[MilCom] Thunderbirds AR over Illinois

[Ray, W2EC]

Knew I forgot something!

I had the following freqs programmed in my scanner, I didn't do a band 
scan to see if there were any other freqs in use. All were AM mode.

140.40
141.85
142.570
143.85
143.90
235.25

There was some activity on all the frequencies accept 143.90, I didn't 
hear anything there. 140.40 was active the day they arrived and when 
they departed. During the actual performance, my scanner pretty much 
locked up on 143.85 as that was almost continuously in use. For part of 
the show it must have been linked to the PA system as it appeared to be 
an announcer talking to the show crowd "Welcome ladies and gentlemen, 
etc etc, here come the THUNDERBIRDS!" as they made a low high speed pass 
over the airport. Then I started getting comm from the team with things 
like "get ready, bring 'em up, ready, ready, ready, BREAK" as they 
performed splits, rolls, etc. Hadn't thought ahead of time to record 
anything. One interesting thing was the "sing-song" method used, it 
appeared they were singing the commands in order to establish the 
timing, it wasn't just words, but an actual tone and rhythm to the 
command sequence. Kind of like saying the words but using a musical 
score to highlite them. Hard to explain but think of the method of 
singing the scale "do ra me so fa" but instead use words "and here we go 
so lets break NOW!" and it wasn't just going up the scale but actually 
doing it to a varying musical cadence. Many times there was no lead-up 
timing, it was just a quick word like "NOW or SPLIT or BREAK" and some 
words I couldn't even decipher, but each time something was uttered, one 
or more of the aircraft would make some abrupt attitude change.

Lot's of words that didn't mean much without knowing the context they 
were used in. "Drop it NOW!", "brakes NOW!", "ready, ready, ready, 
SMOKE!" all this was said in a sequence such that it was establishing 
the timing of the manuevers.

Ray

Greg Brazil wrote:

> What about a report of what you heard & frequencies used?
> Greg (SF Bay Area)
> 
> Ray, W2EC wrote:
> 
>> Actually, yesterday was a really great day for the Thunderbirds, and me!
>>
>> They were performing at the Binghamton, NY (BGM) air show and since I 
>> live only a short distance from the airport, and on top of a 
>> "mountain" at nearly the same MSL as BGM, I have a direct line of 
>> sight to the airport. So I sat on my front deck with a couple cold 
>> beers and my scanner, watching and listening to the whole show in 
>> comfort. At times they flew right over my house! Outstanding 
>> performance!!!!
>>
>> 73, Ray
>>
>> Scott wrote:
>>
>>> The Thunderbirds are currently about to refuel over
>>> Central IL.  They are on their way back to Nellis from
>>> somewhere.  Keep an ear out.  They were on UHF 295.8,
>>> but went back to VHF.
>>>
>>> Heads up Springfield IL.  You might have a surprise on
>>> your ramp.
>>>
>>> Scott
>>>
>>>
>>>            __________________________________
>>> Do you Yahoo!?
>>> New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 100MB free storage!
>>> http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail 
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> MilCom mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milcom
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/faq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:MilCom at mailman.qth.net
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> MilCom mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milcom
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/faq.htm
>> Post: mailto:MilCom at mailman.qth.net
>>
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> MilCom mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/milcom
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/faq.htm
> Post: mailto:MilCom at mailman.qth.net
>