Sticky Thread for MilAir

[Dank]

Alan,
Not to get too far off topic, but this is the FiOS service I emailed you about 2 months back. My neighbor has it and I am planning to as well. From what the installer told me each house gets a single dedicated 'fiber'. This single fiber will support up to 4 different telephone numbers, 2 separate ISP providers, and 2 tv services. One of the tv services will be Directv, the other will be on-demand ppv movies. To broadcast Directv through fiber, Verizon is constructing large satellite dishes along the east coast to receive the signal and from there it will distribute the signal to the subscribers through fiber.
Not to disappoint our frieds in Baltimore County, but the installer that I talked to told me they would not get FiOs. He didn't give a reason.
Dan

 

[TinEar]

1103: ANGRY flight on the way home. Now with WATERGATE (maintenance) and SENATE (SOF) on «139.9» ANGRY 1 is Code 3 for a gun problem. He says it's indicating there are bullets in it but nothing comes out when he fires. He says his first pass was okay when he fired a burst but then nothing after that. ANGRY 2 is Code 2 for an IFF problem.
1107: TESTER 12 with BayWatch on «262.95»
1109: ANGRY flight with Reagan TRACON on «269.0» says they are Baltimore to Andrews and are looking for a straight in approach to runway 1R.
1111: ANGRY flight with more SOF chat «139.9» and then push V-6 and back to «139.15» they go.
1112: ANGRY 1 declaring an emergency at this time for a "hung gun - a gun malfunction" «269.0»
1113: ANGRY 1 says he's going to park on the closed pad «139.15» He also reports descending from 10,000 feet to TRACON on «269.0» and they are going back to SOF on «139.9» where he tells SOF that after he lands he's going to the "open pad" (He's just arranging to be away from evereyone in case that gun fires.)
1115: ANGRY 1 leaving 4200 for 3000 and has field in sight...cleared straight in to runway 1R. «269.0» Push U-4
1116: ANGRY 1 checking in with Andrews Tower on «349.0» 7 miles out for straight in approach...says one soul on board and repeats that he's in an emergency situation...his wingman will follow him in and then go around for his own landing.
1118: ANGRY 1 on the ground «349.0»
1119: ANGRY 2 beginning his approach to the runway. «349.0»
1124: ANGRY 2 who I thought was landing, is still in the pattern at Andrews.
1129: ANGRY 2 still giving "Wilcos" to the Tower for whatever he's doing.
1130: Finally...ANGRY 2 reports gear down, full stop, right runway (1R). «349.0»
1131: BULLY flight back on tac «127.275» reporting speed 285.
1132: BULLY to SOF on «139.9» wanting to know if the winds have died down at all. They are till 96 miles out. Back on tac «127.275» they say winds are down to 12 knots.
1133: OPEC 44 (KC-10A Mcguire AFB) with Dover Command Post making contact with a BOLAR flight (C-5) asking him to come up on air refueling primary freq on his other radio. «349.4»
1141: BULLY flight getting ATIS info (which is two hours old) and preparing to make their approach to Andrews «127.275»
1146: BULLY flight with Reagan TRACON as they approach the field «269.0» Out of 7,000 and pushing 4 at 1149
1149: BULLY flight 10 miles to the east as reported to Andrews Tower on «349.0»
1157: BULLY flight landed Andrews «349.0»

1206: Refueling freq «228.0» is active.
1220-22: DARKSTAR (E3B Tinker AFB OK) talking with IRON Ops at Langley on «357.1» about the airspace for an upcoming mission. Most of it is too weak to copy but I guess it's enough to know there will be more Langley fighters coming up today to work with the E3B.
1232: Flight of F-16s from the NJ-ANG up on tac freq «138.875»
1233: Also have another flight from NJ working tac «138.05» Callsign BICEP
1233-36: Have GOLIATH (E3B) working with GIANT KILLER on «338.1» reporting tracks out of Patuxent. However, he's heading into area W-105 to work with F-15s from the 102nd Fighter Squadron, callsigns MAD DOG and DRAGON. His work time will be from 1900-2030Z.
1238-41: DRAGO 51 calling LIBERATOR on squadron freq «351.2» to say he's inbound at this time, arriving in 20 minutes, is A-1 and has 36,000 pounds of fuel on board.
1246: BICEP F-16s now working «138.875» They are apparently at the Pax River Range. I heard them with ZDC earlier flying down this way. They are working with a ground controller called IRON CROSS.
1248: Hmmm...BICEP flight working on «138.5» very briefly and then saying to push 21 and they come up on «141.725». They are working with controller IRON CROSS and identify as two F-16s, give their mission ordnance and say they have two hours of playtime. (These are new freqs for NJ-ANG and I have no idea how they could push 21 on a 20 channel radio. Some will argue that 138.5 is an old freq for the NJ-ANG and it is but they haven't used it in ages.)
1249: Pilot reporting Martin State Airport is closed to fixed wing aircraft «121.3» He then asks when that happened. (Not sure what that means but it sounded like the airport is closed because of some incident.)
1252: Have another NJ-ANG flight working «138.425» Callsign DEVIL
1254: Have a DEVIL flight (F-16 NJ-ANG) calling WHITE LIGHTNING on «138.3»
1256: DEVIL 11 flight to WHITE LIGHTNING reports as a flight of two F-16s and does the mission ordnance routine before entering the range at Patuxent. If this is the same activity they performed yesterday with this controller, we're in for a real treat. «138.3»
1258: the BICEP 21 flight is attacking targets along the shoreline and boats off shore. IRON CROSS is their ground controller for this work. «141.725»

1301: The DRAGO 51 flight is still with LIBERATOR on «351.2» He made a mistake and called himself either COBB or COD 1 and then went right back to DRAGO 51.
1302: GOLIATH tells GIANT KILLER he's not going to be working W-105 today. The aircraft won't takeoff because of bad weather. «338.1»
1306: Have someone...and it might be DRAGO 51...on «351.2» reporting that he's heading for Dover. A couple of minutes earlier, they were talking about the winds at Andrews.
1310: BICEP flight heading for the tanker to refuel. «141.725» then say no tanker yet...sorry about that.
1311: BICEPs report the tanker is delayed by 20 minutes. «141.725»
1312: BICEPs report back to IRON CROSS and pick up another target. «141.725»
1313: One of the DEVILs says to the other that he has mail...the other says he confirms the tanker is 20 minutes late. (BICEP must have sent them a text message about the tanker.) «138.3» DEVILs are working with WHITE LIGHTNING to attack ground targets.
1318: DEVIL 2 is cleared off to the tanker «138.3» He then goes to BayWatch on «264.55» to say he's going to FL250 for refueling. She must have told him about the tanker being delayed and he says, "I'm aware of that ma'am. I'm just going up there to wait for him."
1319: Have the Northup-Grumman test flight aircraft with BayWatch on «291.15» He read off a whole string of emitters he's going to be working on and wanted to confirm the ground station had the same list.
1321: DEVIL 12 reports he's high overhead orbiting the position and waiting for the tanker. «138.3» Meanwhile, DEVIL 11 is still with WHITE LIGHTNING talking about where he's parked on the ground and whether he can see his vehicle.
1323: BICEPs with BayWatch on «264.55» asking if she's heard from the tanker yet.
1326: UGLY 1 (I think) with ZDC-Woodstown on «362.3»
1327: DEVIL/BICEP report the tanker is still not here. «138.3/141.725»
1328: UGLY 1 (A-10 PA-ANG Willow Grove)leaving 13 for 16,000 «362.3»
1329: U/I fighter activity on «142.25» They are leaving 16,000 for 21,000. (Turns out to be the UGLY flight)
1330: DEVIL 12 reports heading for FL240 «264.55» DEVIL 12 reports the tanker won't be here for another 30 minutes over on tac «138.3» DEVIL 12 rejoins the fight since there's no tanker. He gets targeting info on the ground forces from WHITE LIGHTNING.
1332: UGLY flight on «142.25» say to change to 138.12(5) and they come up there and call KINGPIN and WARHOG.
1332: UGLY 31 flight from «362.3» handed off to Pax Approach on «305.2» where they enter the Pax River complex.
1333: DEVIL flight tells BayWatch if the tanker doesn't get there soon, they're in trouble since they only can fly for another 20 minutes before they've go tto refuel.
1335: UGLY 1 (flight of two A-10s) enter BayWatch on «264.55» to say they'll be in the area to work this exercise from 1330-1430.
1336: DEVIL flight tells BayWatch they'll hang out in the north part of the area around Vienna and be talking to ground to decide what to do about refueling. «264.55»
1338: UGLY and BICEP talk to BayWatch «264.55» about working Blue 18 (138.3) with the DEVIL flight at Vienna. Then the DEVILs talk about the UGLY A-10s coming over to their freq to work with ground. «138.3»
1340: BICEP mentions having to decide what to do about refueling since they only have 10 minutes of playtime left. «141.725»
1341: There is also a flight of fighters working at Bollen Range on «237.2» Their callsign is FLYER, A-10s from the PA-ANG at Willow Grove.
1342: UGLY 31 flight to WHITE LIGHTNING on «138.3» wanting to know if there are any other players working with them.
There is so much activity at the moment that it's almost impossible to keep up with it. I have six radios with constant, non-stop chatter going on at the moment with all these fighters in the exercise and their lack of a tanker for refueling.
1342: DEVIL flight changes to V-15 «138.425» to talk about the lack of tanker.
1344: UGLY flight is back to «142.25» for tac chat
1349: The tanker finally shows up and reports radar contact with DEVIl/BICEP flights «264.55»
1350: The tanker is ROCCO 61 (KC-135 McGuire) and contacts DEVIL/BICEP flights. «264.55»
1350: BICEP flight reports the tanker is too late. They are too low on fuel to get to the tanker. «141.725» They then report to BayWatch on «264.55» that they are bingo for the refueling. ROCCO 61 says he'll be refueling at FL260 for 30-45 minutes.
1351: ROCCO 61 makes contact with the DEVIL flight on «264.55» and tells them to change to the boom freq
1352: ROCCO 61/DEVILs make contact on boom freq «288.0» and start the process of refueling.
1353: UGLY flight says the 138.3 is so junked up at the moment with activity that they need a new freq to talk on. «138.3»
1355: DEVIL flight says they need 8,000 pounds apiece. «288.0»
1356: Now have a female voice reporting as ROCCO 62 on «288.0» talking to the DEVIL flight.
1356: BICEPs still working «141.725» UGLY flight working ground attack on «138.3»

Contined below....

 

[DPD1]

Dave (DPD1), I think I'm going to give that MilTenna Omni (combined VHF/UHF) a try once the weather gets a bit warmer here. It looks interesting and might be a good addition.

Sounds good... It's what I'm personally using right now, and I like it. I always forget you cold weather folks can't go skipping around on your roof this time of year. Though you would think I'd remember, because I slipped off an icy roof back in IL, trying to fix my CB antenna when I was a kid, and just about killed myself.

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

 

[TinEar]

I lost several lines of traffic logs here when the message went over 10,000 characters. One of the reports was ROCCO 61 wanting to RTB, direct Snow Hill, direct Sea Isle and back to McGuire. He also told the E2B (KINGPIN) that the other flight, BICEP, had to RTB and will not refuel. DEVIL flight went from 264.55, to tac 138.425 to 138.3 back to WHITE LIGHTNING to continue in the exercise with the UGLY flight. BICEP flight is out of the action because of the tanker arriving late. KINGPIN asked DEVIL where the exercise was taking place and was told on Blue 18. KINGPIN wants to listen in. Okay...that brings us up to date at 1405.

1407: UGLY flight is now doing their ground attack on tac «142.25»
1408: DEVIL flight goes to tac «138.425» for their ground attack chat.
1409: UGLY and DEVIL still on primary exercise freq «138.3» for work with WHITE LIGHTNING, the controller for the ground force.
1415: UGLY flight is heading home and report out with Baywatch on «264.55» and change to Pax River Approach on «305.2» to scoot.
1416: DEVIL 11/12 still working ground attack on «138.3»
For this exercise with WHITE LIGHTNING over the past couple of days, it seems the fighters have the area around Vienna MD on the Pax River Range all mapped out with assigned street names (Oak, Elm, etc) and area/grid names (Redskins, Dolphins, etc) (all good old American names of course.)
1419: DC-ANG F-16s up out of Andrews on tac «127.275»
1420: Have a NJ F-16 on V-1 «138.125» that mentions an AXEMAN 1 flight (A-10 MD-ANG)
1421: UGLY flight still on tac «142.25» as they head home.
1422: AXEMAN 1 calling BayWatch on «264.55»
This BayWatch 264.55 freq seems to have become the primary Advisory freq. There has been almost no use of 354.8 and very little use of 270.8 the past few days. It has all been on 264.55.
1423: Mention of AXEMAN flight on NJ tac freq «138.05»
1428: WARDOG 1 (A-10 MD-ANG) checking into BayWatch area on «264.55» working for 1 hour. Asking for a VHF freq to monitor.
1429: DC-ANG flight on tac «139.15»
1429: AXEMAN/WARDOG talking about not having contact on Red 1 or Blue 1 «142.3»
1430: RAVAGE flight (F-16 DC-ANG) into BayWatch area on «264.55» He tells the controller he can be ANGRY if he wants him to be.
1431: There is an airborne female controller of some type talking to WARDOG on «264.55» She is callsign KINGPIN.
Had brief comms from DC-ANG freqs 139.15 and 127.275 and only one callsign - RAVAGE. UGLY and BICEP went home. DEVIL is still with WHITE LIGHTNING on exercise freq «138.3» WARDOG and AXEMAN are trying to get onto an exercise freq but can't seem to make contact with anyone and I can't find them either calling on an exercise freq.
1435: Have tac freq «141.725» active again. No callsigns heard yet. It's probably another flight out of NJ....or not.
NOT...it's AXEMAN talking about having contact with RAVAGE on Uniform. Off to search I go. So this has got to be an exercise freq rather than a NJ-ANG freq.
1435: WARDOG tells KINGPIN he's a single A-10/ «264.55»
1436:: AXEMAN and RAVAGE talking on «264.55» but I can no longer hear RAVAGE.
1438: AXEMAN talking to WHITE LIGHTNING on MD tac «142.3» where he reports a fire burning along the river near Vienna. WARDOG also checks into this freq.
1439: RAVAGE/AXEMAN now talking on «141.725»
1440: DEVIL 11 flight to WHITE LIGHTNING that they are departing the area to the east «138.3»
1441: DEVIL 11 reports to BayWatch they are RTBing «264.55» Given 277.4 handoff
1442: Found another exercise freq working on «227.0»
1443: DEVIL 11 flight to ZDC-Kenton on «277.4»
1443: Also now have WARDOG with WHITE LIGHTNING on «138.3»
Exercise freqs seem to be 138.3/141.725 VHF freqs and 227.0 for an unknown function of the exercise along with BayWatch as the area controller on 264.55 and the airborne controller KINGPIN also hanging out on this same freq. WHITE LIGHTNING is the controller on the 138.3 freq and IRON CROSS is the ground controller on the 141.725 freq.
1445: AXEMAN/RAVAGE working together on a ground target attack on «141.725»
This stuff is really interesting but there is so much of it going on at once that's it's difficult to follow. If you just tune in the two exercise VHF freqs (138.3 and 141.725) it's pleasant listening. Just forget about all the necessary chatter that's necessary to fly in the area on the other mentioned freqs or ZDC, etc.
1448: RAVAGE acknowledges receiving text messages from the ground controller «141.725»

1455: OKay...I think I've had enough for awhile. My fingers are worn out - to say nothing of my ears. Be back later. This is all wrapped up pretty well in the notes within the past few minutes of the exercise.

 

[JackTV]

Devils, Axeman, & Bicept are playing again this evening so far
138.3
141.725- Blue 21 heard devil flight use this
White Lightning ( Can't hear) Devil talking to Ironcross ( Can't hear)
17:56- 264.55
17:58-143.25
18:04- Hearing Ravage & Bolie
139.15
18:11- 237.2 active sounds like A-10's
18:12-127.275
18:19- Sounds like Axeman is running the show,Ravage getting instructions from Axeman. Axeman wanted Ravage to go to Blue 13 not sure what freq this is
18:24- 138.875 active
18:32- I have heard Axeman on 3 at least different VHF Freqs

 

[TinEar]

This is one heck of an interesting exercise. Jack, you got the gist of what's going on right now. Other than all the ATC freqs, at 1800, we've got the following going....

141.725 Blue 21 freq that currently has IRON CROSS as a ground forces controller with WARDOG 1 (A-10 MD-ANG) and DEVIL 11/12 (F-16 NJ-ANG) working together
138.3 Blue 13 freq currently has WHITE LIGHTNING as a ground forces controller with BICEP (F-16 NJ-ANG) and AXEMAN (A-10 MD-ANG) BICEPs being replaced by RAVAGE 1/2 while the BICEPs go to refuel
264.55 Pax River BayWatch Advisory controlling access and exit from the exercise area. There is a RAVAGE 1 flight (F-16 DC-ANG) that recently entered the exercise area that mentioned that he was listed on the flight plan as ANGRY 41 but that it was a mistake and he's really RAVAGE.
288.0 as a boom freq for refueling while in the exercise area. DEUCE 46 (KC-10A, McGuire AFB NJ) is currently entering the area (1818) in altitude block 24-26,000 to do his refueling of the fighters.
Overall, it's an exercise against a ground force in various configurations that is using coordinated comms between the Forward Area Controller and support from A-10s and F-16s working together to destroy the enemy force that is on foot and in various types of vehicles.

There is also a flight of A-10s from the PA-ANG Willow Grove working Bollen Range early in the 1800 hour. They are working the range on 237.2 and using 143.25 for tac. Callsign UGLY working with range controller BALKY.

1820: The DEVIL flight is calling DEUCE 46 over and over on boom freq 288.0 but getting no reply. DEUCE 46 tells BayWatch on 264.55 that they are having radio problems. He says he hears the fighters but can't transmit. Both the DEVIL and BICEP flights are hanging out behind the tanker DEUCE 46 until he solves his radio problem which he just did at 1828.
Tail numbers at the tanker:
DEVIL 12: 84-1288
BICEP 21: 84-1258
BICEP 22: 84-1292
DEVIL 11: 84-1317

 

[Mark]

Getting strong coms on 237.200.Is this exercise over Pennslyvania?
Sounds like a Tri-State Guard exercise.Jersey Tankers,F-16.s + MD ANG A-10's and RAVAGE DC ANG F-16's.Unique for sure!
288.000 Boom freq I have as primary AR -777 freq but real strong signal here so must not be far off.

 

[TinEar]

Mark, the entire exercise is at the Pax River Range in southern Maryland around the town of Vienna. The Bollen Range activity is not associated. The 138.3/141.725/264.55/288.0 freqs are involved in the exercise. Everything else is either tac or ATC activity as they move back and forth. This is taking four dedicated radios to get it all.

There is also a large exercise going on in the Michigan area in preparation for the Super Bowl protection. That one even has Canadian F-18s participating. Wish I could hear that one but have to settle for written reports.

Dave, the UGLY flight is leaving the Bollen Range at 1855 and said they're heading for the Duke MOA. They are with ZNY-Big Flat on 322.4 and are now changing to 338.3 ZNY-North Mountain. When they finish in the Duke, they report they will return to Willow Grove.

(Response to below msg) Jack, no noise now because they are so loud from here but if I get something weak anywhere on the VHF band, it's full of static. It's very noisy today and has been that way all day.

1900: Another flight of PA-ANG A-10s at the Bollen Range on 237.2 (FLYER?)
1915: AXEMAN reports he's bugging out and heading home «138.3» He also reports that RAVAGE has just a few minutes left. AXEMAN to BayWatch on 264.55 to report out of area and heading for MTN. Normal flight home on all the normal freqs.
1916: RAVAGE reports he's joker and needs to head out «138.3» He also goes to BayWatch on 264.55 to report he's heading for Andrews. He then goes to all the normal freqs and says all the normal things necessary to get to runway 1R at Andrews including the mandatory report to SOF.
1924: There is a two ship F-16 flight from DC-ANG up on tac 127.275, callsign BULLY. They report being able to see a pair of fighters doing buddy-lase activity (The BICEP flight at Pax River Range)
1931: BICEP flight bugged out for home «138.3/264.55»
1937: DEVIL flight doing the same «141.725»
Looks like only WARDOG will be left to fire ordnance at Pax. Everyone else is flying the friendly skies toward their home bases. the DOG is using 141.725 and is probably close to being done also.
1940: CRAB 53 (C-130J MD-ANG) with Phillips AAF on 126.15.
1945: WARDOG 1 clears out of BayWatch area on 264.55 and heads for MTN.
1950: DEVIL flight swooping home on 138.425 and BICEP flight on 138.875, WARDOG on 142.3.

 

[JackTV]

Mark & Tin,
Are you guys getting alot of noise on your VHF freqs? Sounds electrical.

Jack

 

[dparana]

TinEar,

Flyer 1 (81-0981) and Flyer 2 (80-0152) were in the Duke working with Taz 72. They said they were going to the Bollen Range afterwards. Ugly 1 (78-0692) and Ugly 2 (79-0219) got up with Taz later. They were going back to Willow Grove. They were all using 301.60 to refuel. Uglies used 143.25 for TAC Freq.

Dave

 

[TinEar]

Dave, yes, that follows exactly what I had also. UGLY at Bollen and then left for the Duke and then FLYER at Bollen after returning from Duke. I don't get much on that 301.6 Duke freq unless they are either at high enough altitude or the noise level is very low on UHF.
*******************************************
There's a situation playing out up in New England right now that I'm getting from another source. . At 1954, ROD 99, a C-5A transport from Westover Air Reserve Base MA was reported in trouble after a "brute force disconnect" from a tanker during refueling. Reported possible damage to landing gear. At 2008, while talking wth his SOF, he reported multiple landing gear problems including front gear. He's burning off gas at the moment. I'm waiting for more.
ROD 99 made a safe landing on runway 5 at Westover at 2018 without incident. Whew!

 

[ka3jjz]

143.25 was also active for awhile about a hour ago- didn't hear a callsign Seems the pilot had oxygen problems at first, but later came back and said that he was 3/4 full (whatever that meant...). Pa ANG has been heard previously here, but not sure who this was. Come to think of it, I'm sure I heard a 'RAVEN' callsign...

You're right TinEar, it took a minimum of 4 scanners to catch everything that went on between about 6 and 7:50 or so. I'm stuck with just 1 VHF milair scanner at the moment; I ended up scanning my usual list of suspects, and added active channels to an empty bank as I went (which enabled me to hear just about everything...). Surprised that I was hearing stuff so well, even if the exercise was in Vienna. Normally don't copy 264.55 all that well, but the last couple of nights it's been no problem.

Anyone notice that someone had a bad mic on Baywatch? It kept on squealing every time someone keyed; someone else came in and asked for a 'Victor' frequency... 73s Mike

 

[freqhopping]

I was only able to hear 138.3. But I am 100 miles away from Vienna, MD. I believe it was AXEMAN that I could hear quite loud and with just a little bit of static. But once when he bugged out, so did I. With the others I was lucky to break squelch. I was listening with my Icom R10, the BC250D was deaf. After that, on my BC250D, I did hear someone with Irons on 360.85. That was it for me tonight.

 

[TinEar]

Mike, we had both UGLY and FLYER flights from the PA-ANG active at Bollen and, at least the UGLY flight, was using 143.25 for tac while there.
The guy doing the squealing on BayWatch with the bad radio was the DEUCE 46 KC-10 tanker. At first, he couldn't answer the fighters and then went to BayWatch freq to report that and only accomplished making a lot of noise. After telling everyone to stand by while he fixed it, it appeared he switched to another radio and then was fine.

 

[ka3jjz]

Gracias Al - that will teach me to use RecAll more often! Boy, that evening was busy - here's hoping we get a repeat tonight. 73s Mike

 

[TinEar]

Scanners on at 1055 and the following freqs heard in the first two minutes....
127.275
138.2
141.6
141.875
228.9
255.0
238.1
249.8
373.1
391.2
358.85
139.875
Everyone knows who belongs to each of those freqs so I won't detail the activity other than to say the E3B with callsign GOLIATH is back in the area and controlling fighters on the Langley 358.85 freq.

Quick note: The 127.275 freq above was a flight of four F-16s, callsign WILD from Andrews. On the way home, they switched to "Victor secure test freq." That was followed by hissing noises on the freq as they transmitted in an encrypted, secure mode. I've been seeing more and more of this recently. Is the day coming when....???

Just before noon...a flight of 3 A-10s from CT-ANG Bradley through the area at flight level 250. From ZDC-Blackstone 380.3 to ZDC-Calvert 281.4 to ZDC-Bay 379.3. Unable to make contact with Bay so tried ZDC-Montebello 284.7 with same result so back to Bay to keep trying. Callsign YANKEE 21. Fighter tac activity on 138.825 which might be them also. Found them next on ZDC-Norfolk 327.8 and then to ZDC-Salisbury 257.7 where they are now at FL270. Next stop is ZDC-Woodstown 363.0. They are obviously flying toward home. Still hearing them on tac 138.825 at 1220. At 1229, the 3 ship flight changes to ZNY-Matawan 282.3 (Kennedy Sector) and checks in at FL250. At 1241, they mention crossing Deer Park at FL190. Finally, at 1242 I hear them changing to 317.7 where I hear them weakly but don't know who that freq belongs to.

There is also a YANKEE 31 flight through the area at 1225. Caught them on ZDC-Salisbury 257.7 and then to ZDC-Coyle 254.3 at FL270.

Hearing tac activity on 138.55 which should be one of the above flights. In chat, they mention Warren Grove Range but I'm not sure they are going there for work or just flying by it.

Also have a SPORT 01 flight (A-10) from Martin State shortly after noon with ZDC-Montebello 284.7 and then to ZDC-Irons 360.85 at FL230. His next stop was to ZDC-Calvert 281.4 to go into Patuxent. He wants FL175 so he can cancel IFR. Denied so he stays at FL230. He checks out of ZDC at 1219 and switches to Pax River BayWatch on 354.8. SPORT 01 reports established in R-4006. Says he'll be working in the area of Vienna (MD). This is sure the long way to go from Martin State to work in R-4006 - unless he came from some deployed location to work at Pax which must be the case since that callsign is only used when travelling. He's apparently a single ship flight so no tac activity to be heard. He didn't indicate what he'd be doing in R-4006 so it's hard to tell if he's an advance for more exercise activity or just doing his own work. He's now working BayWatch on 281.8 at 1234.

At 1236, I'm hearing U/I flights with Norfolk TRACON 370.925 and with ZDC-Franklin 269.4.
1239 finds the SPORT 01 A-10 coming into Martin State with Raven Ops on 143.8 reporting Code 2 for VSI. At 1244, he's with Tower on 297.2 wanting runway 33 if possible...preparing to land.

Okay...I give up...there are military flights all over the ZDC/ZNY freqs and I've lost track of who is who. There are a good dozen freqs in use at this time (1240) and probably 3-4 flights other than the two YANKEE flights mentioned above.

1246: DEVIL 11 (F-16 NJ-ANG) flight with exercise freq at Pax River Range on 141.725 and it looks like the exercise is on again today. Heard this flight briefly with ZDC-Cape Charles a couple of minutes ago as they came to the area. He's talking with KINGPIN.
1249: BICEP 21 (F-16 NJ-ANG) also checking in with KINGPIN on 141.725...KINGPIN is very weak but can be heard on the freq. Yesterday, KINGPIN seemed to be an airborne controller of some type that was hanging out on the BayWatch 264.55 freq. BICEP reports he's presently 21 miles north of Waterloo as he heads down this way.
1250: YANKEE 41 flight through the area...ZDC-Coyle 254.3 at FL240. Flight leader mentions his flight route and it ends at Bradley.
1251: WARHAWK flight on 141.725.
1255: DEVIL 11 contacts WHITE LIGHTNING on 138.3. They are talking about playtime of 30 minutes until they hit the tanker.
Add BayWatch control for the exercise on 264.55 just as over the past two days. I'm sure the tanker boom freq will be 288.0 as it has been also.
1257: FLYER 1 (A-10 PA-ANG Willow Grove) now participating as he calls IRON CROSS on 141.725. (Flight is FLYER 31)

So, here's what's going on for freqs/callsigns...
138.3 WHITE LIGHTNING ground controller, Blue 13 freq
141.725 IRON CROSS ground controller, Blue 20 freq
264.55 Blue 1 freq, BayWatch area controller for flight entering/exiting exercise area
288.0 Tanker boom freq for refueling
Activity seems to consist of one A-10 and two F-16s working together on each activity freq as they support a Special Forces ground unit in destroying an enemy force of foot soldiers and motorized units. Somewhere, there is a KINGPIN airborne controller watching from above.
(Blue freqs designators slightly different than yesterday...and also are seemingly different for different units...WARDOG just got Blue 8 for 141.725)

1330: The tanker during the first part of the exercise is STEEL 71, a KC-135 from Pittsburgh.
Over on the boom freq 288.0, KINGPIN came up to explain his role as a simulated AWACS with the KINGPIN callsign and also as WARHAWK, a simulated ASOC.
1338: AXEMAN, flight of two A-10s from Martin State joining the exercise and call WARHAWK or KINGPIN as they come up on 141.725.
1342: WARDOG 1 (OA-10 Martin State) comes aboard the exercise on 141.725. WARHAWK and WARDOG talking and confusing each other with their callsigns.
1345: DEVIL 11 and 12 are refueling now, with BICEP 21 and 22 waiting on the wing for their turn. «288.0» Each is to take 6,000 pounds. STEEL 71 says he took an extra 10,000 pounds for this mission so no problem giving each of them their required fuel load.
Needless to say, there are fighter tac freqs active all over the place.
Interestingly, I have the DEVIL NJ guys on 138.5 and they are changing to 142.3 to work with AXEMAN. No one is using Victor numbers (well, other than DEVIL early on) - they are saying all freqs in the clear - I suppose because of all the confusion with Blue numbers, V numbers, U numbers, similar callsigns and all the fog of (simulated) war.

Dave, nice catch. Had FLYERs in the exercise down this way and perhaps the UGLYs will join in later. What the hell, everyone else is here...they might as well be too.

That's all for this message...don't want to run into character limits again. Continued below if anything interesting turns up.

 

[dparana]

TinEar,
I have Ugly 1 and 2 working with Steel 11 and Steel 12 on 301.60 up in the Duke on 301.60. They should wrap up shortly and will be headed to the East Texas VOR and then to Willow Grove. Ugly 1 gave a tail number of 80-0692 and Ugly 2 a tail number of 80-0658. They should be 79-0692 and 79-0658...
Anyhoo, at 1351 they are headed back South. BTW, I didn't get any TAC freqs for the Uglies.

Sure, rub it in...must be nice having all that activity! It's a good thing the Duke is nearby or I wouldn't be getting much of anything. I have to figure out a way where I can pick up the Bollen Range.

On another note, I picked up a Mace 91 yesterday afternoon transiting through the area, any idea where they might have been from? They were headed West.

Thanks Mark, I would guess it was an F-16, it was a flight of two and they must have been going pretty fast because they switched to a different Center freq about every 5 minutes. Frequencies used (all with Cleveland Center, in succession, and if anyone cares) were: 353.85, 323.20, 307.15, 348.675, 269.475, and 291.100.

Dave

 

[Mark]

I logged a MACE 99 a while back and it was support C-130 aircraft from South Carolina

could be your catch..

MACE C-130 ANG 157th FS McEntire SC

or McEntire also has F-16's..

MACE F16 SC ANG 157 FS/169 FW MCENTIRE ANGB SC.

 

[freqhopping]

At 1632 I had HAWG-71 with Norfolk TRACON on 360.6 enroute to Oceana. There are a few possibilities for HAWG, but probably an F-16 from the Arkansas ANG.

At 1442 on Guard 243.0 the controller told "Charlie, Foxtrot, Echo, Mike, Tango" to contact the center on 127.75. What is CFEMT?

 

[Mark]

Hearing WARDOG coordinating altitude/clearance for next mission with controller on 264.550.Weak but readable.
Anyone have that freq listing? new one for me here.