Travis (AFB) Air Expo / Thunderbirds

[b52hbuff]

Don't forget that this weekend is the Travis Air Expo.
http://www.travisairshow.com/

The Thunderbirds are the headliner. One other historic event will be the last flight of the C-133 which is flying from McChord to Travis. It will be on display at the museum.

http://www.travisairshow.com/c133.php

Don't forget to update your profiles to include the new TB frequencies reported by Larry Van Horn:
http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2008/04/late-breaking-news-another-new-tbird.html

Expect arrivals starting today and tomorrow. And there is supposed to be a B-52 on static display.

 

[kma371]

just heard some fast movers over elk grove. Possible arrivals...

 

[Scanman6]

Travis AFB Page

This may be of interest.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/ksuu

I've put my IC-R3 on for the airshow, but it'll be a reach for me. I'll probably only catch airborne traffic. I made the Air Expo quite a few years ago as part of the media, got to fly with the Golden Knights and catch a Airborne parachute drop from two C141's from up close. Cool airshow and great media support from the Air Force and Army. Wish I was going, but maybe next year.

I checked out the website and the prohibition on walkie-talkies and ham radios. Do they prohibit scanners? I'd guess they'd have issues with transmiting radios, but that"National Security" rationale could mean anything. Good luck to those who go. Bring back pics and video post to youtube if you can. I, homebounder, thank you.

 

[pfish]

just heard some fast movers over elk grove. Possible arrivals...

Saw one to the west of Arden Fair when I was there earlier...

 

[b52hbuff]

Did any one go to the Travis show? Did anyone get in with a scanner?

I tried getting in, and was turned back twice. The first turnback was because I was trying to bring in frozen Gatorade. "Only clear liquids allowed in." Wow! I wonder if they made mothers' drink the milk they were bringing in? Did folks have to drink from their Camelback canteens?

The second time we got the the radios. After several unsuccessful attempts at explaining my radios were 'receive only' and the prohibition was against HAM radios and Walkie-Talkie's, I was still denied entry.

Oh well, I just went back to the car, drank my thawing Gatorade and enjoyed listening in the shade of my car.

I'll post a full report in a day or so. The Thunderbirds used a couple of new frequencies:
235.25 (known) / Solo
143.70 (new from Larry Van Horn) / Diamond
413.275 (DCS is in my notes) is not normally used, but the more typical 413.1 was in use by Travis AFB.
123.15 / Airshow discrete

...I also found the Airboss, but I don't want to post misinformation, so I'll wait until I get o my notes. I also experienced a lot of new encryption on the TRS. The PD had been part time encryption from several years ago, but now it appears to be full time. The FD was never encrypted and now appears to be full time encrypted. And one of the 'Civil Engineer' TGIDs was also full time encrypted.

The airshow talkgroups I found from the 2005 show were in use here.

 

[b52hbuff]

I took my radio to the recent Travis AirExpo show and was once again denied entry. I
tried to get in touch with someone from security who could set/define policy several
months before the show, but it didn't work out.

Anyway, the Thunderbirds were using the following:
235.25 Solos
143.70 Diamond
216.725 Announcer/Background Music
216.975 Simulcast for 235.25

413.275/D431 Thunderbird Maintenance (note that the more common 413.1 is an input to the Travis TRS

AirExpo
128.4 Airboss
123.15 Discrete/Announcer

SUU Field Frequencies
254.4 Tower
289.4 Ground
384.9 ATIS

Approach
291.0 Approach

SUU Operations
138.875 Tanker A-A

Travis TRS was in use with a lot of encryption. PD/Security was all encrypted. In the past, I had monitored a few unencrypted comms, but no more. The FD/EMS was also encrypted. I'll post a report on the TRS usage later.

 

[avtarsingh]

try this for your next air show -

find a good picture from a uniden website or any website - with a picture and description of the scanner you have - print it and take it with you -

when you get stopped - ask for the flight chief - if available - or ask for a security officer - typically will be a 1LT or a CAPT explain to he/she what you want to take in - that it has no transmit capabilities and show them the scanner info sheet - also explain to them that its used to listen to thunderbirds etc - and whether on base or off base you can listen to them and pose no threat to safety or security

i took my scanner into the Beale air showafter talking to a 1LT who was a security officer

the flight chief will be an enlisted member typically a TSgt or above - he has some latitude in granting you access with the scanner but it's easier if you get an officer involved they are just doing what they are told to do and following orders

you gotta find the guy that can give the orders

 

[b52hbuff]

Well, I tried explaining at the gate, and offered a demo, but no luck. I think I did try with an officer, and it didn't matter.

But thanks for the advice.

 

[ScannerDude244]

The Thunderbirds came into town yesterday. I'll give those frequencies a try.

Man that sucks they didn't let you in with that scanner.

You coming down for Salinas airshow this weekend?

 

[kma371]

Well, I tried explaining at the gate, and offered a demo, but no luck. I think I did try with an officer, and it didn't matter.



But thanks for the advice.

For the 2005 show, I emailed the Public Information Officer and printed out their reply which said scanners were OK. Initially denied entry, but was allowed in after I showed them the email.

 

[b52hbuff]

For the 2005 show, I emailed the Public Information Officer and printed out their reply which said scanners were OK. Initially denied entry, but was allowed in after I showed them the email.

Bwahahaha. That email was sent out to the bayscan list. I printed it out, showed it to the airman at the entry point and they denied me entry. They didn't know or didn't care who the PIO (or PAO) was.

As an fyi, I was always professional and polite. And I still ended up listening from the parking lot.

 

[kma371]

Bwahahaha. That email was sent out to the bayscan list. I printed it out, showed it to the airman at the entry point and they denied me entry. They didn't know or didn't care who the PIO (or PAO) was.

As an fyi, I was always professional and polite. And I still ended up listening from the parking lot.

Yeah, that might have been me that did that....I think I may have badged them too