05JUL26 UPDATE:

Three Weeks until the July 26 FOBB !!!  We already have 115 Bumblebees signed up.  So far, there will be Bumblebees in 36 different State/Province/Countries (SPC).   You can see where they all will be using the reports available on https://ars-qrp.com

One thing that is new this year is a suggested FOBB “Target Frequency” for each band.  The bands are pretty big when searching for QRP signals.  Bumblebees who gather around these “Target Frequencies” should be easier to find and much busier.  ( 3.566 +/-,  7.036 +/-,  14.036 +/-,  21.036 +/-,  28.036 +/- ).   By the way, Bumblebee Spotting and Self-Spotting is permitted and encouraged.

And, be sure to take 2-3 Photos of your portable Bumblebee operation.   Email your photos with your name, callsign, and a brief description of your operation to:  [email protected].   Your Photos will end up being posted on https://ars-qrp.com.

(Email [email protected] to get a number for the QRP Skeeter Hunt on 16AUG26).

ORIGINAL NOTICE:

The Annual Summer Flight of the Bumblebees will be held on Sunday, July 26, 2026, during the four-hour daytime window, from 1700 to 2100 UTC.

This casual QRP CW event consists of hundreds of 'Bumblebees' who are operating portable stations at outdoor locations, and other stations who try to work as many of these ’Bumblebees’ as possible.

Bumblebees must use a portable outdoor station, must use an independent power source, must use a temporary antenna, and must use QRP (or less) power.   There are no limitations for the other stations, except only those who are also running QRP (or less) power can submit a score.

Operators who want to go out and setup a portable station at some outdoor location, and be a highly sought after 'Bumblebee', must obtain a new "Bumblebee Number". 
 
The window for obtaining your ’Summer 2026 Bumblebee Number' is now Open. It is a very simple Self-Serve process.   The https://ars-qrp.com web site will explain the whole process.  (Open the MENU and Select ’Flight of the Bumblebees’)
 
I'll be out there as a 'Bumblebee' - hoping to work you during the event.

(Pictures submitted for the 2024 and 2025 FOBB events have all been posted)
 
72,
Jody - K3JZD