Travis Air Expo / Thunderbirds 7/30-31/2011

[b52hbuff]

The Thunderbirds are coming to Travis AFB this weekend. Fencecheck is a great resource, here is their overview page and their forum page for the upcoming show:
Fence Check | Airshows
Fence Check Aviation Photography | United States - California - Travis Air Expo 2011 - Travis AFB - Fairfield - 07/30/11
...visit before for show information and visit after to see the pictures.

The official site is here:
Travis Air Expo
...you can find the security rules here:
Security Rules
I'll save you a click and let you know that pretty much any type of radio is banned from the spectator area.

Here are threads for the 2008 and 2005 show:
http://forums.radioreference.com/ca.../117122-travis-afb-air-expo-thunderbirds.html
http://forums.radioreference.com/ca...orum/22695-travis-airshow-2005-new-tgids.html

No profiles in the legacy threads, but as always, field frequencies can be found here:
http://www.airnav.com/airport/KSUU

And the Monitoring Times Airshow Guide can be found here:
http://www.monitoringtimes.com/0311airshowspecial.pdf

I plan to go, hopefully I'll get my HP-1 in shape to have it log audio in the parking lot while I go into the show. Anyone else planning to go? Maybe we can meet in the parknig lot...

 

[avtarsingh]

no scanners allowed.. so i wont be going

 

[exkalibur]

Out of principal, why go if they're so paranoid? Or just setup an online stream.

Sent from my MB525 using Tapatalk

 

[R1VINCE]

Arrived today @1315 local

Confirmed freq. used today for entrance practice

All AM mode
141.075 diamond
141.825 alt. diamond
143.85 Diamond/survey
235.25 solo

pilots already complaining about the birds - had a close call about 10min ago(theres a bird santuary just a few miles to the SW)

Off-base viewing can be done from the sports complex just on the southwest end of the runway 3L-21R(google map it). Plenty of parking(especially when the event is free for all - Most spectators will be on base.)

 

[b52hbuff]

Arrived today @1315 local
Confirmed freq. used today for entrance practice
All AM mode
141.825 alt. diamond

Thanks for the update. I had all of the frequencies, except for that one. Are you sure you heard T-birds on that frequency? It wasn't in Larry's 2011 list, and a search on the board shows it isn't very common...

 

[R1VINCE]

Yes it was used today - in AM mode about 10 min after Thunderbird #7 touchdown and while the TB#1-6 flew in formation upon they're arrival into the show box.

Ill have all my radios on throughout the weekend to catch all that I can, especially for tomorrows practice.
Ill also be just off base on Saturday with some of my gear and will be on base for the Sunday show with fam&friends.

 

[jimvm]

Off base monitoring

Try to listen to FM broadcast band for Public Address of the airshow.
Beale used 87.9 MHz.

jim vm

 

[aprswatcher]

AF Thunderbirds @ Travis this weekend.

Air Force Thunderbirds are at Travis AFB this weekend.

Try these frequencies for the airshow.

141.075 am for the diamond formation

235.25 am for the solos

These were in use for the airshow in Cheyenne for Cheyenne Frontier Days and were also
used last weekend for the Dayton Airshow.

73, Rex


[Mod edit: merged in from another thread]

 

[b52hbuff]

Confirmed freq. used today for entrance practice

All AM mode
141.075 diamond
141.825 alt. diamond
143.85 Diamond/survey
235.25 solo

I managed to see part of the practice today. Frequency usage was:
141.075 Diamond
235.250 Solos
413.275(DCS 431) Maintenance

I haven't been out to the base in a while. Looks like there is more encryption this time. Security and Fire had been encrypted during my last visit in 2008. But now the aircraft maintenance channels also appeared to be encrypted...

I'll make a better report when I return on Sunday...

 

[R1VINCE]

I managed to see part of the practice today. Frequency usage was:
141.075 Diamond
235.250 Solos
413.275(DCS 431) Maintenance

I haven't been out to the base in a while. Looks like there is more encryption this time. Security and Fire had been encrypted during my last visit in 2008. But now the aircraft maintenance channels also appeared to be encrypted...

I'll make a better report when I return on Sunday...

I can definitely concur with b52hbuff that these were the only frequencies used today.

Made a video of 141.075AM in action with a "little" backround(my apologies for the quality-it was an iphone recording)
‪Thunderbirds Practice Frequency.wmv‬‏ - YouTube

Sadly, I must update one of my previous post about off base access as the sports complex I had mentioned will not be available this weekend for the public to access (via word of mouth). The road leading to it however has plenty of "parking" on the side. I cannot actually suggest to go there as it is still an access road, but Solano S/O, Suisun CityPD, and the CHP who were present didnt bother any of the dozen or so vehicles that were present(including mine)(they were watching the practice show too).

b52, Yes it is true that almost all the radios on base are encrypted most of the time, but if it makes a difference, TGID's 56048(Transportation) and 62448(Ramp) are the only ones I hear in the clear 100% of the time as well as a few portables here and there.

 

[R1VINCE]

Saturday Pics

26MPH average winds from the SSW all day!

Frequency use listed by b52hbuff remained the same today.

Some pics:

Small grass fire occurred at the SW side of the field. It halted the show for about 30min.

 

[R1VINCE]

a few more

 

[kma371]

What time were the Thunderbirds up?

 

[kma371]

What time were the Thunderbirds up?

Nevermind, its' 1500 hrs.

Hearing 235.25 and 141.075 in use today.

 

[kma371]

Think someone hit a bird. Talking about going down and getting the spare.

And Solo #6 wants to land as well...problem with a gauge....

 

[R1VINCE]

Think someone hit a bird. Talking about going down and getting the spare.

And Solo #6 wants to land as well...problem with a gauge....

Solo #5 hit the bird. Both #5 and #6 landed safely and were replaced by the backup jet and the media jet.
Although you cant see any damage, here are some pics of the damaged #5 coming in and the replacement 2-seater #5 going out to continue the show. 15-20min delay.

The last pic is all 6 TBirds with the replacement #5 at the top of the pic.

Great show today with not-as-windy conditions as yesterday.

 

[kma371]

Nice pics. Anyone know why the "5" is upside down?

 

[R1VINCE]

Nice pics. Anyone know why the "5" is upside down?

Thanks!

#5 is the most "inverted" vehicle they operate

not my pic-->http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/USAF_Thunderbirds_Amigo_AirSho-1-_2010.jpg

 

[kma371]

Haha figured that might be the reason.