercise if it goes off tonight. Just before 8 p.m. I heard OMAHA 3 (Customs) talking with THOR ground station on their primary «282.425» frequency. OMAHA 3 reported he had just lifted off from Tipton Airfield (Ft. Meade) and was going to RTB. His nest is at Reagan National Airport although he didn't specify that's where he was going. There was also some talk about a phone call to Potomac which I took to mean to the TRACON but am not sure of that. Anyway, I'm still looking for the exercise to develop starting around 10 p.m. although past exercises have gone off even later than that. We'll see.

The last time they ran this exercise, we had traffic from the Customs guys along with F-16s from Andrews. I expect the F-16s to use callsign BRAVE and there might even be a VENUS aircraft or two flying out of Andrews that we'll hear. VENUS aircraft are C-9s or C-20s from the 99th Airlift Squadron.

NOTE: The weather radar shows showers all over the area so we can expect the Falcon Virgo exercise to be cancelled and moved forward to tomorrow - or whenever the skies clear over the D.C. area.

 

[TinEar]

Not sure I'm going to stick around for this but...just got a very loud ground station testing on the 282.425 freq that Customs uses for scrambles and exercises. It sounded like the transmitter normally used by ground station THOR. I can't imagine that exercise is going to happen considering the weather....but it just might. I'll listen for the next 5-10 minutes but that's all the time I can afford tonight. It's starting to get sleepy out.

 

[DPD1]

Just turned on the scanners and was also surprised to hear RAPTOR 7 and 8 working the CAP. Last night, the pair of Eglin F-15s (AERO 27/28) couldn't go back home because of bad weather all over the Florida area and had to divert to Langley. AERO 31/32 were already in the air from Eglin and got here with no trouble. However, I would guess their replacements couldn't take off from Eglin either. That might have resulted in Raptor F-22A aircraft from Langley taking their place. They are using the RAPTOR as a callsign and the transmitters sure sound more like F-22As than F-15s.

http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-59414sy0...=dp-widget-news

New line of defense
LANGLEY'S RAPTORS TAKE A TURN AT PROTECTING HOMELAND

The Raptor takes its place in line to fly a mission.
BY JIM HODGES
247-4633
January 23, 2006
HAMPTON -- For the first time since being declared capable of doing so in mid-December, the F-22A Raptor has flown as part of an operation.

In this case, it was Operation Noble Eagle, a four-year mission that began when the Pentagon and New York were attacked on Sept. 11, 2001.

Col. Tom Bergeson and Lt. Col. Jim Hecker flew Raptors from Langley Air Force Base's 27th Fighter Squadron on four-hour Saturday patrols, and Capts. John Echols and Geoff Lohmiller flew similar missions on Sunday.

"It's just the next step with this jet," said Lohmiller, giving the company line. "It's the next step in the journey that is the Raptor."

But, he admitted, "sometimes I've got to pinch myself and remind myself that I'm surrounded by people doing the same thing. ... I was kind of excited."

Operation Noble Eagle - called "ONE" by those who fly it - involves an in-the-air presence over U.S. and Canadian skies as a terrorist deterrent and part of an early warning system. It is flown irregularly on a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week basis, with special emphasis on major cities, and more than 40,000 sorties have been involved since it began.

Routes are classified, as are contacts, if any.

Most of the missions are kept quiet - Langley's 71st Fighter Squadron flew F-15s in ONE missions in late November and December - but little about the Raptor is low-key because of its newness, and because the Air Force is still trying to persuade those who control the federal budget to invest in more airplanes.

Echols, of Albuquerque, N.M., flew ONE missions out of Langley in an F-15 with no fanfare. But this was different.

"We get a little more notoriety around here because we fly the Raptor," he said. "People still stop to see it go up. I think that's true of anybody who's a fan of aviation.

"Even if I didn't fly it, I would stop to see the Raptor."

Even in the air, it's different. Echols and Lohmiller were refueled four times each by a KC-135 from Pittsburgh on Sunday.

"When we (tank up), the guys on the plane want us to fly out on their wing so everybody can see the Raptor," said Echols, who added that they often comply.

Echols and Lohmiller said a big difference between ONE missions and training is weaponry. Their planes carried munitions on Sunday.

"It's like a pistol," Echols said. "You're always more careful when the gun's loaded."

Like so many others, Echols and Lohmiller saw news Thursday of a message from Osama bin Laden, leader of the terrorist group al-Qaida who triggered Operation Noble Eagle by mounting the attacks on New York and the Pentagon in 2001.

"We knew about bin Laden, but we train every day," said Lohmiller, of Greensberg, Wis. "Every day, we're training to be ready for an attack."

He paused to knock on a wooden bar.

"The reason we do so is that so far it's worked," he said. "Whether it's deterred anybody or not" is for others to determine.

There are 19 Raptors at Langley, with more due until the 27th Fighter Squadron has a complement of 24 airplanes in March. The unit is due for a late spring deployment to Alaska.

More ONE missions are likely for the 27th as part of the move toward being declared fully operational capable in the fall.

"That's why we're doing it," said Echols of training and flying ONE missions. "We know (another terrorist attack) could happen at any time."


Dave
http://www.DPDProductions.com
- Featuring the New MilTenna Omni Air Band Antennas -

 

[Mark]

Yes looks like the Air Force coudn't wait to get the word out about this past weekend's CAP.
ACC news has pic and story today....
Sorry Air Force news.We had it first here on Maryland Milair..

http://www2.acc.af.mil/accnews/

Mark

 

[freqhopping]

I want to see the pictures that the tanker took. I suppose I could send an e-mail to them as well.

 

[TinEar]

Thanks for the links Dave and Mark. And Travis, if I manage to get those pics, I'll let you know. And, Dave, the old RHIP theory is still alive and well. Notice the ranks of the first two pilots to fly the Raptors on the Saturday flight - a Colonel and Lt. Colonel. That would NEVER happen at any other time. A "Full Bull" pulling a shift in the CAP? Hah!

1840: Have some F-22A fighters up from Langley on their tac «276.675» as I turn on the scanners. I'm making that ID strictly from the transmitter sound so it could be wrong.
1843: Also just had a flight of three enter Giant Killer's area using «249.8» Didn't catch the callsign but suffix was 51.
1845: The Langley tac «276.675» is doing air combat maneuvers and the controller is fairly loud. I'm not sure yet if it's one of their fighters performing that role or if it's a DARKSTAR type E3B aircraft. The fighter callsign is BANDIT.
1846: Yeah, BANDIT fighter asked the guy that was doing the controlling if he was from Tinker. He also said due to bad weather most of the fighters had moved to another "chunk" of airspace and they only had a couple of fighters with them. «276.675»
1847: GOLIATH flight (1st FW Langley) calling GIant Killer on «251.6» and someone else that I couldn't get the callsign for entered on GK's «233.7»
1850: GOLIATH still trying to get Giant Killer reference area W-72 on «251.6» Says they are going to ops freq 292.3
1851: Also now have the GOLIATH controlling two groups (1 north, 1 south) on tac «276.675» BANDIT is working with them at 35,000 feet. And the E3B type aircraft is controlling the whole mess.
1853: GK's «391.2» active.

1905: VODKA 81 flight (1st FW Langley) into GK's airspace on «249.8»
1907: GK's ops freq «373.1» active.
1919: GOLIATH to GIANT KILLER on «251.6» with reference to the HOOPER 71 through 74 flights (1st FW Langley). He wants HOOPER 71 to call him on 282.7 and HOOPER 73 to call him on 236.025. Both those freqs are new for Langley fighters for me.
1925: GOLIATH telling GK he's going to try them on those freqs. «251.6»
We've had GOLIATH as a fighter callsign from Langley but I'm not sure that's who this is. This sounds more like someone in a controller position. I also logged that callsign on 10/27/05 testing the new red/green sparkle system around Washington D.C.
1927: GOLIATH calling HOOPER 71 on «287.0» and makes contact although I can't hear HOOPER 71. He also calls HOOPER 73 on the «236.025» freq and doesn't seem to make contact.....oops...yes, he just did at 1928 but couldn't maintain contact.
1929: GOLIATH tells HOOPER 71 on «282.7» something about "red air" and not making contact with HOOPER 73. GOLIATH wants to know for sure that 71 has contact with 73.
1930: GOLIATH is some kind of controller that is working both 282.7 and 236.025 simultaneously so he's got backend operators. He's lining up the two groups HOOPER 71/72 and 73/74 for air combat exercises.
1932: CANFORCE 3955 calling Dover Command Post on Dover's PTD freq «269.125» No reply.
1936: GOLIATH still controlling the two groups of HOOPER aircraft in air combat maneuvers and still on «282.7» and «236.025» I hear GOLIATH loud and clear but hear absolutely nothing from the HOOPER flights which are either too distant or too low to be heard on those freqs..
1940: GOLIATH is just finishing the operation with the two HOOPER flights and is talking about their RTB plans. «282.7/236.025» This activity was all in area W-122.
1941: GOLIATH now with GK on «251.6» telling him that HOOPER 71 and 72 are leaving W-122 to RTB direct Langley at 31,000 feet.
1932: CANFORCE 3955 calling Dover Operations on Dover PTD freq «269.125» and again apparently gets no reply.
1944: GOLIATH asking Giant Killer if he's getting any kind of interference or noise on 121.5 tonight. «251.6» He follows that up with, "Okay, thanks."
1945: GOLIATH reports "clearing this freq" while on «236.025»
1946: CANFORCE 3955 makes contact with Dover on «269.125» and reports he'll be arriving at Dover at 0100Z, needs 5,000 pounds of fuel, ground power, crew transportation and a parking spot. He says he's picking up several pallets and wants confirmation they'll be standing by.

Right Chuck. When GOLIATH first came up I identified him as Langley fighters because that callsign has been used by fighters there in the past. But, soon after, I IDed him as an E3B type aircraft in the logs above. The fighters I heard tonight were BANDIT which I IDed as F-22As based on transmitter sound and the HOOPER flights I don't know because I couldn't hear them - only the GOLIATH controller. Are you back home?

The ones I've identified as Raptors have been: BANDIT, BOBCAT, BIKER, MICRO, DEFT, RASTER and, yeah the RAPTOR callsign they used for propaganda purposes over the weekend in the CAP. STUD I have as a "possible."

I went to those LARS links also and read them through. I made myself a note to search that freq range next time I catch the A-10s in the midst of an exercise of some type to see if they're doing it too. That was a real interesting catch on Mac's part.

I've got a page wrap so anything further will be on a new message below....

 

[n3bxv]

1847: GOLIATH flight (1st FW Langley) calling GIant Killer on «251.6» and someone else that I couldn't get the callsign for entered on GK's «233.7»
1850: GOLIATH still trying to get Giant Killer reference area W-72 on «251.6» Says they are going to ops freq 292.3
1851: Also now have the GOLIATH controlling two groups (1 north, 1 south) on tac

If I'm not mistaken, GOLIATH should be a TINKER E3 AWACS and not the Langley fighters..

What Callsigns were the F-22's?
{edit to add}

The fighters I heard tonight were BANDIT which I IDed as F-22As based on transmitter sound and the HOOPER flights I don't know because I couldn't hear them - only the GOLIATH controller.

Thanks, I'm going to try and keep track of the callsigns confirmed used by the F-22s and add them to the Wiki, it should give us a list of 27FS calls since they are the only current operator....
I have so far-
DEFT
BANDIT
RAPTOR
RASTER
STUD
Any I've missed?

The ones I've identified as Raptors have been: BANDIT, BOBCAT, BIKER, MICRO, DEFT, RASTER and, yeah the RAPTOR callsign they used for propaganda purposes over the weekend in the CAP. STUD I have as a "possible."

Updated the 1st FW Wiki to reflect these...

I saw the exchange yesterday on NE Milair about the AN/ARS-6 LARS system in the A-10s. The freq range for it is only 225-300, so it shouldn't be all the difficult to see if the RAVENS are using it for voice...