[MilCom] "Stealth" "On Scene" Biking Adventure KCEF 2/5/06

[Ken]

Wow with the mild weather yesterday, it was time for a "stealth" monitoring 
mountain bike ride to the KCEF fence line to gawk at the runways & perhaps 
see some military aero activity, as well as monitor the radio communications 
action.

I started out from my home monitoring post early afternoon & made my way via 
the locally known but nationwide secret   passage on to the industrial air 
park site.   Just as I entered the air park one of the P25 Aircraft 
Maintenance nets cracked with a weather advisory, winds greater than 25, but 
less than 30...  Turning into the airpark I got a tail wind which propelled 
me closer & closer to the fence line.  Hmm, I was very alert to my 
surroundings, would the special airport security surveillance & response 
team be active today?  .. Both scanners (BC 296D & Pro 83) were hidden 
inside my jacket with appropriate earphones (under my knit watch cap)  with 
the 83 set to "stalking alert" (which would beep & allow me to scoop any 
close by frequencies)...   Wow it was weird --  I was the only individual in 
the air park, no people, no cars, no other animals. (It always crosses my 
mind about the time their was a bear in that area!!!! ;) ) ....

Sure enough security was very tight,  BUT fortunately I was able to avoid 
any security "encounters" & did  spend somewhat limited time (still was cool 
weather with the wind blowing) gawking at, & monitoring the limited aero 
action.  The firing range was also "hot" that day & gun fire could be heard. 
Also EOD was practicing some detonations (there had been a press release on 
this) so there were also a few big bangs.

Unfortunately, although it was a Reserve Training Weekend, there weren't any 
local C5's flying and the typical C130 touch/goe traffic just wasn't 
happening.  I did get to see & monitor two CT ARNG helos, 1 UH 60 (GUARD 
COPTER 728) & 1 CH47 (GUARD COPTER 077).

Typical frequencies in use aero wise included:  41.90, 118.35, 125.35, 
134.85.  Many of the previously identified P25 Base Support Nets ((Security, 
Aircraft Maintenance, Aerial Port) as previously provided were active.....

Of course on the way home there was a strong continuing headwind... Needless 
to say the heating pad got some use that early evening along with some 
rubbing ointment!   Need to get back into my fitness routine.. Next time 
I'll take the "stealth monitoring" vehicle quicker & less physically 
demanding...

So has anyone else been on some "on scene" adventures?

Ken
Springfield MA Monitoring Area