[MilCom] Westfield International Airshow Attendance Report 8/27/05 (Long)

[Ken]

I attended the Westfield International Air Show 
(http://www.2005westfieldairshow.org/ ), Barnes MAP/ANGB, Westfield MA today 
(Saturday 8/27/05)  (arriving around 0750 hrs (with extremely light traffic) 
& departing at 1500 hrs local (before the TBirds took off ).  There was lots 
of aero activity throughout the day including:



Military:

A10 Flybys (TORCH 1) (morning)

A10's Simulated Attack with "Mad Bomber" Pyro tech (TORCH 1 (4 A10's))

B2 Flyby (DEATH  11)

C5 Flyby (ROD 28)

C130 J Flyby (RHODY 31)

F15 Flyby (JEEP 1)

F16 Flyby (unknown, VT ANG)

Golden Knights Army Parachute Team (GOLDEN KNIGHTS 608 (F27)

Heritage Flight F15, F86, P51

Thunderbirds USAF Demo Team (THUNDERBIRD 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)



Civilians:

Mike Goulian (CAP223) (MIKE GOULIAN)

Red Bull (Mig)

Ed Hamill (HAMSTER)

Corsair (CORSAIR)

Dell Reese (T6)

Iron Eagles Demo (EAGLE 1 & 2)

Shock Wave Jet Truck (SHOCK WAVE)

Stearman

Warbirds Flyby B25/, P51, P47  (B25 FLIGHT)

Etc.etc.   (see the website)



Primary Aero Frequencies utilized:

41.45 NFM, A10's air/air tactical  (morning show)

118.9      Air Boss Show Control - Used by all civilian & military 
performers, to include A10's & B2, F15, F16.  Also all ground vehicles on 
runways/taxiways.

122.925 Discrete air/air & also Show Public Address System access (including 
B2 & C5) (Thanks to an undisclosed hobbyists)

138.25 A10's air/air tactical (morning show)

139.9 A10's air/air tactical (morning show)

143.85 TBirds tactical (only could confirm at engine equipment test 
time/runup)

235.25 TBirds tactical (only could confirm at engine equipment test 
time/runup)

303.0  104 FW Command Post & air/ground coordination

384.55 Heritage Flight Air/Air tactical (Thanks Brian!!!)



MAJOR GROUND SUPPORT  NETS (NFM mode):

148.10 Aircraft Maintenance/Transit Support

148.20  Fire/Crash

148.45    Base Security

149.50 Public Affairs Coordination

Also digital P25 148.8625 (didn't have my 296D with me)



866.0125R (156.7)  ITAC  Call in (Mt Tom Site Repeater)  -- Law Enforcement 
Traffic Area Wide Control (State & Local PD with vehicles, bikes, ATV's, 
mobiles/portables, etc.)

866.5125R (156.7), "On Site" Repeater provided by Mass Emergency Management 
Agency communications/command post vehicle.  This was a mutual aid tie 
frequency used by all agencies supporting the Base "within the fence" & 
parking areas, to include Pathway Ambulance Service, Fire/Crash, Westfield 
PD, Mass State Police (revolving patrols & security check points), etc..



I performed some band searching in the vehicle in the typical government 
bands (148-150.8),  162-174 mhz, 406-420 mhz) and only found open house 
related activities in the 148-150.8 mhz area).  Approximately 12 frequencies 
in this range were very active.



STATIC AIRCRAFT DISPLAYS - (Less aircraft than at 2003 show)



A10, ANG, MA tail code 78-626 (104 Fighter Wing)

A10, ANG, MA tail code 78-644 (104 Fighter Wing)

C5, AFRC "Westover" 90019

C17, USAF AMC "McGuire" 33125

C130, USAF, AETC "The Rock" 3893 (314 AW)

CH146, RCAF 146423

F15, ANG, MA tail code AF 77-106

F16, ANG, Vermont tail code AF 84-287

HH65C, USCG "Atlantic City" 6581

HU25C, USCG, "Cape Cod" 2133

KC135, ANG "New Hampshire" 23576

OH58, MA ARNG  "372" (didn't get tail code due to sunlight)

P3C, USN (Brunswick),  161333

T2C,USN CTW-6, "F", 159710  nose "811"

T6, USAF, RA tail code, AF 03-674

T6, USN TAW 6, 5994 "F"

T37, USAF CB tail code, 41 FTS

T38, USAF XL tail code AF65-345

T45C, USN VT-7, TW-1, "A" 165168

UH60, MA ARNG, (didn't get tail code due to sunlight)



Other Aircraft:

AN 2

Cessna O2A "Skymaster"

Cessna 172's  2 each (Civil Air Patrol)

FedX had a large jet

F84, MA ANG, 22042 (display, don't think it was flyable

T33 MA ANG, 29681  (display, don't think it was flyable)

Warbirds (at least 6, I didn't look at or photo)

Also some others that I just plain missed (USCG Auxiliary)



Other Static Displays:

There were some in the Air Guard hangar as well outside the

Hangar - didn't spend much time in there to give a report.

Also typical recruiting displays, AFRC, USA, USMC, ANG, etc.



Miscellaneous/Other Comments:

FRS 14/38 was used initially to find other hobbyists (there were quite a few 
people using FRS radios including illegally using the GMRS frequencies). 
However, again one of the "wagon guys" (Brian from CT) had set up his 
monitoring station on the show line so this was the rallying point for 
hobbyists as well as other "interested" people.  There were about 15 
milcom/milcom interested hobbyists that I met at the show, most at the 
"rallying point".   The weather IMHO was very uncomfortable/brutal (hot, 
humid; sun just 'beating down on you' (now I know why I liked the Anchorage, 
Alaska area so much in the summer!!!), although there was a slight breeze, 
which probably cut down on the heat exhaustion heatstroke cases.  Basically 
I spent from 0800 to approx 1100hrs in the show area & than went back to my 
vehicle to relax & monitor with my BC780XLT "in the stealth mode (e.g. just 
a portable antenna across the seat, which worked fine).  Additionally I 
carried an RS Pro 83,  Pro 26 (old but still good),  Midland FRS unit, Sony 
digital camera (took about 90 pictures of varying quality) with me while in 
the show area (and of course these were used in the vehicle as well).  The 
Pro 83's "signal stalking" capabilities, seemed to work fairly well - the 
closer you got to a transmitter (relative to it's power) the better chance 
you had for an alert).   The REAL ADVENTURE began as I somewhat stumbled 
around in near heat exhaustion, I managed to lose my Pro 83 & back tracked 
to the last 3 aircraft exhibits finally finding it at the MA ARNG UH60 
exhibit with one of the ARNG Sergeants wearing it on his uniform (they were 
going to turn it in at end of day, BUT thought that someone might come 
looking for it). Also about 15 minutes later, I managed to lose the Pro 83's 
battery compartment cover (piece of plastic 1 ¼" by 2 ¼ ") when I slip the 
unit on my belt.. So again had to back track looking at the ground as I 
retracked my steps --  YES I did find it!!!!  So I only spent about another 
45 minutes in the show area before returning to my vehicle before my luck 
really ran out!!!! :)  .

I also noted that the parking lot I was in didn't really fill up completely 
to approximately 1300 hrs.    Next show season, I'm going to seriously 
consider buying some  VIP tickets, primarily to have some shade (tent) 
available, or if there's beverages that would also be great!!!.



Anyways, it was a great time as always, with the typical & not so typical 
challenges of being "on scene" at an airshow..



I'd encourage others who were at this show OR other shows to please post 
your attendance report.



Ken