[MilCom] MCAS Beaufort Airshow; 24 April 2004

[Roland R. McCormick III]

Despite covering myself in SPF 45 sunblock, I started to
burn uncomfortably, so I departed about half-way thru
the show.   Blue Angel 3 was conspicuously absent 
from the line up and communication from the team; an
email on the northeast milair reflector explained this
Blue Angel #3 has been dismissed from the team for an
undisclosed reason).

Wandering through the static displays yielded two very
interesting aircraft I hadn't seen up close before.  There
was a V-22 Osprey and a full size mock up of the F-35 
JSF.  The JSF was a smaller aircraft than I thought it 
would be.  VMFA-122, VMFA-224, VMFA-312, and 
VMFA-533 had well turned out aircraft on display as
well (interesting that I didn't see VMFA-312, VFA-82,
or VFA-86 on static display).  Another interesting sight
were two satcom antennas on a UH-60L (26596) from
2-3 AVN; this a/c was also equipped with aerial command
post equipment, which probably explains the satcom.
A quick conversation with the crew chief indicated that
they don't use the satcom here; so far they've only used
it while deployed for combat.

I was able to dig up a few freqs while I was there though, 
perhaps they'll be helpful if anyone goes tomorrow:

119.050/340.200    Tower
128.150                   Ground, Air Boss
    -ANGEL 01 (HH-46, MCAS Beaufort)
    -RED BARON ## (Red Baron demo team)
    -BULLDOG (Jim Leroy)
    -PATTI (Patti Wagstaff)
    -BIG DOG (T-33)
    -EAGLE 01 (F-15C, 1s FW)
    -SABRE (F-86)
    -OTTO (Small helo selling rides)

123.150                   Show Discrete
    -RED BARON 
    -BULLDOG/PATTI

170.900    Blue Angels maintenance, Comm Cart
164.900    Blue Angels maintenance, Comm Cart

281.800    Base Ops; various with radio checks

258.900    BENGAL ## TAC 2, switched to 333.300,
                 possibly preparing for demo flight

140.950    Show Control; this was a good freq to monitor
                 to keep up with what was coming next and the
                 timing.  This was also good for some interesting
                 critiques of the performances.

140.100    Crash/Fire; Fire/Medical also on the Beaufort
                 County TRS.  There were several heat/dehydration
                 related incidents - monitoring seemed to indicate
                 Beaufort Co. EMS was handling medical.

138.600    Security
138.750    Flight Line Security
139.575    Parking/Traffic

141.000    Public Works, show logistics

148.400    POL (Petroleum Oil and Lubricants); fueling of
                 performer's aircraft.


Mac McCormick
Savannah, GA
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/kf4lmt/index.html