UH-60M Helicopters from the Ohio ANG 137th AVN Company D based at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base have been flying maneuvers throughout Ohio using the callsign VICE##.

They can be heard on Ohio MARCS tgid 54043 when they are out of range from Columbus.

 

 

The Beauty of Radio History

Hedy Lamarr, not only is she considered the most beautiful woman in films but she was highly intelligent.  In 1942, Hedy and composer George Antheil patented what they called the “Secret Communication System.”  This is the early version of frequency hopping and would have allowed for radio control missile launching without enemies blocking the frequency.  An idea that would have save countless of lives wasn’t even implemented in the US Navy until 1962 after the patent expired.  Even though the invention was brilliant because of the fact she was a beautiful famous woman no one took her and the invention serious.  Hedy and her invention wasn’t even recognized until 1997 by the Electronic Frontier Foundation.  Hedy’s idea has helped advance in technology in the military and cell phone industry.  

Monitoring the Buckeye and Brush Creek MOAs

 

The skies over southern Ohio have provided milair communication monitors with steady activity for years and continues to today. Times have changed somewhat from a few years ago, when the 178th Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard were the main attraction. The 178th no longer fills the skies with F-16s, they are transitioning to an Intelligence and Reconnaissance Wing, soon to remotely fly the MQ-1 Predator drone. So, who do we listen to now? Let us take a look at how the airspace is used and who is using it now.

Buckeye Military Operations Area (MOA) is FAA regulated airspace over southern Ohio for use by a variety of military flying units for training in Aircraft Combat Maneuvers (ACM) and Aerial Refueling (AR).

Buckeye MOA and the interconnecting Brush Creek MOA are controlled by Indianapolis ARTCC (Indy Center, ZID). For the most part the two MOAs are mainly used by the 180th Fighter Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard based at Toledo, flying the F-16C/D 'Fighting Falcon'.

Other units using the MOAs on occasion are the 163rd Fighter Squadron based in Fort Wayne, and the 107th Fighter Squadron based at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan. Both of these units fly the A-10 'Thunderbolt II' aircraft.

The 123rd Air Control Squadron (ACS) of the Ohio Air National Guard based in the northern
Cincinnati community of Blue Ash, sometimes conducts training and controls aircraft within
Buckeye and Brush Creek MOAs. They use the callsign 'BLUE ASH'.

The western edge of Buckeye MOA is 35 miles east of downtown Cincinnati.

Normally the airspace is used at least four days each week; Monday-Thursday on normal weeks, Tuesday-Friday on weeks after a UTA weekend (during which they will fly on Saturday and Sunday). Occasional nighttime sorites are also conducted.MOAs are scheduled for the time active. They are for aircraft only. ATCAAs are pretty much the same concept, but they are used to extend the boundaries of MOAs (like the CHARLIE Shelf in Buckeye used for refueling).

BUCKEYE MOA/BRUSH CREEK MOA:

225.700       Brush Creek Tac
290.500       ZID Sector 69 (Pike Low)
316.125       Buckeye Tac*
343.800       Buckeye Aerial Refueling

*316.125 is assigned as a discrete to the Pike Low sector (Sector 69).

123rd ACS - callsign: BLUE ASH

240.350       GCI primary
283.800       GCI secondary
364.200       AICC

Blue Ash also has SATCOM capability, and was heard doing radio checks on
258.650d/299.650u in April 2013...however, usage is rare.

180th FW (112th FS) - callsigns: STING, BUZZ, BUCKEYE, MUDDY (NORAD),        
                                                       LOMA (travel)

141.650       Ops [Aux 1]
338.150       Ops [Pri 1]
248.650       Tac [Aux 6]
312.175       Tac [Aux 7]
357.100       Tac [Aux 8]
367.500       Tac [Aux 9]
139.625       Victor 6*
139.975       Victor 7*
141.600       Victor 8*
138.425       Victor 9*
228.900       NORAD Secondary (primary for training)
260.900       NORAD Primary
260.725d/294.325u      NORAD CONR-2 (SATCOM)

*These are the old tactical freqs, but they still see occasional use.

Buckeye/Brush Creek presets: 316.125 [7], 240.350 [8], 290.500 [9], 225.700 [16]

127th WG (107th FS) - callsigns: DEMON, TEJAS, YALTA, BOSUN, HOWDY

273.000       DEMON Tac [button 11]
326.000       TEJAS Tac [button 12]
307.600       YALTA Tac [button 13]
368.000       BOSUN Tac [button 14]
314.400       HOWDY Tac [button 19]
349.400       Tac - this is a common AMC CP frequency

Buckeye/Brush Creek presets: 290.500 [21], 316.125 [22], 240.350 [23], 225.700 [24]

To find out when the MOAs are scheduled for activity;

1. Go to http://sua.faa.gov/sua/siteFrame.app

2. On the right side of the map, click the "+" for "States" and select Ohio.
     It will zoom automatically.

3. Just below "States," click the "+" for "Map Layers." In most cases, you should select
     the following.

    

    Click "Update Map" when complete.

    - Airspace Types: Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace, Aerial Refueling Route, 

      Military Operations Area, Other  

   - Altitude Types: all

   - Activation Types: as desired, but do NOT select "Not Scheduled"

4. Hovering over depicted airspace will show the name.
    Clicking on it will display the Zulu times.

If you have any additional tips, tricks or info, please share it in the comments.

*SPECIAL THANKS to Jared Soergel (@jsoergel949) for providing material for this article.

SW Ohio Mode-S/ADS Military Intercepts 15-31 May 2013

5/15/13:

1348L JESSE 93    90-1793  5246   C-130H  139AW/180AS     ROSECRANS       ADFE5C
1401L REACH 548   07-7179  50197  C-17A   60AMW/21AS      TRAVIS          AE1471


5/16/13:

0947L INDY 81     63-8041  18658  KC-135R 434ARW/74ARS    GRISSOM         AE04EE 
1110L RHINO 50    96-0004  50040  C-17A   445AW/89AS      WPAFB           AE07EE
1120L PAT 903     94-0321  BW-10  C-21V   6-52 AVN/Co B   LOS ALAMITOS    ADFE4D            
1113L             96-0002  50038  C-17A   437AW/14AS      CHARLESTON      AE07EC
1115L             94-0320  BW-9   C-21V   6-52 AVN/Co B   LOS ALAMITOS    ADFE4C
1130L JEEP 42     58-0088  17833  KC-135T 127WG/171ARS    SELFRIDGE       AE04DF
1215L REACH 725   04-4134  50142  C-17A   305AMW/6AS      MCGUIRE         AE123F
1328L REACH 718   99-0060  50064  C-17A   445AW/89AS      WPAFB           AE0806
1333L             58-0087  17832  KC-135E 309AMARG        DAVID-MONTHAN   AE0846


5/17/13:

0857L BATTL 69    84-0079  35A-525 C-21A   110AW/172AS     W.K. KELLOGG    AE0171
1108L RHINO 50    96-0004  50040   C-17A   445AW/89AS      WPAFB           AE07EE
1134L             99-0402  571     C-37A   86AW/76AS       RAMSTEIN        AE0406
1135L INDY 81     60-0363  18138   KC-135R 434ARW/74ARS    GRISSOM         AE0426
1315L TAZZ 52     60-0341  18116   KC-135R 121ARW/145ARS   RICKENBACKER    AE0363


5/18/13:

0947L            95-0094  BW-22    C-12V   2-228AVN/CoA    JOHNSTOWN AP    ADFE93
1158L REACH 548  07-7179  50197    C-17A   60 AMW/21AS     TRAVIS          AE1471
1159L RHODY 71   05-1435  5572     C-130J  143AW/143AS     QUONSET STATE
1205L SODA 81    57-1428  17499    KC-135R 134ARW/15ARS    MCGHEE-TYSON    AE0470
                                      

5/19/13:

1100L BATON 91    96-8153  5454    EC-130J 193SOW/193SOS   HARRISBURG      AE0247
1238L BOXER 38    94-1570  090     C-38A   113WG/201AS     ANDREWS         AE0110
1415L VV 101      166377   5087    C-37B   VR-1            ANDREWS         AE151A
1555L REACH 395   63-7984  18601   KC-135R 117ARW/106ARS   BIRMINGHAM      AE04D1


5/20/13:

1638L RHINO 32    97-0048  50052   C-17A   445AW/89AS      WPAFB           AE07FA
1905L             98-3029  PT-33   T-6A    47FTW/85FTS     LAUGHLIN        AE01F5
1907L             84-0167  BL-97   C-12U   6-52 AVN/A      LOS ALAMITOS    AE03F5
1916L             60-0322  18097   KC-135R 434ARW/72ARS    GRISSOM         AE0685
1917L             64-14834 18774   KC-135R 434ARW/72ARS    GRISSOM         AE042D


5/21/13:

1032L             04-1778  5034    C-37B   USAPAT          ANDREWS         AE13D1
1042L SLUFF 69    60-0341  18116   KC-135R 121ARW/166ARS   RICKENBACKER    AE0363
1116L             94-0321  BW-10   C-21V   6-52 AVN/B      LOS ALAMITOS    ADFE4D


5/22/13:

0918L   PAT 087     86-0087  BP-67  C-12T   DET 22 OSACOM   FT INDIANTOWN   ADFEDD
0939L   GABLESEN    84-0182  BL-112 C-12T   DET 10 OSACOM   INDIANAPOLIS    ADFEC9
0940L   2316        84-24376 BP-47  C-12U-2 DET 15 OSACOM   LANSING         AE08F9
1100L   FUZZY 85    87-9285  5126   C-130H  914AW/328AS     NIAGARA FALLS   AE05E1
1148L               96-0112  UE-256 C-12J   586FTS          HOLLOMAN        AEFF00
1356L   SKULL 71    08-27013 4149   C-27J   179AW/164AS     MANSFIELD       AE272F


5/23/13:


1253L              86-0084  BP-64   C-12T   DET 26 OSACOM   SANDSTON        AEFEDA
1313L  TAZZ 72     58-0083  17828   KC-135R 121ARW/145ARS   RICKENBACKER    AE0157


5/24/13

0705L   REACH 398   06-6160  50169  C-17A   60AMW/21AS      TRAVIS          AE14SE
1054L   RHINO 50    97-0044  50048  C-17A   445AW/89AS      WPAFB           AE07F6
1311L   TAZZ 42     59-1453  17941  KC-135R 121ARW/145ARS   RICKENBACKER    AE0362


5/25/13:

1414L COBRA 72      61-2672  18348  OC-135B 55WG/45RS       OFFUTT          AE08D6


5/26/13:

0905L HOTROD 88   73-1676  20682      E-4B    55WG/1ACCS      OFFUTT          ADFEB3


5/28/13:   

1038L SLUFF 69    58-0083  17828  KC-135R 121ARW/166ARS   RICKENBACKER    AE0157
1053L REACH 171 T 03-3125  50133  C-17A   305AMW/6AS      MCGUIRE         AE1236
1102L MASH 81     60-0363  18138  KC-135R 434ARW/74ARS    GRISSOM         AE0426
1115L             94-0320  BW-9   C-21V   6-52 AVN/Co B   LOS ALAMITOS    ADFE4C
1344L REACH 526   89-1189  50007  C-17A   437AW/14AS      CHARLESTON      AE07CD


5/29/13:

1054L   TAZZ 79     60-0341  18116      KC-135R 121ARW/166ARS   RICKENBACKER    AE0363
1055L   P271C877    98-0009  0505       UC-35A  PATD                            AE036F
1137L   NODAK 69    84-0064  35A-510    C-21A   119WG/177AS     FARGO           AE0199
1200L   INDY 81     58-0076  17821      KC-135R 434ARW/74ARS    GRISSOM         AE04BD   
1207L               61-0324  18231      KC-135R 452AMW/336ARS   MARCH           
1208L   PAT 146     84-0146  BL-76      C-12T   DET 18 OSACOM   CONCORD         AE03FA
1209L               78-23128 BC-64      C-12C   USASOC                          AE03F2
1209L               164996   382-5301   C-130T  VR-64           JRB-MDL 
1240L   SLUFF 69    59-1453  17941      KC-135R 121ARW/166ARS   RICKENBACKER    AE0362
1252L               62-3575  18558      KC-135R 22ARW/344ARS    MCCONNELL
1307L   DIXIE 51    58-0074  17819      KC-135T 171ARW/146ARS   PITTSBURGH      AE0238
1312L   DIXIE 52    57-1453  17524      KC-135R 117ARW/106ARS   BIRMINGHAM      AE04B2


5/30/13:

0619L   REACH 369   07-7181  50199      C-17A   437AW/14AS      CHARLESTON      AE20C2
1109L   RHINO 50    94-0068             C-17A   445AW/89AS      WPAFB           AE07E2


5/31/13:

1103L               97-0048  50052      C-17A   445AW/89AS      WPAFB           AE07FA
 

===============================

SW Ohio Mode-S/ADS Military Intercepts 1 - 15 May 2013

Since late February I have been using a RTL-SDR R820T Dongle for Mode-S Radar monitoring.
I am using ADSB#, Virtual Radar Server and ADSB Scope into my Acer netbook. I will start posting loggings to the blog here. Please let me know what you think of the format, and if I need to tweak it a little. All Intercepts are from my monitoring position in Southwestern Ohio.


TIME LOCAL/CALLSIGN/REG/CONSTRUCTION#/TYPE/UNIT/LOC/ICAO24


5/1/13:

0919L  BATTL 69   84-0079  35A-525  C-21A  110AW/172AS    BATTLE CREEK
1359L  BATTL 69   84-0079  35A-525  C-21A  110AW/172AS    BATTLE CREEK
1412L  ALLIED 1   84-0128  35A-575  C-21A  103AW/118AS    BRADLEY


5/2/13:

1001L    TAZZ 72  59-1458  17946    KC-135R 121ARW/145ARS  RICKEBACKER    AE0384
1025L    NAF 40   T-235    46956    DC-10   334SQN         EINDHOVEN
1030L    SPAR 294   84-0130 25A-577 C-21A   375AMW/311AS   SCOTT
1041L    HOTROD 99  75-0125 20949   E4-B    55W/1ACCS      OFFUTT         ADFEB6
1056L               N92B            Be65    Dynamic Aviation
1107L    MASH 81    62-3510 18493   KC-135R 434ARW/74ARS   GRISSOM        AE068B
1201L               91-0513 DC-815M C-26E   DET 24 OSACOM  COLUMBIA, SC   
1228L    EASY 41    165741  0529    UC-35C  VMR-4 USMC     NEW ORLEANS

5/3/13:

1135L    TURBO 39    63-8011 18628  KC-135  92ARW/92ARS    FAIRCHILD
1149L    REACH 7E    93-0604 50024  C-17A   445AW/89AS     WPAFB

5/4/13:

1622L    RULER 60    03-3114 50122  C-17A   172AW/183AS    JACKSON, MS
1727L    ROGUE 39    83-0489 5018   C-130H  109AW/139AS    SCHENECTADY

5/5/13:

0936L    SAM 97      09-0017 26272  C-32A   89AW/1AS       ANDREWS
1330L                69-0002 500-33 C-5A    433AW/68AS     SAN ANTONIO
1354L    RHINO 91    99-0060 5004   C-17A   445AW/89AS     WPAFB           AE0806

5/6/13:

1249L    TAZZ 85     60-0341 18116  KC-135R 121ARW/145ARS  RICKENBACKER    AE0384
1341L    SHUCK 80H   79-0003 21757  E-3B    552ACW/966AACS TINKER

5/7/13:

0810L    GABLESEN    84-0182 BL-112 C-12T   DET10/OSACOM   INDIANAPOLIS    ADFEC9
1015L    BLUE 74     64-14839 18779 KC-135R 126ARW/108ARS  SCOTT           AE013D
1102L    VENUS 02    92-9000  23825 VC-25A  89AW/PAG       ANDREWS         ADFDF9
1215L    MASH 71     63-8041  18658 KC-135R 434ARW/74ARS   GRISSOM         AE04EE
1217L    GABLESEN    84-0182 BL-112 C-12T   DET10/OSACOM   INDIANAPOLIS    ADFEC9
1221L    VENUS 02    92-9000  23825 VC-25A  89AW/PAG       ANDREWS         ADFDF9
1224L                63-7991  18608 KC-135R 155ARW/173ARS  LINCOLN         AE04EC
1226L                94-0317  BW-6  C-12V   2-228AVN/CoA   DOBBINS               
5/8/13:

0521L               CNA-OS   4909   KC-130H BAFRA No3 RMAF  KENITRA MOROCCO
0853L               95-6709  5417   C-130H  130AW/130AS     YEAGER AP      ADFDD3
0900L               ZK018    RT009  HAWK T2 4FTS/4SQN       RAF VALLEY   
0929L               98-0009  0505   UC-35A  PATD                           AE036F
1037L    ANVIL 41   94-6707  5399   C-130H  130AW/130AS     YEAGER AP      ADFDEC
1100L    PAT 665    84-0167  BL-97  C-12U   6-52AVN         LOS ALAMITOS   AE03F5

5/9/13:

0930L    PXLFK   
1020L               75-0125  20949  E-4B    55WG/1ACCS      OFFUTT         ADFEB6
1047L    COUGR 94   84-0102  35A-548 C-21A  375 AMW/458AS   SCOTT          AE01BB
1255L    INDY 82    62-3510  18493  KC-135R 434ARW/74ARS    GRISSOM        AE068B
1304L    DILLN 02   86-0377  35A-629 C-21A  140WG/200AS     PETERSON       AE01A4
1306L    INDY 81    61-0272  18179  KC-135  434ARW/74ARS    GRISSOM        AE04E9
1350L               87-0041  500-127 C-5B   439AW/337AS     WESTOVER       AE0586

5/10/13:

0021L    RCH 796T   04-4135  50143  C-17A   305AMW/6AS      MCGUIRE       AE1240
1010L    ROPER 92   85-1365  5078   C-130H  136AW/181AS     FT WORTH      AE02F5
1022L    RCH894     99-0165  50069  C-17A   445AW/89AS      WPAFB         AE080B
1119L    RHINO 50   97-0044  50048  C-17A   445AW/89AS      WPAFB         AE07F6
1142L    COUGR 94   84-0102  35A-548 C-21A  375AW/458AS     SCOTT         AE01BB
                    88-1306  5167   AC-130W 27SOQ/73SOS     CANNON        AE05BB
                    84-0101  35A-547 C-21A  375AMW/3750G D1 WILL ROGERS   AE01BA
1152L    SLUFF 62   59-1458  17946  KC-135R 121ARW/166ARS   RICKENBACKER  AE0384
1157L               84-0090  35A-536 C-21A  119WG/177AS     FARGO
1220L    RCH 065    86-0035  42248  KC-10A  305AMW/2/32ARS  MCGUIRE       AE022C
1226L               167951   34394  P-8A    VX-20           NAS PATUXENT  AE222C
1308L    GABLESEN   84-0182  BL-112 C-12T   DET 10 OSACOM   INDIANAPOLIS  ADFEC9
1342L               91-1234  5284   C-130H  123AW/165AS     LOUISVILLE    ADFE65

5/11/13:

0059L               84-0060 500-84  C-5B    60AMW/22AS      TRAVIS        AE055B
0854L    DERBY 81   91-1234 5284    C-130H  123AW/165AS     LOUISVILLE    ADFE65
1035L               98-1355 5491    C-130J  314AW/48AS      LITTLE ROCK   AE0253
1037L               163692  481     C-20D   VR-1            ANDREWS       AE025B
1050L    REACH 311  90-1797 5250    C-130H  139AW/180AS     ROSECRANS     ADFE60
1055L    JESSE 93   90-1793 5246    C-130H  139AW/180AS     ROSECRANS     ADFE5C
1058L               91-1231 5278    C-130H  123AW/165AS     LOUSIVILLE    ADFE62


5/12/13:

1313L    OTIS 02    167108  5577    C-130J  VMGR-352        MIRAMAR       AE1524
1413L               2141    21      C-2A    VRC-40          NAS NORFOLK   ADFE44
1414L               94-0320 BW-9    C-12V   6-52 AVN/Co B   LOS ALAMITOS  ADFE4C
1620L    PAT 903    94-0321 BW-10   C-12V   6-52 AVN/Co B   LOS ALAMITOS  ADFE4D
1705L               166088  PN-79   T-6B    TAW-5           NAS WHITING   AE2ED5

5/13/13:

0945L    SODA 81    59-1448 17936   KC-135R 134ARW/15ARS    MCGHEE-TYSON  AE047C

5/14/13:

0923L    2316       84-24376 BP-47  C-12U-2 DET 15 OSACOM   LANSING       AE08F9
                    84-24375 BP-46  C-12U-2 2-228AVN/CoA    JOHNSTOWN AP  AE08F8
0927L               79-0118  0382   A-10C   442FW/303FS     WHITEMAN      AE18F9

5/15/13:

1348L    JESSE 93   90-1793  5246   C-130H  139AW/180AS     ROSECRANS     ADFE5C
1401L    REACH 548  07-7179  50197  C-17A   60AMW/21AS      TRAVIS        AE1471
==============================================

KC-135s Staying At Rickenbacker

Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base will continue operating the KC-135 'Supertanker' after Air Force officials decided that  Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire will be host to the new KC-46A refueling aircraft. Despite the efforts of the base and local government officials to be selected, the 121st Air Refueling Wing will keep with the KC-135R for the time being. The 121st ARW can be heard flying on a nearly daily basis on 238.800 and local ATC frequencies.

THE HERCS ARE BACK!

Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Joseph Harwood

After decisive hard work by Ohio lawmakers, the 179th Airlift Wing at Mansfield was spared the BRAC chopping block and has received a new directive by regaining the C-130H 'Hercules' mission. The four C-27J 'Spartan' aircraft the unit has been flying the past several years will be divested. The first two of eventual eight C-130s arrived at Mansfield-Lahm Air National Guard Base to great fanfare on Friday May 24, 2013.

The two C-130Hs, from the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Airlift Wing arrived with new tail colors representing their new Ohio home. 82-0054 and 82-0056 landed around 1700 Local Time. One was sporting the state flag of Ohio, the other the Ohio State Buckeyes flag in the tail stripe. The 179th is slated to receive the final and eighth C-130H by June of 2016. The new mission will add 200 new jobs to the Mansfield base.

DoD Plans Affect Area Units and Bases

With the Department of Defense making big cuts to Air Force infrastructure, many milair monitors in and around Ohio may experience a big decrease in local activity.

At this point all plans are 'Unofficial' but it appears that the DoD seeks to make heavy cuts involving over 100 A-10 aircraft including squadrons. Two squadrons are neighbors to Ohio, the 163rd FS 'Blacksnakes' from the Indiana Air National Guard at Fort Wayne and the 107th FS based at Selfridge Air Base for the Michigan ANG. Both units recently converted to the A-10 from the F-16.

The A-10 'Warthog' began flying operations in the 70s with its mission to providing
close air support for ground troops. Other squadrons that maybe affected are the 184th Arkansas ANG at Fort Smith, the USAFE's 81st FS at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany and the AFRC's 47th FS at Barksdale AFB.

Possible good news for the 163rd FS and Fort Wayne, is that the unit could pick up the mission of the MC-12 flying nine to eleven aircraft beginning in October 2013. The MC-12 is a turboprop plane that provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information for ground forces. It just entered operational flying status in 2009.

Ohio Bases To Lose Aircraft

The Air Force recently announced that many cuts were coming to the service in an effort to reduce costs and size of forces. These cuts will appear to hit several bases in the Buckeye State hard. In particularly, Mansfield. Cuts call for the 179th AW to lose all four of its C-27J Spartans to retirement, two of which are currently deployed to Afghanistan. The 179th AW just received and started flying the C-27J last summer. Within the next year, some 3,900 active duty, 5,100 Air Guard and 900 Air Force reserves will be cut overall.

Ohio lawmakers, including Senator Rob Portman (R) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D) are working hard to minimize the impact on Ohio.

The Ohio National Guard's 121st ARW based at Rickenbacker International is slated to lose six of its KC-135 Supertankers.

SPARTANS HEAD OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME

The 179th AW airmen have headed to Afghanistan for the first-ever deployment of the Air National Guard's new C-27J transport aircraft. The 179th will join up with units from Georgia and Oklahoma to work with the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Using the new C-27J Spartans for airlifts and airdrops to provide direct support to U.S. Army ground units. The 179th AW was the first air national guard unit to receive the new Joint Cargo Aircraft as reported here on the Ohio Area Milcom Blog in August 2010. Their deployment overseas will last nine months.

Springfield-Beckley Could Become a C-17 Assault Strip

With a September 30th date fast approaching for the handover of the former Air National Guard Base to the City of Springfield. Plans are being formulated to turn the airport into possible use as an assault strip for the C-17s from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Currently the 445th AW have been flying to Washington state and South Carolina to practice take-offs and landings. Turning KSGH into an assault strip for those training purposes would save in fuel and costs. Not to mention giving us Milcom monitors more to listen to.

2011 Vectren Dayton Air Show Frequencies

Ohio Milcom frequency spotters report the following frequencies in use at this year's Dayton Air Show now getting underway at Cox-Dayton International Airport (KDAY).

Fixed:

123.150                 Show Discrete
123.225                 Daffy Control (Ramp)
124.900                 Air Boss
282.325                 Air Boss
379.700                 Daffy Control
                    (ground side kept mistakenly transmitting FM)
451.500/456.500 743 DCS Air Show Ops

Tactical:

122.475               A-10 East Hog Demo
122.775               OSP Plane
123.325               MetLife blimp
123.450               Red Bull
123.475               Team Oracle
133.000               Sean D. Tucker
139.625               180th FW Aux 06
141.075               Thunderbirds V01
141.575 127.3 PL      CAP CC 1
234.500               Army Aviation Heritage Foundation
235.250               Thunderbirds U01
275.500               VFA-37
322.950               Thunderbirds U02
341.750               9th BW
397.475               ISR 6
413.275 431 DCS       Thunderbirds ground support


WPAFB TRS:

976      Fuels
1552     Military FSS/RSU

2011 AFMC Freedom's Call Tattoo

This years Freedom's Call Tattoo is scheduled for this coming Friday June 24 at the National Museum of The United States Air Force adjacent to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Aircraft expected to perform are:

C-17A
C-21A
C-130H
KC-135R T-6 (the warbird, not the modern one)

The schedule for Friday is:

1100-1200:     AF band rehearsal
1200:          All video screens complete and connected
1200-1630:     Guest band setup and sound check           
               NLT 1300: aircraft arrivals
1600:          FAA waiver briefing on flightline
1600:          Gates open
1630:          Displays open
1700:          Opening band takes stage
1830:          Preshow begins
1959-Twilight: Aircraft flights
2000:          Ceremony begins
2100:          Guest band takes stage
2200:          Fireworks display
2230:          Show ends

All aircraft are expected to arrive at KFFO prior to 1 PM on Friday for the mandatory 4 PM briefing. This is by far your best chance to see them (especially if you are taking photos, since the show is at dusk!). If this is the case....

First, check the ATIS (124.475/269.900) for the runway in use.
If 23R/L: Watch from Fairfield Park (39 50 00/-084 01 28).
If 05L/R: Watch from Wright Brothers Hill (39 47 42/-084 05 21).

If you plan to watch the show instead, your best bet is to find someplace east of the museum runway to see the aircraft inbound for passes. Huffman Dam will have traffic overhead, but at higher altitudes to avoid terrain. Eastwood Park may be a good alternative, though I've never tried it. There will also be many people set up along Col. Glenn near Exit 15, but you'll need to plan parking in advance - base security will be shooing you away if you try to get a spot in a private lot.

High-performance aircraft hold at CLACK (south of KSGH) until they are called into the pattern. From there, they proceed overhead FFO and begin a downwind leg to 09. This inbound turn is VFR - as shown by the B-52 last year: they made an extended base leg and got scolded by the controller for nearly overflying the crowd. All closed patterns at the museum field are flown normally.  The initial flyover also stages from CLACK, but uses a point south of the museum (probably a fix off the TACAN) to time their inbound run.

FREQUENCIES TO MONITOR:

AIR:

121.800 Ground
121.950 WPAC Ops
122.850 Dispatch
123.225 Air Boss
123.550 WPAC Tac 3
123.575 WPAC Tac 4
123.650 WPAC Tac 1
123.675 WPAC Tac 2
126.500 Columbus Departure
126.900 Tower
251.075 Tower B/U
281.450 Tower
289.400 Air Boss
327.125 Columbus Departure
335.800 Ground
344.600 Metro
349.400 Buckeye Control
372.200 Dispatch

GROUND:

Civil Air Patrol (providing support for SF):
139.8750 TAC 1
141.0000 CC 2
141.5750 CC 1
149.2750 AIR 1
150.2250 GUARD 1
150.5625 AIR 2
148.1250/143.5500 Primary
148.1500/143.7000 Secondary
148.1375/143.6250 Tactical 

CAP ISR radios:

396.8750 1
397.1250 2
397.1750 3
397.3750 4
397.4250 5
397.4750 6
397.5500 7
397.9500 8
398.0500 9
399.4250 10
399.4750 11
399.7250 12
399.9250 13
399.9750 14 

Media (should be using remote pickups around 450 mHz):

1290 WHIO-AM - live @ 5 PM
95.7 WHIO-FM - live @ 5 PM
99.1 WHKO-FM - live @ 6 PM, fireworks simulcast

Wright-Patterson TRS

Thanks to Jared Soergel for the above information. If anyone catches anything not listed above please post in the comments.

OPENING DAY IN CINCINNATI

It's officially a holiday in Cincinnati! The Reds play the Brewers with the first pitch at 2:05 PM for the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season.

Member Jared Soergel has the details for the pre-game flyover:

VFA-131 will be performing a flyover for Opening Day 2011. The standard procedure for flyovers at GABP is to orbit overhead of Lunken Field (KLUK), then depart on a 270-degree heading directly to the stadium. Most often, aircraft will stage from Lunken itself.

The lead aircraft will be communicating timing with the ground controller (probably on UHF discrete), and making the inbound call with CVG Approach. In some cases, another aircraft in the flight will monitor Lunken Tower for traffic advisories.

Freqs to listen for:
CVG Class B: 121.000/254.250
RCO's: 124.900 (Clermont Co., Blue Ash, Lunken), 126.250 (Butler Co.)
KLUK Tower: 118.700/257.800
KLUK Ground: 121.900
VFA-131: 235.400, 239.875, 264.350, 285.500, 285.800, 339.400, 357.800
Flyover common: 123.450, 282.800

Push For Unmanned Airspace in SW Ohio Edges Closer

Ohio legislators continue to push to have the FAA re-designate airspace in SW Ohio for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). That inched closer to reality on Wednesday February 15 when the house approved aviation bill that included a measure for tests ranges throughout the United States, while SW Ohio has not yet been selected, it certainly puts both Wright Patterson AFB and Springfield ANBG as front-runners for their intensive work with UAVs. The airspace re-designation would be critical for the continued development and testing.

445th AW Gets Another C-17

On Friday February 11th, the 445th AW at Wright-Patterson AFB accepted delivery of their second C-17A (93-0603). It worked the pattern before landing using the callsign RHINO 92.
There will eventually be a fleet of eight C-17 aircraft for the 445th AW. The photo is of 97-0044 which was the first C-17A taken delivery of. Photo courtesy of Michelle Gigante

Mansfield Goes Spartan!

Some people may find Friday the 13th to be an unlucky date. For the people of Mansfield, Ohio, it could be their luckiest one. It was on Friday August 13th that the 179th Airlift Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard accepted the first of four new C-27J Spartan aircraft that the unit is transitioning to from the C-130 Hercules aircraft they have been flying since 1976. This move is a result of the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005. The Alenia built C-27J Spartan is a medium sized military transport aircraft ordered as the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) for use by all United States military.

The C-27J is an advanced version of Alenia Aeronautica's G.222, using the engines and systems from the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. An estimated crowd of around 800 friends, family, local legislative and high ranking air guard officials attended the ceremony. The ceremony closed with the christening of the first plane as "The Spirit of Mansfield". By February 2011, unit commander Colonel Gary McCue states the 179th should have four of the C-27J Spartans on base. U.S. Senator from Ohio Sherrod Brown promises to relentlessly pursue having Mansfield designated as a national training base for the new aircraft. This promises to provide Ohio Area Milcom listeners more monitoring opportunities in the years to come.

2010 Vectren Dayton Air Show Frequencies

Ohio Milcom Blog Reporters Darryl Furguson, Tony Stewart and Rod Villari are checking in with frequencies monitored for this year's Dayton Airshow.

AERONAUTICAL OPERATIONS:

123.150                 Air Show Discrete
123.475                 Sean Tucker
124.900                 Air Boss
139.8125 NFM  67.0 PL   Blue Angels Maintenance
142.6125 NFM  67.0 PL   Blue Angels Tower Spotter
237.800                 Blue Angels Solos
275.350                 Blue Angels Diamond
284.250                 Blue Angels Show Box
305.900                 Fat Albert
346.500                 Blue Angels Check List
384.550                 Unknown Use


SUPPORT FREQUENCIES:

451.500        Airshow operations?  (repeater)
451.800        Shuttle Buses
456.800        Gate Ops
460.4625       Parking (narrow band ?, low modulation)
469.500        Vendors
469.550        Vendors

First A-10 Thunderbolt IIs Arrive at Fort Wayne

The first four of what is expected to be a compliment of twenty A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter planes arrived at Fort Wayne IAP on June 30th. The A-10s are replacing the Block 30 F-16s that the 122nd FW has been flying the past few years. The aging F-16s are being retired and the Indiana Air National Guard will transition to the larger fighters. Hanger space is being expanded to house the bigger aircraft.

Bad News For Springfield - The Dutch Move to Tucson

The Dutch Daily News is reporting this morning that the Royal Netherlands Air Force will return to Tucson International Airport for pilot training with the 162nd Fighter Wing. For the past five years the Dutch have been training with the Ohio National Guard's 178th FW at Springfield-Beckley ANGB. The OHANG has been in long term negotiations with the RNLAF, but the Dutch have decided to return to Tucson instead. They will base 14 of their F-16 aircraft there at Tucson beginning in January 2011 just as they have at Springfield since 2005.

This is bad news for milcom monitors here in southwest Ohio who are used to hearing daily action in the local Military Operations Areas that are nearby. The 178th FW has been slated to disband in accordance to the 2005 BRAC. Area officials have been trying to negotiate a new contact to keep the Dutch at Springfield into the future,. a future which is now up in the air...so to speak.