Sticky Thread for MilAir

[dparana]

TinEar and All,

Starting at about 1000: Steel 11 and Steel 12 enter the Duke MOA. Brief comms on 301.60 and switch to 293.70 for tanker air to air.
Starting at about 1015: Raven Flight of Three enter the Duke MOA. Contact Cleveland Center on 291.60 and then 353.85. They switch to 301.60 to work with the tankers. Raven 1 is 79-0694 (Said 80-0694), Raven 2 is 80-0175, and Raven 3 is 79-0086.
1035: Raven Flight departs the Duke headed to the Bollen Range (R-5802). Raven's also contacted ZNY on 338.30.

One note: The Scramble database has 80-0175 belonging to the 75th FS, Pope AFB. Were some planes from Pope going to the MD ANG or is the Scamble database wrong?

Steel 11 and 12 are still in the area, the Duke is slated to be active until 1145 local (1645 UTC), maybe more aircraft will be coming up my way for some gas.

1055: Sounds like the two Steel Planes are heading out. One was going to finish some maneouvers including what sounds like a pretty aggressive combat climb.

Dave

 

[TinEar]

It turned out to be a six hour CAP with everyone being sent home at 0100. The only thing that changed was that the last refueling was done on boom freq 320.6 instead of on the primary freq as had been done all evening.

Jim (Airfire): Thanks for that info. I should have looked it up myself but plead laziness last night.

And Mike (Wadeless): I must have turned my back and missed her entrance or was tuned to a station that was showing something else. And I sure missed that Coast Guard Search/Rescue op. Couldn't get to a radio until now (11 a.m.).

Dave: With as much back and forth with pilots and aircraft as is done - and we only catch a small part of it - I'm not sure how much faith I'd put in any "unofficial" database that places specific aircraft at specific bases. I trust those databases to identify the type aircraft and they are very good at that...and I'm sure a good chunk of the database has the locations correct. BUT....there will always be some errors.
Nice catch on the Ravens flight

 

[TinEar]

Have something going on and I'm not quite sure yet what it is. It started with a ROMAN 81 (Oceana NAS F-18) through the area, first on 256.8 ZDC-Cape Charles and then to ZDC-Snow Hill on 353.95 at 1122. He's flying at 38,000 feet. Anyway, he was asked by Washington Center to go take a look at an aircraft flying in his area. He did and reported back that both engines appear to be operating and flight systems seem okay. He also mentioned that the aircraft is making small flight corrections like an autopilot would. By now it's 1128. At this point he's sent to ZDC-Sea Isle freq on 281.45 and reports the aircraft he's checking is 1,000 feet above him at 39,000 and he'd like to go up to his altitude and take a closer look. I have no idea - because he never identified the other flight by aircraft type or flight number - just what is wrong or who it is that's having the problem. That takes us to 1130. Oh...and somewhere in the last couple of minutes, ROMAN 81 told the Center he had 45 minutes left which, I guess, was his remaining flying time on the fuel he had aboard.

1136: ROMAN 81 reports that there is negative ordnance on his jet. He's still at FL380. Could they be talking about shooting this plane down? I can't hear the ground station so I'm missing a lot of the conversation. «281.45»
1143: Not another thing has been heard since that last transmission. I've been searching for a scramble from somewhere else but hear nothing like that going on.
1150: 14 minutes since the last transmission. I'm puzzled....no ROMAN 81 on the last ZDC freq on any other ZDC/ZNY freq or anywhere else I've had the radios searching. The traffic heard earlier made it sound like the two-engine plane that 81 was checking out was on autopilot and was not responding. Why would 81 be asked if had ordnance aboard other than to either fire warning shots or shoot the thing down? There was not even a followup transmission by ROMAN 81 that he was changing freqs or proceeding on his original course. Very strange.

1208: RAVEN 1 (A-10 Martin State) arriving at MTN with Tower for landing «297.2»
1209: CRAB 52 (C-130J MD-ANG) reports he just left Aberdeen and is arriving at Martin State to offload 4 pallets. The important thing here is that he's working with CRAB Ops on «385.9» which hasn't been heard in ages. I could still hear the ground station as in the past.
1218: CRAB 52 landing at Martin State with Tower on «121.3»

Finally just found something that might be tied to our ROMAN 81 flight above. It's over an hour later at 1233 but just heard an aircraft talking on «275.3» which is a VFA-106 Oceana NAS freq. He was explaining the aircraft had receive only on a single radio. He's talking about someone else - not himself. That would explain why the aircraft was not responding if he's talking about what happened midway through the 1100 hour.
Then, a minute later, I'm hearing ROMAN 81 again with ZDC-Salisbury reporting at FL240. At 1237, ROMAN 81 descending down to 14,000. Everything sounds perfectly normal at this point.

 

[n3bxv]

1244 «282.275» Wardog-1 (A-10 Martin State) with Potomac TRACON departing Mrtin State then «317.425»
1246 «282.275» Axeman 1 (A-10 Martin State) with Potomac TRACON then «317.425» TRACON asks for local button number for «317.524», Axeman says "5"
1247 «347.2» AXEMAN with Raven OPs with depature message
1253 «138.875» Wardog calling Kingpin
Axeman and Wardog to Pax approach «314.0»
«138.425» also up..
«142.300» Wardog A/A
«138.300» Discussing the "North AO " and weapons load, ...single GBU...Then Bicep 21/22 calling White Lightning. Another NJ ANG flight - Devil also here.
1303 «142.300» Wardog designating Targets.
«143.00» More A/A here Wardog?
Biceps push Blue 31 off of 264.55 and come up 140.000 BLUE 31= 140.00

Of course as soon as this activity gets started, I've got to go run an errand for "She who must be obeyed"... All yours Alan!

 

[TinEar]

Yeah, we've got the NJ guys back at Pax for the exercise. DEVIL 11 and BICEP 21 flights, each two F-16s onto the range with WARHAWK, KINGPIN - and a new one - ALLEYCAT which was mentioned as an airborne. WARDOG should be an OA-10 from Martin State that's involved too. AXEMAN is a flight of two A-10s participating. AXEMAN is going to work with the BICEP flight. WHITE LIGHTNING is the ground controller in a FAC role working the 138.3 freq.

Freqs are again 141.725 for Blue 18 with WARHAWK and there was also a Blue 17 mentioned which turned out to be 138.875 which is also the BICEP tac freq so I don't know how that one will turn out.

BayWatch has entrance/exit control on 264.55 and they mention refueling with STEEL 71 which no doubt will take place on 288.0 as usual.

I've got the ALLEYCAT airborne controller working with WARDOG on Martin State's 142.3 tac freq. Put 'em all together and it's the same exercise we had last week with the addition of the ALLEYCAT airborne platform. Oh, and KINGPIN is in here too looking down from above.

To get it all, put radios on:
141.725
138.3
142.3
264.55
288.0
138.1
140.0


For tac freqs, add 138.425/138.875 for NJ F-16s and 140.0/143.0 for MD A-10s

There is a Blue 31 freq reference which turns out to be the 140.0 freq and Blue 13 for 142.3.

Blue 1=138.3
Blue 13=142.3
Blue 17=138.875
Blue 18=141.725
Blue 31=140.0

And another new freq....138.1 which is at the Pax Range with the same participants.
Now need 8 radios to copy all the exercise activity plus another 4 or 5 for all the tac freqs. Good luck.

1318: Sounds like the STEEL tanker is just arriving in the refueling track. He's currently loittering at 25,000 feet until needed. He checked in with BayWatch on 264.55 and I haven't heard the 288.0 boom freq active yet. It is STEEL 71, a KC-135 from the PA-ANG Pittsburgh.

Atmospherics/propagation is horrible again today with a lot of noise, especially on the VHF freqs.
Again, the map grid overlaying the range is broken into streets with tree names that run in one direction and animal names for the cross streets.
1326: AXEMAN 2 is being sent to the tanker so we should confirm the 288.0 freq shortly...or not. BICEP 22 is heading there too.
1330: Confirm...the boom freq is «288.0» as BICEP 22 contacts him there. With all these fighters, they should have brought in a KC-10 rather than a KC-135.

1333: And more...now have a F-16 flight from the DC-ANG up on tac 143.15. I don't have enough radios to follow them so they're on their own.
1334: BICEP 22 having a problem while refueling...tanker tells him he's got fuel venting out his back end. 22 is contacting someone to talk about it. He's venting from the speed brake area in the tail. BICEP 21 is going to join up with him to take a look to see if he needs to go home. The tanker asks 22 if his jet is an '84 model and 22 mentions he's got an old plane. The tanker responds with his own age as a comparison if he wants "old." They then talk about whether the F-15s from Otis are going to Atlantic City, 22 responds that they are going to Bradley in MA. The conversation turns to where various aircraft are going according to BRAC. Meanwhile, another half dozen aircraft are heading for the tanker and 22 is still waiting for his wingman to come look at his plane.
1343: BICEP 21 and 22 are on 138.1 talking about the gas venting problem. Over on 264.55, STEEL 71 tells BayWatch about BICEP 22's problem and says he's going home. DEVIL 11 and 12 are currently refueling. AXEMAN and WARDOG are standing by.
1345: Fighter tac freq 139.625 is active. PA?
1346: Now it sounds like BICEP 22 is not going home. He's going to work with AXEMAN since he has lots of fuel for now. «138.1» Then he tells BayWatch on 264.55 that he and his wingman will be around another 35 minutes before heading back to Atlantic City.

You can't pin down certain aircraft with certain controllers since they are moving around. Currently, the DEVILs are working with WARDOG on 142.3, AXEMAN is working with ALLEYCAT on 138.1 and BICEP was working with WHITE LIGHTNING on 138.3. As soon as I say that, they'll change around again.

Continued below if necessary........

 

[n3bxv]

I'm Back...

1416 «143.15» Ravage Flight returning to Andrews... One of the Players in the PAX mentioned Ravage earlier, so they look to be players as well

1430: Wardog looking for IFR to RTB Martin State. «264.55»
1433 Raven-1 with Potmac TRACON«317.425»
1434 WARDOG 1(single ship) with Potomac TRACON RTB Martin State«317.425»
1437 AXEMAN with Potomac TRACON RTB Martin State, field in sight«282.275»
1440 Whole mess of A-10s with MArtin State Tower«297.2»

1447 Bully flight push 277.4??

Nighthawk 21 with Potomac Approach, I heard TRACON on «307.9» He's apparently on VHF as Controller gave him 126.75 as next freq.

 

[TinEar]

1415: The AXEMAN flight will leave the Pax River exercise in about 5 minutes to RTB at Martin State. «264.55»
1415: The F-16 flight from Andrews is on the way home. They are still on tac «143.15» and with ZDC-Cape Charles on «256.8» Callsign RAVAGE.
1427: Fighter tac freq «141.875» is active with VA-ANG F-16s. Haven't heard much from them lately. Or...it could be a fighter flight coming through the area. It's a flight of two aircraft.
1430: AXEMAN flight with Raven Ops on «347.2» as they head home. WARDOG is staying at the range for another 10 minutes as reported to BayWatch on «264.55»
1435: Fighter tac freq «141.825» also active...does look like VA-ANG now. Flight of two.
1436: DEVIL flight reports 5 minutes from RTB direct Atlantic City «264.55»
1436: BICEP reporting the same. «264.55»
1441: There is also a BULLY flight of F-16s from Andrews on tac «139.15» heading home.
1443: BICEP flight leader with WARHAWK on «141.725» giving BDAs from their mission.
1447: ALLEYCAT (airborne controller) trying to contact the AXEMAN flight on «138.1» Guess no one told him they've gone home.

That was sure a busy exercise at the Pax today. I would expect another wave later this afternoon if they hold true to form.

Don't hear them Dave. At 11K they might be a bit low to be heard from here with the noise level being what it is today. I've had to loosen the squelch control on all my VHF scanning radios.

Chuck, 277.4 is ZDC-Kenton.

1457: Warren Grove Range is active on «283.1»
1459: Navy refueling boom freq «123.525» active.

1500: Both «141.825/141.875» active with VA-ANG.
1505: Fighter tac freq «138.0» active.
1505: COLT and RAVEN flights of A-10s from Martin State are the ones at Warren Grove Range on «283.1»

I was just listening to that new Washington Center 127.275 freq and heard a Delta 476 flight checking in. I went to FlightAware to check on him and got the following return:

Boeing 757-200 (twin-jet) [B752/J] Origin Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Int'l [KATL] Destination Philadelphia Int'l [KPHL] Route DAWGS2 SPA J14 CREWE J51 FAK DPNT4

That should be enough info to identify the area he was flying through to give an idea which Sector he might have to use. He turned mostly eastward around the Patuxent area and is right on the MD/DE border at this time turning north toward his destination of Philadelphia.

 

[dparana]

Back In The Duke starting at 1400,
Sluff 61 (OH ANG) enters and starts to try and contact Flyer Flight. They have no success and switch over to the secondary of 259.40 at 1410, no luck. At 1420, they made contact on 301.60. Flyer is a flight of 4 and are using a TAC of 143.25. They form up with the tanker at about 1430 and are only going to take about 1,000 Lbs of fuel each. When done, they are going back to Willow Grove. No tail numbers given.

At 1445 they contact Cleveland Center on 353.85 and request direct Willow Grove at 11,000. Maybe one of you guys can pick them up on their way home...

Dave

 

[n3bxv]

1415:
I was just listening to that new Washington Center 127.275 freq and heard a Delta 476 flight checking in. I went to FlightAware to check on him and got the following return:
Boeing 757-200 (twin-jet) [B752/J] Origin Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Int'l [KATL] Destination Philadelphia Int'l [KPHL] Route DAWGS2 SPA J14 CREWE J51 FAK DPNT4

That should be enough info to identify the area he was flying through to give an idea which Sector he might have to use.

I listened to a bit today and think it's probably an new PHL approach freq.. I heard Southwest 1487 PIT to PHL check in earlier

[Edit to add]

It could be the route they use heading toward Philly but it's a ZDC freq since they call "Washington Center" on it. I passed it on to J to check for us..

You are indeed correct...

1520: NOrthrup-Grumann flight of two is up on company freq «123.2» and mentions going into the BayWatch area.

HE also just checked in on «127.275» to report going to Baywatch
I caught 68Whiskey, which I think is one of the N/G registrations on Baywatch «270.8»

 

[TinEar]

It could be the route they use heading toward Philly but it's a ZDC freq since they call "Washington Center" on it. I passed it on to J to check for us.

1520: Northrup-Grumann flight of two is up on company freq «123.2» and mentions going into the BayWatch area using Button 9.
1522: Do have a TESTER 25 with BayWatch on «270.8» that will be working in the area for 45 minutes. A couple of minutes later he says he's going to work over Vienna (MD). That's getting to be a popular place.
1523: Have the Northup-Grumann flight on that «127.275» freq saying he's going into BayWatch area and will contact the Center on the way out. He goes to BayWatch on «354.8» but I didn't get there in time to catch his callsign/tail number.
1531: N-G flight reports a C-130 a couple of thousand feet below their nose. «123.2»
1532: COLT/RAVEN with Ma Raven on Ops freq «143.8» Must be coming home from Warren Grove.

Sure is Chuck. 68W would be:
N-number : N168W
Aircraft Serial Number : 282-33
Aircraft Manufacturer : NORTH AMERICAN
Model : NA-265-40
Engine Manufacturer : P&W
Model : JT12D-SER
Aircraft Year : 1968
Owner Name : NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION
Owner Address : 1840 CENTURY PARK E
LOS ANGELES, CA, 90067-2101
Type of Owner : Corporation
Registration Date : 18-Jun-1996
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Experimental
Approved Operations : Research and Development

1538: TESTER 03 with BayWatch on «270.8» Wants to work R-4005 south, surface to 5,000 but can't get it since it's exclusive to another flight for the next 30 minutes or so.
1530-46: Been following a flight _____62 flying through on ZDC-Sea Isle 281.45, ZDC-Salisbury 257.7, ZDC-Norfolk 327.8 at FL280. I can't seem to pull out that callsign. It sounds sort of like JOSIE.

1600: Which means I'm done until later. The end.

 

[TinEar]

1830: Scanners back on and the exercise at Pax River is going strong again. DEVIL 11/12 and BICEP 21/22 pairs of F-16s with all the usual players -- WHITE LIGHTNING, WARHAWK, KINGPIN and usual freqs including the 138.1 that was added today. The DEVIL made reference to a FLYER flight (A-10 PA-ANG Willow Grove) that was just leaving. There may be another change also. I haven't heard the BayWatch 264.55 freq yet but I am hearing all the players on BayWatch's 256.5 freq so they may have changed that one.

There are also fighters at the Bollen Range on 237.2 with range controller BALKY.
1852: CRAB 55 with Crab Ops on «385.9»

1905: First use of 264.55 to call BayWatch by the NJ F-16s after not making contact on the 256.5 freq. They are going to RTB after the next ground attack. No contact on 264.55 either so back to 256.5 where they get him to report their impending RTB to Atlantic City.
1908: BICEP flight reports RTB to WHITE LIGHTNING on the 138.3 freq. This evening portion of the exercise has been very tame in comparison to the daytime activity...no A-10s, no ALLEYCAT airborne controller, no WARHAWK controller. Anyway, it's now done and the DEVIL/BICEP flights will make their way back home.
1913: ANGRY flight (F-16s Andrews) up with SOF on 139.9 coming home.
1916: BICEP flight to «354.15». This sounds like a Washington Center freq as they check in there. If so, it's another new one. It was mentioned last night also. I noticed they did not have a preset for it, they just referred to it by frequency rather than a U number.
1931: Just heard a BULLY 1 flight (F-16 Andrews) with ZDC-Calvert on 281.4. I don't know whether he's coming home or heading out...yet.
1936: the BULLY flight is on the way home...just changed to TRACON on 270.275 and are descending as they approach the field.
I believe the Andrews F-16s have been going down to the Dare County Range in NC the past few days which explains why they get out of listening range not long after they takeoff and then suddenly appear again on their way home.
1944: BULLY still with TRACON on 270.275...long time on this freq...just descending from 3 down to 2,000 feet. Tac on 139.15
1945: BULLY, flight of three, to Tower on 349.0 for landing.

 

[n3bxv]

2001 «290.7»«121.9» Crab 55 (MD ANG C-130) Landing at Martin State...

 

[TinEar]

There's a ton of activity in the 0900 hour this morning.

At 0951, a flight of AXEMAN A-10s went airborne from Martin State while using «347.2». Shortly after takeoff, I caught them using «41.95» FM. I haven't heard them on those low band freqs for months. They were talking about the possibility of landing at Atlantic City if some event happens that I didn't get enough context on to understand.

There are also several flights of Langley fighters working tac freqs 276.675 and 358.85 along with Giant Killer's ops freqs 292.3 and 373.1

Naval fighters TESTER 25 and someone just using 443 are working together in the BayWatch area on 256.5.

And right at 1000, I heard a couple of transmissions on 138.425, the NJ-ANG tac freq. We'll see if this develops into more activity in the Pax River Range area.

Other stuff....
Last night, there was a CAP and exercise in the Detroit area in practice for the Super Bowl. One of the callsigns used was ALLEYCAT so I fired off an email to find out its use since we had it here yesterday morning during the Pax exercise. The answer I got back was that it's a JSTARS callsign and that fits nicely with the known JSTARS we heard talking to BayWatch earlier.

One final note...I'm beginning to think the 127.275/354.15 freqs we've picked up the past few days are linked as new Washington Center freqs. The aircraft are in the same area when they check in on both freqs. I could be way off base by linking these two freqs but we'll see what happens when we get a firm ID on them. New ZDC-Casino freqs is the way I'm currently leaning.

1047: Have a U/I fighter flight on «140.2»
1047: MD-ANG A-10s on tac «142.3»

1104: There is a BANDSAW (E3B) aircraft working with Giant Killer on «238.1» It's a female speaker with a British accent and I can't understand half of what she's talking about. She sounds very much like the fem-op I had so much trouble with when the MAGIC E3B flight was in this area a few months ago and might even be the same operator. It isn't that she's British. It's that she doesn't enunciate. I did pick out a track she mentioned that was around Oceana. Considering the freq she's working, the activity has to be around W-386.
1130: The AXEMAN flight of three A-10s is about to land at Martin State with Tower on «297.2» This is the flight that took off at 0951 mentioned above.
1131: REACH 9743 with Dover CP on «349.4». Arriving at Pope AFB 1745Z. IDs as a C-17 with tail #97-0043 and has 11 pallets, 1 piece of rolling stock, 38 passengers and 3 dogs to offload. He needs Customs and Ag to meet the plane for the cargo only. The pax and crew have already cleared Customs. He wants that info passed to McGuire and mentioned a phone patch to both McGuire and to Pope AFB.
1141: U/I fighters on tac «141.675»
I've kept a search going on that fighter VHF tac range because I'm looking for a TREND 11 flight of six F-16s coming in from Germany. They are being accompanied by a CACTI 61 KC-10 tanker on the flight across the pond. Not sure where they're going though.
1155: Have another A-10 flight up from Martin State on tac «142.3»
1155: Refueling boom freq «387.8» active...no callsigns heard yet.

Continued below if necessary.....

(Reply to below): Mike, bet that was a nice sight. You were about spot on for the altitude. They usually hit the BWI TRACON at 10,000 feet and start a descent to 6,000 before switching to the Reagan TRACON.

 

[wadeless28]

1441: There is also a BULLY flight of F-16s from Andrews on tac «139.15» heading home.

Had an eyeball on them yesterday in Odenton. I was getting out of the car at the firehouse and had a flight of two directly overhead at about 8000' heading south towards AAFB.

Mike

 

[TinEar]

1214: Have that REACH 9743 C-17 now talking with Pope Command Post on «381.3». He repeats that entire message that he gave to Dover CP above at 1131.
1224: NIGHTHAWK 35 (HMX-1 from Quantico, Presidential Detachment) with Andrews Tower on «118.4» reports departing to the east and then toward the south. (female driver)
1243: Flight of two F-16s from the NJ-ANG at Atlantic City up on tac «138.425» Callsign DEVIL
1247: DC KC-135 tanker from the 756th ARS at Andrews arriving back at Andrews and will be in the pattern for about an hour and twenty minutes. Didn't catch his suffix.
1238: DEVIL 11 F-16, flight of two from NJ-ANG calling KINGPIN on «141.725» Here we go again!!!! If it follows the pattern established for the past week, a BICEP 21 flight will follow in about 10 minutes.
The DEVIL flight identifies 141.725 as Blue 1 Primary where they can't get a reply. They said they also tried Red 1 with the same results. I have no idea of the Red 1 freq yet...searching.
1254: BICEP 21, also a flight of two F-16s, on the way into the area. Their tac is «138.875» BICEP calls CHARIOT on «141.725» and says they received the text message and wilco. BICEP says to "Push Victor discrete."
Both DEVIL and BICEP flights clear into the area with BayWatch on «264.55» as usual.
They are setting up to attack ground targets at the Pax River Range around Vienna MD as they have done for the past week in this realistic exercise.
BICEP mentions the Blue 13 freq is where WHITE LIGHTNING will work. (Should be 138.3)

1302: DEVIL flight calling WARHAWK on «141.725»
1304: DEVIL flight switching to Red 1 freq again....searching...no joy.
1305: BICEP flight to «138.1» with KINGPIN...IDs as two F-16C+ with advanced LITENING targeting pods. He gives his mission ordnance and says they have 40 minutes playtime. His grid map for the target shows the intersection of Redskins and Dallas Rd. Looks like football teams/cities will be the street names this time instead of trees/animals.
I'm not sure whether CHARIOT is airborne or ground based but he's the grand poobah for the exercise and is providing text messaging to the fighters and giving out the targets and frequencies. KINGPIN should be airborne, as should WARHAWK but I can hear neither today.
1314: The BICEP pair is now working with WHITE LIGHTNING, the ground based forward air controller on «138.1»
1317: So...currently the BICEP F-16s are working «138.875» for tac and on «138.1» for their ops. The DEVIL F-16s are on tac «138.425» but apparently their ops are on that Red 1 freq which I still haven't found. A couple of minutes later, DEVILs are using their tac freq for ops so I guess Red 1 didn't work out either.
1325: BICEP tells WHITE LIGHTNING they have 10 minutes playtime before needing to go to the tanker. «138.1»
1328: DEVIL flight climbing up to 25,000 to await the tanker too - as reported to BayWatch on «264.55»
1329: BICEP flight to BayWatch on «264.55» to complain about a flight that's working right in the middle of their exercise area. He tells BayWatch to get him moved or they'll have to move the exercise.
1330: A STEEL KC-135 tanker arrives and makes contact with the DEVIL flight on boom freq «288.0»
1335: DC-ANG F-16 flight out of Andrews active on tac «143.15» Callsign RAVAGE
1335: U/I aircraft on «388.95» (This is an unknown freq to me.)
1336: The «388.95» is a BANDSAW E3B aircraft calling CHARIOT to say he's moving into W-386 to get better comms. (Guess this is associated with our exercise and might - might - be the Red 1 freq. We'll see.)
1338: It is associated. BANDSAW tells CHARIOT the last tasking message was just sent to DEVIL. «388.95»
1339: DEVIL completed refueling «264.55»...BICEP is heading to the tanker. «138.1»
1342: BANDSAW tells someone to do the handoff on Blue 13 «388.95» That is immediately followed by WARHAWK coming up on «141.725» tasking the DEVIL flight to move to Blue 13 which they do on «138.1» which is the new Blue 13 that apparently replaces 138.3 that has been used in the past.
Sorry I've missed the 388.95 freq until now. This is the key to what is happening. It's where the tasking is originating from BANDSAW to CHARIOT and then on to WARHAWK and to the fighters.
1345: BICEP flight contacts STEEL on boom freq «288.0» to begin their refueling.
1346: BANDSAW also giving tasking for the RAVAGE 51 flight from Andrews to CHARIOT on the «388.95» freq. He talks about sending text messaging for their assignments and every other method he can think of but it's apparently not getting through.
1350: BANDSAW says he understands CHARIOT just sent a text message to BICEP. «388.95» this is followed by KINGPIN calling BICEP on «141.725» to make contact and then WARHAWK comes up to give tasking to destroy a building and gives the coordinates for it and says it's per CHARIOT. He wants them on Blue 1 (141.725). So now we know both KINGPIN and WARHAWK are airborne based on being able to hear their comms.
1355: BICEP finishes their refueling «288.0» and reports to BayWatch on «264.55»
1358: BICEP with WARHAWK for relay to CHARIOT that their text tasking coordinates do n't match any building in ther area. WARHAWK will relay that message. «141.725»
1359: Now have KINGPIN who is that same female speaker with the British accent I heard earlier aboard BANDSAW now talking with CHARIOT on «388.95» Either she made a mistake using the KINGPIN callsign or KINGPIN is aboard the BANDSAW aircraft. CHARIOT is a ground based overall commander for the exercise in my opinion.

Continue below.....

 

[TinEar]

1400: Bollen Range is active on «237.2»
1402: Now have WARHAWK talking to CHARIOT on «388.95» and the speaker is that same female. WARHAWK, KINGPIN and BANDSAW are all about the same signal strength. Could they all be aboard the same aircraft and just different levels of command for the exercise?
1404: DC-ANG F-16s active on tac «139.15»
1410: A different WARHAWK speaker, a male, came up on the «388.95» freq with CHARIOT. It sounded like a totally different radio too. He was booming loud...she was very weak. Of courese, it has been 8 minutes since last heard so it could have moved closer to my location.

Continued below...if my fingers hold out.

 

[cipher66]

One final note...I'm beginning to think the 127.275/354.15 freqs we've picked up the past few days are linked as new Washington Center freqs. The aircraft are in the same area when they check in on both freqs. I could be way off base by linking these two freqs but we'll see what happens when we get a firm ID on them. New ZDC-Casino freqs is the way I'm currently leaning.

Hi Alan and gang!

Interesting that 127.27 is being used for ATC now. I thought that was being used by the F-16s from DCANG for tactical. Any ideas what the new DCANG tact freq is that replaced 127.27???? If CASINO51 is using that freq you would hear southbound airliners at 14,000 reporting on enroute to PHL. Is that what we're hearing?

Paul

 

[TinEar]

Hi Paul. The DC F-16s have normally used 127.275 and 143.15 as their two favorite tac freqs but seem to now be using 139.15 and 143.15 so, yes, I think they've made the change without any fanfare at all. If they've got a replacement for the V-5 button, I don't know what it is yet.

The new ZDC 127.275/354.15 traffic seems to be heading north toward the Philly/Jersey area. Of course, from here, I'd hear traffic in that direction. Generally, they seem to be descending from around 20K down to 10-15K. If it is Casino, that would match what I've heard in the past on the 285.4 freq. I've never monitored the Casino VHF freq so I'm not sure what was there before. It'll take a bit more listening to prove it one way or the other. I should note that I'm not sure those two freqs are actually a pair. It's just funny that they both showed up at the same time.

1422: RAVAGE, flight of two F-16s, checking in with BayWatch on the «264.55» freq. Says they'll stay above 17,000.
1425: WARHAWK talking to CHARIOT about updated tasking for the RAVAGE flight. «388.95»
1429: Looks like the NJ flights are ready to head home toward Atlantic City as reported to BayWatch on «264.55» BICEP giving mission report to recap their work to WARHAWK on «141.725» Guess the NJ guys are giving way to the Andrews flight...maybe.
1432: WARHAWK is now giving that BICEP mission report with BDAs to CHARIOT on the «388.95» freq.
1435: VA-ANG tac freq «141.875» active. Callsign T-BOLT. Also heard them with Norfolk TRACON on «370.925» a couple of minutes earlier.
1435: the RAVAGE flight from andrews is working the «138.1» freq with WHITE LIGHTNING and has been for the past several minutes. I just forgot to log it.
1441: WARHAWK calling CHARIOT to give mission results/BDAs for the DEVIL flight. «388.95»
1441: WARHAWK has also been calling the RAVAGE 51 flight on «141.725» but no joy after several attempts. That's because the RAVAGE flight is in the middle of an attack with WHITE LIGHTNING on «138.1»
1448: RAVAGE 2 tells BayWatch he's out of gas and wants a tunnel back to Andrews at 6,000 feet. «264.55»
1454: BANDSAW telling CHARIOT that RAVAGE 52 has RTBed. «388.95»
1455: WARHAWK telling CHARIOT that RAVAGE 51 is gone. «388.95»
1455: BANDSAW tells CHARIOT that comms have been limited even though he moved as close as he could to his position. He suggests they - CHARIOT - get a little more power in their transmissions. BANDSAW says they changed radios a couple of times and only got comms on VHF by moving into W-386 but they can only do that if Giant Killer is not busy. «388.95» He adds they are not receiving any timing messages, RTTs, right now. He's going to take his terminal down now because they are at maximum range from their orbit. (Not sure what that means but it's what they're going to do.) Time now 1459.

1500: BANDSAW says to CHARIOT it was good training in spite of congested airways and poor comms and hopes the pilots got something out of the exercise. He again says that the VHF comms were a problem that were solved only by moving closer into W-386 but if they are to fulfill their traditional role, they need to solve that comm problem.
1503: BANDSAW must be moving this way because he's getting very loud now. However, he says he's moving away from CHARIOT and losing him so is now signing off. «388.95»
And at 1504 we're done. Sure glad I found that 388.95 freq because that seems to put everything in context.

1505: The Bollen Range is active «237.2» It's an AXEMAN flight of A-10s from Martin State.
1511: There is a BULLY 1 flight heading from Baltimore to Andrews on TRACON freq «269.0» and on tac «139.15» They are 28 miles north of Andrews.
1513: BULLY flight to U-19 «335.5» for Andrews GCA and are cleared for straight in approach.
1515: BULLY 1 Code 1, BULLY 2 Code 2 for targeting pod...to SENATE SOF on «139.9» Down to 2,000 feet and cleared in by GCA on «335.5» Report a Boeing just below them on tac «139.15» and switch to U-4 «349.0» with Tower where they are cleared to land. Back to tac for command for gear down and speed brake. On Tower «349.0» they report as two F-16C+ aircraft and gear down as they head for runway 19L. Done.

 

[TinEar]

1920: Radios back on just in time to catch the end of the evening shift of the NJ-ANG F-16 flights at Pax working the exercise again. DEVIL 11/12, BICEP 21/22 are the participants on all the usual freqs with the exception of the airborne command post which is not operating.

There are also a couple of DC-ANG flights working tac 139.15 and 143.15. One of them is a BULLY flight and it's just coming home too. Currently with GCA on 335.5. The other is an ANGRY flight in the same area with the NJ BICEP flight. ANGRY just clearing out of the area too with BayWatch on 264.55.

1928: DEVIL 11 flight leaves Pax and goes to ZDC-Cape Charles 256.8 for trip home to ACY. He says the BICEP 21 flight is 8 miles behind them in trail.
1930: As the BICEP flight leaves, he contacts WARHAWK on 141.725 to give mission results along with BDA report.
1931: DEVIL 11 flight handed off to ZDC-Casino 285.4 (Button U-7) to check in at the next stop.
(This disproves my thought that the 354.15 freq might be a Casino replacement. It's obviously not. Additionally, neither DEVIL nor BICEP used the 354.15 freq on the way home tonight and they were the ones that have used it returning from Pax the last couple of days prior to today.)
1934: Next stop for the DEVIL flight is U-6 or 327.125 with Atlantic City Approach as they near home.
1938: The BICEP flight has followed the same route and is just getting to the ACY Approach freq.

 

[TinEar]

1226: Scramble from Andrews...BRAVE 61 and 62 on «139.7» (Noise level prevents hearing HUNTRESS) BRAVE mentions seeing the target.
1227: BRAVE 61/62 enter BayWatch area on «354.8»
1229: COLT 45 with BayWatch on «354.8» just checking to see if there's traffic below him. He wants to make a rapid descent. The BRAVE flight spots him.
1232: BRAVE 61/62 leave HUNTRESS for a minute to go to V-7 to chat «143.15» They are at low altitude and the band is very noisy so they are difficult to copy.
1235: BRAVE 62 to HUNTRESS on «260.9» where he gets no reply
1236: BRAVE 62 back to «139.7» to report no joy so he's sent to 234.6
1236: BRAVE 62 to HUNTRESS on «234.6» with no joy which he reports back on «139.7»
1237: BRAVE 62 sent to Guard freq «243.0» where he reports faintly hearing HUNTRESS. Back to «139.7» they go.
This looks like the first part of a GUARD DOG CAP flight more than anything else.
1239: BRAVE flight does a saddle (SADL) check «139.7» Both 61 and 62 given target BRAs which seem to check proving their DATALINK is working.
1241: ALLEYCAT (JSTARS E-8) calling STARGATE (JSTARS E-8) on «364.2»
1241: BRAVE flight identifying a low, slow-flying aircraft «139.7»
1242: BRAVE 61 flight attempting to headbutt an aircraft....he IDs the aircraft tail as DC 85480 (and that my friends should be the other F-16)
1248: BRAVE 61 and 62 setting up for some air combat...against each other. Looks like they're getting in some practice. I'm still expecting this to turn into a normal CAP with the BRAVE aircraft to be replaced by ??? within the hour.
1249: COLT 45 going back to Martin State on «297.2»
1248: NJ-ANG F-16s up on «138.125»
1249: Another NJ flight on tac «138.875» and changing to Blue 1....looks like the Pax exercise is about to commence.
1250: NJ flight to «141.725» DEVIL 11, flight of two F-16s
1251: ALLEYCAT JSTARS E-8 aircraft calls CHARIOT on «388.95» and asks start time and at the same time tells STARGATE on «364.2» to stand by.
1253: BICEP 21 flight coming into the area...currently with ZDC-Salisbury.
1256: BRAVE 61/62 still in the area in mock combat. «139.7»
1256: ALLEYCAT getting a time hack from CHARIOT to get his equipment in synch. «388.95»
1259: ALLEYCAT reports his equipment is sour...believe he said he's in W-72A.

And I'm out of radios....the exercise at Pax with currently two flights of NJ-ANG F-16s requires 388.95 for command aircraft, 264.55 for BayWatch control of the area, 288.0 for the STEEL tanker, 141.725 for control of ground attack activity, no doubt another one or two working freqs, all the tac freqs....and BICEP just reported he'll be MARSA with both the DEVIL flight and an ANGRY flight (F-16s from Andrews). Add the CAP/scramble or whatever it is. Oh, and the two JSTARS aircraft freq 364.2 needs to be monitored.The VHF are about as noisy as I've ever heard them and it's making low level activity very difficult to copy.

1300: ALLEYCAT says he's going to reload some crypto (equipment) «388.95»
1302: ALLEYCAT CT (Charlie Tango) calling STARGATE CT on «364.2»
1305: BICEP flight trying to contact WARHAWK on «141.725» No success so far.
1306: BRAVE flight with ZDC-Calvert on 281.4 because they had to leave their track to go after a target in the area.
1307: BICEP being called by WARHAWK on 141.725
1307: STEEL 61 KC-135 tanker into the BayWatch area on «264.55» Block 25-27,000
1308: BRAVE 62 asking for bogey dope on the target. «139.7»
1310: BRAVE 61 still with ZDC 281.4 at 5,000 feet while he chases a target. Says he'll change to 335.5
1312: BRAVE 61 with TRACON/GCA on 335.5 explaining his flight is at 5,000 feet and is in the area searching for a target.
1312: Over on 139.7, the BRAVE pair gets the "skip it" command. So, it's back to 335.5 to explain they've been given the skip it command and will return to their assigned area...then back with HUNTRESS on 139.7
1314: BRAVE flight back to 335.5 to explain they're done and are going back into Andrews...they confirm that on 139.7. Looks like they're done for the day.
1315: DEVIL 11 asking WARHAWK for the status on ALLEYCAT «141.725»
1317: DEVIL 11 on 264.55 to ask status of STEEL 61 tanker and he's going for refueling.
1318: BICEP calling ALLEYCAT on «138.3»
1320: BICEP reports on «141.725» (Blue 1) that he has no contact with ALLEYCAT on Blue 17 or 18. (138.3 and ???)
1322: DEVIL 11 and STEEL 61 make contact on boom freq «288.0»
1324: One of the JSTARS aircraft (female op) on «388.95» wanting someone to come up on Red 1.
1325: Meanwhile, the BRAVE flight went back to Andrews and got out of the way. Currently with 335.5 as they head for the runway.
1326: DUNA 95 (He spelled his callsign) and IDs as a C-12 with 4 SOB will arrive at Andrews in 30 minutes. Give his tail as 30495. «141.55»
1330: DEVIL flight calling ALLEYCAT on Blue 15 which is their tac «138.425» His wingman warns him about identifying the freq numbers while on the freq it belongs to - like saying this is Blue 15.
1331: BICEP/DEVIL back to «141.725» trying for ALLEYCAT...no joy anywhere.
1332: BICEP flight now to the STEEL 61 tanker for refueling. «288.0»
1335: WARHAWK/DEVIL make contact on «141.725» where the F-16s are told that they are awaiting ALLEYCAT.

So, we have DEVIL and BICEP (4 F-16s) that have been in the exercise area for almost 40 minutes and have already refueled and have accomplished absolutely nothing due to the lack of comms from the JSTARS ALLEYCAT aircraft. DEVIL 11 and 12 have decided to go over the town of Vienna and divided it into east/west area and will work on their own to get in some work on tac 138.425. Again, they've got a map grid that divides the streets into tree/animal names depending on their compass orientation. Meanwhile, I have that weak female aboard one of the JSTARS aircraft talking on «388.95» - the command frequency - but she's just too weak to pull out. All I got out of her was that she wants someone to work on Red 1 Uniform freq. Okay...just got her callsign which is ALLEYCAT and she's trying to contact WARHAWK on 388.95.

1342: BICEP with WARHAWK on «141.725» where he mentions working Red 1.
1343: BICEP 21 working on a new freq...«138.575»
1345: Might have found the mysterious Red 1 freq...have associated comms on «335.95»
1345: Bollen Range active on «237.2»
1346: RAVAGE flight up out of Andrews...currently with TRACON on «348.725»
1347: DEVIL 11 calling ALLEYCAT on «138.575»
1347: ALLEYCAT to CHARIOT on «388.95» "You want us to go NTR? Okay, we're going NTR. Passing that info to BANDSAW."
1348: Have ALLEYCAT on that new «335.95» freq
1350: BANDSAW KILO being called by ALLEYCAT on «338.95»
1350: Believe ALLEYCAT is calling PEARL (not 100% on that callsign yet) on «335.95» (Just what I need, one more player. And add the BANDSAW KILO aircraft now.)
1351: RAVAGE flight of F-16s from Andrews checking in with BayWatch on «264.55» Their tac freq is «143.15»
1354: RAVAGE 51 flight calling ALLEYCAT on «138.875» with no joy. (Normally NJ tac freq). They say go to Blue 31 and come up on «140.0» calling ALLEYCAT. Again no joy so back to 138.875 they go. Next it's push Blue 15 and they come up on 138.425 and to Blue 17 which is 138.875. Still trying to contact ALLEYCAT.
1357: RAVAGE 51 to BayWatch on 264.55 to ask where ALLEYCAT is operating...another aircraft pops on the freq and says he's operating on 138.3 so off goes RAVAGE to that freq and begins calling ALLEYCAT. Meanwhile, I hear ALLEYCAT weakly talking to someone on 335.95.

The three flights of fighters are doing their work as follows:
RAVAGE 138.875
BICEP 138.575
DEVIL 138.3
ALLEYCAT is reporting back to CHARIOT the actions of the fighters on 388.95.

So all the freqs and all the players have been identified (other than that PEARL callsign called by ALLEYCAT on 335.95 - and I don't think it was a tanker as the callsign database indicates). Unless, there is something different in the way of activity types or freqs, there is no need for further reporting on this exercise. I should also note that there are always references to an ANGRY flight from Andrews such as the NJ boys mentioned earlier. That's because the original plan for this exercise showed that callsign but has been replaced by either the BULLY or RAVAGE callsign. Today it's RAVAGE.

By the way, that BRAVE flight earlier couldn't have been the start of a GUARD DOG CAP as I surmised because the President is in New Mexico today. Forgot all about that. So, it must have been a scramble.