[MilCom] NORAD Incident at the Cape Today.

[Mike Riffle]

CNN has an article about this intercept:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/07/28/shuttle.plane/index.html

On 26-Jul-05 16:58, GeorgeF. wrote:
> At about 15 minutes before launch NORAD CAP (Combat Air Patrol) aircraft 
> noticed a single engine aircraft heading right for the Shuttle Pad 
> (39B).  NORAD CAP aircraft attempted to contact the intruder on 121.5, 
> there was no response, CAP aircraft reported to OAKGROVE (NORAD) the 
> intruder was still heading for the pad.
> 
> A few minutes later the intruder aircraft was heard on 121.5 saying  
> with a "smart ass" tone of voice "I'm not in the restricted area, I'm 
> one mile south".  There was silence then on the CAP frequencies of 
> 228.9000 MHz and 264.1000 MHz.  Then CAP aircraft was heard on 121.5 
> telling the intruder to turn west NOW!.  Minutes later on one of the CAP 
> freqs (I forget which freq) one of the CAP aircraft announced "Flares 
> Launched" or something to that effect (I think I heard 4 flares).
> 
> Then a few minutes later CAP aircraft were saying the intruder had 
> landed at a small grass airstrip, gave the lat/long (I didn't have time 
> to write), and "N"umber.  Also it was mentioned that it appeared the 
> pilot was trying to "hide" the aircraft.
> 
> Anyone want to fill in the details or make corrections to what I heard?
> 
> Note: at one time I had listed 264.1000 as a NORAD freq, but on 9/4/03 
> was told that "264.1 is not a NORAD allocation".   Today it was being 
> used by aircraft related to the intruder aircraft.  CAP aircraft 
> callsign was PITTMAN(sp?) and was using 228.9 and 264.1 during today's 
> launch.