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.