Sticky Thread for MilAir

[TinEar]

Thanks for the CAP log Russ. I decided it was a good day for yard work so have been outside all day. Just came in to hear basically what you've logged.

At about 1515, TANKER 12 is trying to get clearance to head home to Pittsburgh but is having trouble with his radio in attempts to contact GUARD DOG on 135.525. He'll get there eventually although he says his aircraft has serious radio problems. It must be on the receive side since his transmissions are loud and clear.
I can just barely hear HUNTRESS transmitting on the 260.9 CAP primary freq. Russ, you should have him loud and clear from your location, right?
The replacement tanker, TANKER 13, is more than likely from Milwaukee based on his cross country flight to get here.

Back outside for more yard duties....keep up the great work Russ.

 

[freqhopping]

Has anyone been able to track the tankers on the ARTCC freqs either inbound or when RTB? Only last weekend was I able able to follow the tanker RTB to New Hampshire when they switched to Swann on VHF. Where do the Pittsburgh guys go? I've heard Indian Head mentioned, would that be ZOB 132.125/353.8?

 

[russ29643]

Thanks Alan,
I had no copy at all on HUNTRESS...listening on a stock antenna from the 3rd of a 4 floor apt. Just sat the scanner in the window and hoped for the best. I'm working cq tonight and all the computers etc here have pretty much ended my hopes of listening further, just too much electrical noise in the immediate area.

 

[TinEar]

Has anyone been able to track the tankers on the ARTCC freqs either inbound or when RTB? Only last weekend was I able able to follow the tanker RTB to New Hampshire when they switched to Swann on VHF. Where do the Pittsburgh guys go? I've heard Indian Head mentioned, would that be ZOB 132.125/353.8?

Unfortunately Travis, their use primarily of VHF Center freqs precludes following them - at least for me. I have a real aversion to listening to VHF freqs because of all the commercial traffic on them. However, I'm in the process of taking a lot of police/fire stuff that no longer interests me and replacing those slots with the ZDC VHF freqs. I'll keep them locked out but will have them in the scanner to open a freq when needed - such as to follow a CAP tanker inbound/outbound or to follow a MilAir transport aircraft when using those VHF freqs.

Something that has been mentioned here previously but may be of interest for those that missed it the first time is the method for following the ground controller commands on the GUARD DOG freqs 135.525 and 288.35. Of course, if you're close to that GUARD DOG transmitter site in Falls Church VA, you can hear them directly. However, that position is at the Swann Sector desk. So, if you live anywhere close to BWI and can hear the Swann ground controller, you can plug in 134.5 or 360.7 and hear the ground controller simulcasting a response to the aircraft's transmissions on 135.525/288.35. The only downside is that there are times the ground controller doesn't simulcast on 134.5/360.7 for reasons I've never been able to figure out. Most of the time though, it works.

1900: Current CAP participants are ARROW 15 and 16 along with TANKER 14. Primary CAP freq is «260.9» and they are now using a separate boom freq of «228.9».
1905: ARROW 16 currrently refueling. His tail number is EG 82-0029. Fighters are from the 60th Fighter Squadron of the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin AFB FL. «228.9»
1920: ARROW 15 now refueling and gives his tail number as EG 80-0026. He says they'll be back to the tanker in about 30 minutes for another couple of thousand pounds before they RTB. «228.9»
1925: TANKER 14 confirms his home base as Milwaukee. «228.9» That probably means he's from the 128th Air Refueling Wing of the WI-ANG at General Mitchell Field.
1953: Sounds like ARROW 17/18 may be heading this way. I'm hearing traffic on the Eglin tac freq «369.15»
1954: ARROW 16 at the tanker taking on his "going home" fuel load. «228.9»

2000: ARROW 16 has tanks full and now 15 is heading to the tanker. «228.9»
2003: Yes, the replacement fighter pair is heading toward the CAP area but they are ARROW 41/42 and not 17/18. «369.15»
2004: ARROW 41/42 make contact with HUNTRESS on «260.9» and ARROW 15 gives them the Blue refueling freq as «228.9» (I believe he called it Blue 10 Prime.) Blue 10 Prime is confirmed when ARROW 41/42 head for the tanker.
2007: ARROW 41 to GUARD DOG on «288.35» to get cleared into the CAP.
2010: ARROW 15 completes refueling and ARROW 41/42 are heading to the tanker as a two-ship. «260.9»
2016: ARROW 15 to GUARD DOG «288.35» to say their RTB will be in about 15 minutes.
2017: ARROW 15 asks ARROW 41 for the weather back home. 41 replies, "Hideous." «228.9/260.9»
2027: ARROW 41 established in the CAP after refueling so ARROW 15 flight gets cleared to RTB. «260.9» They switch to «288.35» to pick up clearance back to Eglin. They'll be in a non-standard two-mile-trail configuration for this part of the flight.
2030: GUARD DOG hands off the ARROW 15/16 flight to ZDC on 307.025. The flight switches to that freq and makes contact with the Center (They call "Washington Center.") I had this same handoff last week and doubted it, thinking they meant DuPont on 307.25 but that's not the case. The freq is absolutely 307.025. Now we just have to figure out which Sector freq it replaces.
2034: TANKER 15 coming into the area at FL 250 and makes contact with HUNTRESS on «260.9»
2035: TANKER 14 Heavy to GUARD DOG on «135.525» to report he'll be clearing out of the area shortly. He requests FL 300 direct Pullman - PMM.
(That's the Pullman VOR/DME in Pullman Michingan located at Lat/Long: 42-27-55.712N / 086-06-21.106W.)
2043: TANKER 14 Heavy given RTB permission «260.9» and goes to «135.525» to pick up his clearance from GUARD DOG.
2044: TANKER 15 cleared into the CAP by GUARD DOG on «135.525»

2109: ARROW 41, after giving HUNTRESS a rundown of the weather in the CAP area, gives a DSN for Crew Ops back at Eglin to call with that report. «260.9»
2123: ARROW 41 tells HUNTRESS that he and 42 ar going to try their HAVE QUICK system «260.9» and say to switch to "Man Prime." They come up on «369.15» and a tone is heard as, apparently, they try their system. ARROW 41 tells his wingman to come up on 300.125 but I hear nothing there over the next couple of minutes. (After thinking about it, I guess he could have meant 301.25. He said, "Go to three hundred one two five.")
2145: (From another source): TANKER 14 heard ZOB-135.725 and then ZAU-127.625/126.125/125.1 freqs and finally with Upset Command Post on 321.0 (WI-ANG CP at KMKE)

2206: ARROW 41 tells HUNTRESS the ARROW 43 flight should be "wheels up" by now and asks him to confirm that. «260.9»
2230: ARROW 42 heading for TANKER 15 to refuel «260.9» and establishes voice contact with the tanker on 10 Prime «228.9». He receives 13,000 pounds. Tail number for ARROW 42 is EG 79-0050 and for 41 it's EG 79-0041.
2248: ARROW 41's turn at the tanker «228.9». He gets 15,000 pounds.

0004: ARROW 41/42 starting their final refueling with TANKER 15 to prepare for RTB. «228.9» (43/44 have been on the road for two hours if the wheels up time was correct as given by 41 earlier. It apparently wasn't since flight time is 1:45...or maybe they stopped for a beer on the way up here.)
0019: Well, the next pair is on the way and it turns out to be ARROW 21 and 22 - not 43/44 as stated by 41 earlier. 21/22 with GUARD DOG on «288.35» into the area at FL 250.

And that's enough logging for today. THE END

Washington Center new freqs: The one logged tonight on 307.025 is definitely Washington Center. I also logged 235.625 as probable along with 135.775 during this past week. We have some work to do.
More Info: When on ZDC-307.025, the handoff was to ZDC-Gordonsville 351.9 as the next sector.
The 235.625 freq was a handoff from ZDC-Calvert 281.4
The 135.775 freq was the result of aircraft on ZDC-Shenandoah 270.35 UHF asking to change to Shenandoah VHF freq due to noise and being sent to 135.77(5).

 

[Airfire]

Probably the altimeter setting, just to make sure that the receiver and tanker are on the same setting.

That's my guess....

That's a good guess. Above flight level 180 all aircraft use 29.92 as the standard altimeter setting. You'll hear the Center controllers issue the altimter for aircraft cleared to descend below FL180.

Jim

 

[freqhopping]

I was finally able to see some of the CAP planes. I saw ARROW-41 and 42 leave the area. I heard them saying they would be flying a 230 heading for 600 miles and about that time I heard jets that sounded different than the usual IAD traffic. I looked out my window and could see two bright red lights heading south. I figured one of these days I ought to be able to see them leave the area.

 

[TinEar]

Travis, were they using the ZDC-307.025 freq to leave the area when you saw them? If so, which ZDC Sector is that where you live? That would give us an ID for that new freq.

0929: Just heard ARROW 26 go to the Andrews Metro freq «344.6». He was trying to find out when the haze he was flying through would leave the area. The ground operator was totally out of it. First, he had ARROW 26 spell his callsign - four times! He just couldn't get it although the pilot spelled it phonetically, slowly and clearly. Apparently, the ground station was also telling him he was having trouble hearing him and kept asking for his location. 26 told him several times he was right in the area and once said he was so close he could see him and patiently explained his request to find out if they could tell him when those hazy conditions might change. Finally, after several minutes of this, ARROW 26 had enough and told the ground station to just disregard his request and he left the freq.

Anyway, it's ARROW 25 and 26 along with TANKER 18 that have the CAP duty around 0930 this morning. It's still 260.9 with HUNTRESS as primary and 228.9 as the boom frequency.

1000: TANKER 19 into the area with GUARD DOG on «135.525» and then HUNTRESS «260.9» to replace 18.

 

[freqhopping]

Travis, were they using the ZDC-307.025 freq to leave the area when you saw them? If so, which ZDC Sector is that where you live? That would give us an ID for that new freq.

I don't know about the 307.025 freq, I didn't have it programmed in either scanner. I been listening to the CAP with my Icom R10 (better sensitivity wise, but much slower scanning) and I have a bank with only the standard CAP freqs, plus the Casanova and Montebello ZDC freqs. I think they were on Montebello 284.7 when I heard them. I heard them with Shenandoah 270.35 a short time later on my BC250D.

I think I'm borderline with the Hagerstown and Linden sectors and to the east I can see traffic heading south through Falls Church sector. Casanova and Linden are all that's between me and Montebello. I can hear the Falls Church ground controllers very well.

1220- Sounds like Bush is on the way back to DC. They ID'ed Airforce-1 as the bullseye. Shouldn't it be Marine-1?

 

[TinEar]

While playing around with the radio, I happened to hear - at 1140 - BWI Clearance Delivery on freq «118.05» talking with a FLINT 22, clearing him to takeoff from BWI and then fly around the College Park area at 2500 feet. The FLINT aircraft are DEA aircraft of various types. I understand the callsign refers to individual pilots, not to the aircraft. (Same as the FBI does with their ROSS callsign.)
Somebody has a C-130 at BWI. Heard Signature Support mention "bringing something out to the C-130."
Also happened to hear an ASCOT 7047 with ZDC-Norfolk on «133.825» at 1058. ASCOT is the Royal Air Force from the UK.

1206: Have a flight of four fighters using tac freq «140.375». This might just be a transit flight through the area. At 1215 they comment about how warm it is this far north.
1212: Two F-22A fighters on Langley tac «257.075» and I believe the same guys a minute later with Norfolk TRACON «370.925» Callsign DEEJAY.
1216: Langley tac «228.45» active. Callsign NACHO. They then go to ZDC-Cape Charles «256.8» on their way to W-386 with Giant Killer. NACHO is F-22A. Add to callsign list as such.
1217: DEEJAY 41 flight into GK's area on «249.8» to say they'll be MARSA with the NACHO flight. DEEJAY is F-22A. Add to callsign list.
1221: NACHO 31 flight calls GK on «238.1». No reply so over to «249.8» where they'll be in the area for 30 minutes.
1222: Tanker interplane «139.875» active.
1225: The flight of four fighters on «140.375» wonder aloud where "those F-22s are going?" One of them incorrectly speculates to Andrews or Atlantic City. (But it confirms the logged activity as F-22A activity)
1227: Langley tac freq «233.525» active. F-22A aircraft per transmitter sound. Callsign BOBCAT. (BOBCAT was one of the first F-22A IDs made.)
1228: Flight of four fighters with ZDC-Norfolk «327.8». Same guys first logged at 1206 on 140.375 but no callsign heard. They are heading south.
1229: Fighters on «140.375» mention being over the James River and then the Hampton Roads Bridge. Also mention seeing two Navy Harriers. They're a talkative bunch. They finally fade out about 1234. Never did get a callsign.
1239: Tankers chatting on interplane freq «139.875». One mentions heading for Little Rock at FL 340. Callsign TEAM (KC-10A McGuire AFB NJ). One of them is suffix 85.
1244: GK's ops freq «312.3» active with F-22A aircraft. Callsign turns out to be DEEJAY.
1247: The two tankers on «139.875» kiss goodbye and one wishes the other a good flight to San Antonio.
1248: BOBCAT 11 (F-22A Langley) to GK on «249.8» announces two-ship RTB at 35,000 feet....then passing 30,000 on the way to 14,000.
1252: Another flight announces RTB to GK on «249.8» Callsign sounded like FLASH 21. Might be more F-22As but don't have enough to firmly apply that.
1258: NACHO, BOBCAT, DEEJAY all out of GK's area now heading for Langley. «249.8» and their tac freqs.
1258: That TEAM 11, one of the tankers heard earlier on 139.875 is with Cherry Point Base Ops on «126.85»

1347: BRECK 61 (Spelled callsign phonetically) to Andrews PTD «372.2» Says he's 15 minutes out and is inquiring about the ramp freeze. (No info in any of my callsign databases for BRECK.)
1349: BOBCAT 11 flight (F-22A Langley) into GK's area on «249.8» working G-J areas.
1351: Langley tac freq «233.525» active. (Probably the BOBCAT flight since they used this tac freq earlier in the day.)

1427: BOBCAT 11 reports flight of two RTB, from HEELS at 14,000 to GK «249.8»
1436: Langley tac freq «257.075» active with F-22A aircraft. Probably callsign DEEJAY
1437: DEEJAY 41 flight at FL 240 with ZDC-Cape Charles «256.8»
1439: Langley tac freq «228.45» active...probably NACHO F-22A
1439: NACHO 31 flight with ZDC-Cape Charles «256.8» FL 230. Push 249.8
1440: DEEJAY 41 to GK on «249.8» into area MARSA with NACHO. Direct airspace Delta.
1442: NACHO 31 flight into GK's area on «249.8» into W-386 for the next 30 minutes. Direct Delta airspace.
BOBCAT, NACHO, DEEJAY all F-22A aircraft and all working the same tac freqs as their earlier flights. BOBCAT working on their own and DEEJAY/NACHO are MARSA with each other.
1449: Tac freq «139.9» active. Hearing callsign GREYHOUND and ?TEXAS? 91 (TEXAS belongs to F-16s from the 182nd FS of the TX-ANG at Kelly AFB. It's their transit callsign.)
1450: BULLY flight (F-16 DC-ANG Andrews) active on tac «143.15» and with Reagan TRACON for climbout. Flight of two.
1450: DRAGNET (E3C Tinker AFB OK) with GK on «238.1» He's in AW-701 heading for W-386 to work.
1452: RAVAGE flight (F-16 DC-ANG Andrews) on TRACON «348.725» One of the RAVAGE aircraft aborted on the runway.
1452: DRAGNET mentions he'll be working with AIRGUN 71, LION 91, PECOS 71, SONIC 81, KANSAS 91 flights. He gives freqs for each flight to work and they are all the normal GK Ops freq with the exception of the LION 91 flight which he wants on 335.95. (The 335.95 freq was last used by the ALLEYCAT JSTARS aircraft as a control freq when they ran the exercise in the Pax River area with all those A-10s and F-16s working together.)
All those callsigns are from Langley except KANSAS. If he's out of Langley, we'll add it to the callsign list for that base.
1455: TEXAS 91 with Reagan TRACON «270.275» approaching Andrews for landing.
1457: TEXAS 91 landing Andrews with Tower on «349.0» on runway 1L.

1501: The DC-ANG flights BULLY and RAVAGE will be working at Pax on freq «256.5»
1507: TRAIN 71 flight (1st FW Langley) into GK's ara on «238.1» No reply so over to «249.8»
1508: LION 91 flight (1st FW Langley) into GK's area for the next 20 minutes «249.8»
1508: DRAGNET tells GK he wasn't expecting a TRAIN flight and wants to know if that's a callsign change. It is. Replaces PECOS is what I believe they said. «249.8»
1515: BULLY flight is working with a range control callsign GAMMA RAY while at Pax «256.5». BULLY is now working tac «143.6»
1518: NACHO 31 flight announces RTB, direct HEELS at 14,000 feet to GK «249.8»
1521: DEEJAY 41 flight wants to delay 5 minutes before RTB and then direct HEELS «249.8»
Looks like all the F-22A flights are on their way home to Langley and the F-15s are coming up to work with DRAGNET in W-386. One of the F-22A flights mentioned they have to be on the ground by 1545.

 

[TinEar]

Radios back on at 1900 and immediately hear some F-22As from Langley. Callsign COWBOY is using tac freq «233.525» and also using Giant Killer's operations freq «312.3». There are other F-22As on tac «257.075» but no callsign heard yet.

 

[n3bxv]

Alan,
I heard Cowboy check in on 249.8 with GK.
1906 Talon 11, UI, landing at BWI! Heard on UHF<317.425> with Potomac TRACON then to VHF<119.7, 119.4> for Final and Landing.. Identified by ATC to other traffic as a C-130[added] I would imagine it's related Alan
If I had to guess, yes it would be a MC-130..

1910 <348.725> Single Ship up out of Andrews.... No callsign....

1916 <312.3>, GK , "Fights on"

1922 In addition to Freqs Alan has below, Ravage and Bully also working "discrete frequency "<256.5>

1929 <255.4> Talon 11 calling Flight Service Station

1931 <249.8> Cowboy-11, flight of 3 non-standard RTB Langley

1935 <305.2> Bully Flight with Pax Approach....

Ravage, Bully with Ground FACs on <256.5> ."gamma ray". IDing Target, selecting bombs, ie. GBU-38. Appears to be ACTUAL FACs as Bully-1 asks Gamma Ray to "Glint" Bully... I wonder if this is somehow related to the TALON-11 MC-130 being in Town?

2000 <363.9> Activity on Langley A/A freq...

 

[TinEar]

Chuck, I wonder if that TALON 11 or someone associated with him was the C-130 I mentioned earlier today at BWI.
TALON from Hurlburt Field in Florida???????

1909: Flight of F-16s airborne from Andrews...TRACON «348.725» and with SOF on «139.9» to report takeoff time as 0008Z. Callsign RAVAGE single ship.
1913: RAVAGE over to ZDC-Calvert «281.4». He inquired the status of the BULLY flight on the SOF freq.
1913: RAVAGE talking to BULLY flight still on the ground at Andrews «143.6»
1916: RAVAGE to BayWatch on «354.8» to enter the area and work for 45 minutes from 3500-35000 feet. He says a second RAVAGE will be joining him in a few minutes.
1918: The second RAVAGE with BayWatch «354.8»
1919: Another F-16 flight off the deck at Andrews on tac «143.15» BULLY...and with TRACON on «348.725» climbing out.
1920: RAVAGE flight on tac «143.6»
1923: RAVAGE flight says discrete freq at Pax will be 256.5. «143.6»
1923: RAVAGE 1 calls GAMMA RAY at the Pax Range. «256.5»

Chuck...take it away...I'm going to be on the phone for awhile.

ON phone but had to post that TALON 11 is with Leesburg Flight Service on «255.4» at 1928.

GAMMA RAY and JAMBOREE as FACs.

1956: RISKY 71 flight into GK's area on «249.8» FL 230...says he'll be MARSA with a LIMEY 1 flight - single ship. These are all F-15s from Langley.

Now it's time for Prison Break and 24 so no more logging tonight.

 

[scansomd]

Tin Ear,

Ravage coming in L&C here in Lexington Park TAC 143.15 MHz and 256.5 MHz

CS Bully just joined in too...

 

[n3bxv]

Can you hear the Ground side from your Location?

 

[scansomd]

As I recall, I couldn't hear the ground side - but I can't be certain as the wife kept asking me for Honey Do's.. :-(

Can you hear the Ground side from your Location?

 

[TinEar]

1251: COSMIC F-16s from the NJ-ANG up in what looks to be a CAP. «138.2» They said this freq was noisy and to switch to V-15 which should be 138.425 but I hear nothing there.
1256: COSMIC 45 and 46 with HUNTRESS on «260.9»

1302: COSMICs finally come up on V-15 «138.425».
1304: One of the COSMIC F-16s has a problem with his saddle (SADL). Says the problem can only be fixed from the outside of the aircraft. «260.9» The pilots go to «138.425» to discuss a fix and then back to HUNTRESS to say "the change should show up shortly."
1306: The COSMICs give fuel info on «138.425» indicating almost full loads which should mean they are very early into this mission.
Not sure exactly where this CAP is but the aircraft are very loud and clear so it should be in this general area somewhere. They also mention a 20 mile ring for the CAP which is standard. I heard nothing on the GUARD DOG CAP control freqs 135.525/288.35. I'm also not hearing any indication of tanker support.
1316: COSMIC 46 mentions the tanker is two miles off to his left so there IS tanker support contrary to what I said above.
1316: Another flight of fighters on «138.3» that is giving indications of flying around New York City.
1319: TANKER 20 is in the CAP for refueling support. Looks like they're going to use the primary CAP freq for a boom freq «260.9»
1323: COSMIC 46 takes 2500 pounds of fuel from the tanker and then disconnects - a pressure disconnect - and then goes back on the boom for more. «260.9». A minute later it disconnects again. His tail number is 83-148.
1326: COSMIC 45 now heading for the tanker. «260.9» (Earlier, COSMIC 45 mentioned the tanker was a "C-135"
1326: The fighter pair on «138.3» is still chatting but no callsigns used yet.
1329: Bollen Range active on «237.2» Callsign UGLY 1 (A-10 PA-ANG Willow Grove). (The guys from 138.3??)
1330: Have a DC 22 KC-135 tanker from Andrews talking to LIBERATOR on squadron freq «351.2» that mentions he's A-1 and is inquiring about the ramp freeze in effect
1331: COSMIC 45 finishes refueling...his tail number is 84-1317. «260.9»
1335: COSMIC 45 with GUARD DOG on «288.35» reentering the CAP. (Guess I just missed them earlier on this freq.)
1337: One of the fighters on «138.3» mentions a steer point and says it's 260 degrees, 21 miles to Langley...then 255/19 to Langley Air Force Base. That should indicate these are NOT the same guys at Bollen Range.
1338: Fighter on «138.3» says he's proceeding direct Langley. Both fighters then talk about the runway at Langley. Sure looks like that's where they're going. This flight started out by talking about the sights around New York City so it looks like a deploying flight from somewhere.
1339: Fighters from 138.3 switch to Norfolk TRACON on «370.925» but I didn't get there in time to hear a callsign. Their next transmission was too weak to copy as they were descending. So that's the end of this flight.
1345: Langley tac freq «233.525» active.
1347: COSMIC flight still checking datalink - apparently they disagree with what HUNTRESS is showing for the bullseye. «260.9»
1351: COSMICs, while on «138.425», talk about how the radios are better now (indicating some work was done on them) and say it's the best in five years. The other says he's going over to monitor V-16 (138.2) to see if that one still has a problem. He comes back and says it is still lousy.
1355: HUNTRESS sends COSMIC 45 over to «288.4» for a radio check where they report loud and clear transmissions.
NOTE: I double checked the FAA page for TFRs and there is nothing indicating a CAP for today. But here it is.
1358: COSMIC 45 reports no joy while radio checking on 140.4 «260.9» He also tells HUNTRESS they cannot use 138.2 due to interference.

1402: Langley tac freq «257.075» active

1402: I can't stay to monitor this CAP and will be away from the radios for the next several hours. Hope someone else can take on the logging for it. Thanks to anyone that can do it.

 

[jerseymilair]

Today at approx. 2 pm local time, I saw a flight of 4 A-10's heading southeast. They passed directly overhead here in the Lakewood Industrial Park, Lakewood, NJ. I caught them using 138.200. No c/s was mentioned. Looked like they were headed directly to Warren Grove range in NJ. Also heard HUNTRESS in comms with COSMIC 45 & 46. Heard COSMIC call HUNTRESS around the same time on 138.425 and mentioned "V-16" as "138.425".
Steve
coastal NJ

 

[n3bxv]

1705 <139.7> DC ANG F-16s, Brave - 61 and 62, with Huntress. Huntress Loud and clear at my location! Sounds like an exercise, "Fights on".... Getting instructions from HUNTRESS, Headbutt, "simulated flares authorized" Huntress transmitter has to be at BWI or some else close, very strong signal even when I can't hear fighters.

1730<139.7> Exercise over and Huntress wishes Brave flight a safe flight home.

 

[TinEar]

Just got back and turned on the scanners to hear that beautiful HUNTRESS signal on 139.7 Chuck. I agree that it's so loud I'd almost want to place it as transmitting from BWI also. I have it up on the webcast - at least for now.
Nevermind...they're going home at 1734 and switching to TRACON on 270.275.

And Steve, V-16 that they mentioned was 138.2 - the freq they are having trouble with. V-15 is 138.425. The current VHF buttons that I have for the NJ-ANG F-16s are as follows:

V-1 138.125 Base Ops/SOF
V-11 138.05 Tactical
V-12 138.1 Tactical
V-15 138.425 Tactical
V-16 138.2 Tactical
V-17 138.875 Tactical
V-18 138.3 Tactical

I'm light on the UHF buttons. The following are the only firm recoveries I have:

U-1 261.0 Base Ops/SOF
U-4 239.0 ACY Tower
U-6 327.125 ACY Approach
U-7 285.4 ZDC-Casino
U-12 255.4 Flight Service Station
U-13 283.1 Warren Grove Range

If you have any others firmly recovered, please add them.

I guess the Guard Dog CAP with COSMIC 45/46 and TANKER 20 on 260.9 ended sometime while I was gone.

1823-1835: REACH 129 on «134.1» calling at various times Dover Ops, Dover Command Post, Dover Operations, Dover Air Force Base trying to make contact. Says his ETA is 51 past the hour. He also uses the term, "Transmitting in the dark," which is a new one to me. Finally, he announces he's in the approach pattern - and still has no contact.
1829: BATON 54 to Baton Ops on «395.1» reports 20 minutes out, A-2
1841: Have some fighters on Pax River freqs «341.95» and «256.5» using callsign HAWK and announcing they are operating around Vienna. HAWK is calling TIGER TAIL which is some sort of controller for their air combat maneuvers. The HAWK callsign could be F/A-18s from Oceana NAS. TIGER TAIL is probably an EA-6B from MCAS Cherry Point. There are many, many units using that HAWK callsign making an ID difficult. There are at least four fighters in this exercise.
1845: For the past hour or so there have been occasional fighter transmissions on «138.1» but never enough to ID the unit or the activity.
1852: There are also DEMON fighters working with the HAWK fighters on «256.5»
1852: DRAGNET (E-3C Tinker AFB OK) with Giant Killer on «249.8» giving a list of Langley callsigns/flights and the freqs he wants them to work when coming into W-72.
1855: F-16s airborne from Andrews with TRACON «348.725» and on tac «143.6» Flight of two. Callsign GUNNY.
1858: DRAGNET tells GK he hears an ELT on UHF Guard freq. «249.8»
1859: GUNNY flight to ZDC-Calvert «281.4» check in at 15,000 feet.

Continued below........

 

[TinEar]

1900: GUNNY flight on tac «143.6» say to switch to 266.5 to call tanker STEEL 73 (KC-135 PA-ANG Pittsburgh). They go to that freq and make no contact. From there it's over to BayWatch on «354.8» to enter the Pax River area for work.
1902: GUNNY says they'll be working with ANGRY and WILD flights and wants a discrete freq to work with them. «354.8» They're given 355.8 so switch to that freq with BayWatch. They then go back to tac «143.6» and call GAMMA RAY, the ground based FAC for their exercise.
1904: Tanker frequency «365.7» is active.
1904: That Navy fighter exercise with DEMON and HAWK along with TIGER TAIL has slowed for now but the DEMON fighters are refueling on the «365.7» freq. (Edit: DEMON fighters aren't refueling...they are using this freq as their unit tac freq. HAWK fighters are using 341.95 and their combo ops freq is 256.5)
So, all those Naval fighters and now the group of F-16s from Andrews are all operating around the Vienna MD area. That should be fun.
1908: The HAWK fighters are seeing the F-16s off to their right. Thought this might happen. «341.95» HAWK is wondering who they are.
1909: DEMONs back to the fight on «256.5» with HAWK and TIGER TAIL.
I ran out of radios. Need 256.5/341.95/365.7 for the Navy exercise. Need 143.6/266.5/355.8 for the GUNNY exercise and will need more once the ANGRY and WILD flights join in. Then there are all the F-15 flights outlined by DRAGNET that are about to become airborne in that exercise to the south. He mentioned at least six different flights.
1919: Seems the Navy exercise has ended. The HAWKs say they are heading for Smith's Point «341.95»
1921: Have another Andrews F-16 flight up on tac «139.15» Flight of two. Callsign BULLY.
1922: OPEC 28 (KC-10A McGuire AFB) with ???? 64 on «238.9» for refueling.
1926: BULLY flight with BayWatch on «354.8» Say RAVAGE and ANGRY flights will be up with them. They don't mention WILD.
1928: GREEDY 75 into GK's area on «249.8» He also mentions GREEDY 71 indicating a flight of at least five aircraft. This is a new Langley callsign.
1930: BULLY flight going to the 355.8 freq to join with GUNNY.
1931: ANGRY flight off the deck at Andrews with TRACON on «348.725» then over to ZDC-Calvert «281.4» at 1933. And to BayWatch on «354.8» at 1936. No tac freq found for ANGRY so he may be a single ship flight.
1933: GK's ops freq «373.1» active.
1938: Have all three Andrews F-16 flights now on 355.8 - GUNNY/BULLY/ANGRY...still waiting for RAVAGE
1939: TROJAN 81 (F/A-18 Oceana NAS) flight into GK's area on «238.1»
1941: SALTY DOG 103 with BayWatch on «256.5»
1942: STEEL 73 tanker into BayWatch area on «256.5» at FL 270.
1946: DATSUN 71 (F-15 Langley) flight of two into GK's area on «238.1» and then «249.8» at FL230. Says they'll be working with ROCKY 91 flight which is about 10 minutes behind them.
1950: GUNNY flight is heading for the tanker - STEEL 73 - and will be working «266.5». They make contact with the tanker there a minute later.
1955: ROCKY 91 flight into GK's area on «238.1» to work area W-72 with DATSUN 71 at FL 230.
1956: GK's ops freq «292.3» active.
1957: Langley tac freq «276.675» active
1958: Evac 33117 into Andrews «141.55» 30 minutes out. Sigh...another planeload of injured troops.

2002: BULLY flight says "this is getting remotely dangerous...let's head up to the north." «139.15»
2002: Have a flight saying he needs fire trucks to meet him when he lands. No ID heard yet. «141.55» It's Evac 33117. (Edit: there is no emergency. He just wants the fire trucks there so he can refuel immediately with hot engines.)
2005: TROJAN 83 RTB to Langley...says he's in an emergency condition....1 SOB...engine overheating condition. (TROJAN was listed as Oceana F/A-18 earlier but since he's going into Langley I suddenly don't know who he is.) «249.8»
2017: TROJAN 81/82 report RTB to GK on «249.8»

I don't know where the refueling freq has gone for the Andrews F-16s with STEEL 73. They started out on 266.5 but have apparently changed. I didn't hear them say they were changing but after hearing the last two flights say they were going to the tanker there was nothing on 266.5.

(Ref below) Jack, 355.8 is new to me. The 365.7 I had listed for refueling and have heard refueling there in the past. The Navy DEMON flight was using it for tac and that's the first time I've heard that usage.

Jack, it sounded like 255.8 but they came up on the 355.8 exercise freq.

2017: And I'm done logging. Done.