[MilCom] Westfield International Airshow Report 2006

[Ken]

"On Scene" notes from Westfield International Airs Show , Barnes MAP/ANG, 
MA.



Arrival:  0845 hrs  Departure: 1615 hrs local, 6/24/06



Security involved a 100% inspection of all items & 'individual waning', but 
radio scanners, FRS radios, cameras, etc. were not a hindrance to show 
entry.



Overcast skies (ceiling not greater than 1800 feet) with some rain prevailed 
most of day which kept attendance down & basically fit everyone into the on 
base parking lot areas.  With additional spaces available even for afternoon 
arrivals.

No parachute jumps do to weather.  Blue Angels performed "low show".



Unfortunately I was limited in portable scanning (RS Pro 97) while in the 
air show area due to forgetting my earphone (was going to bring my headsets 
but forgot both) at home.

The Uniden 780XLT was also used in the "stealth monitoring vehicle" to 
search frequency ranges, while off the show area.



Use of FRS radios (14/38) was very minimal but did aid in initially meeting 
up with some hobbyists.  However, again on flight/show line was of marginal 
use due to aircraft noise.



Some frequencies (typical) that were active:

Air Show Performers/Air Traffic Control

118.9/251.1   Tower/Show Boss

121.7/289.4 Show Boss/Ground Control

125.35/325.8 Bradley Approach/Departure Control

139.9/141.675/225.5  A10's demo air/air tactical

143.825/303.0  Command Post "Hawk Ops"

237.8 Blue Angels -- Solos

275.35 Blue Angels - Show Center

284.25 Blue Angels - 4 Ship/Diamond formation

384.55 F16



Air Show Support Nets

139.8125  Blue Angels Maintenance/Administration/Public Affairs

142.6125 Blue Angels Comm Cart to Tower

148.10/148.475  Air Boss Acft Maint &  Acft Parking

148.20 Fire/Crash

148.45 Base Security

149.50 VIP/ Media Support

Typical other base support nets as listed in Grove's "Military Frequency 
Directory" 2nd were active.

Additional frequencies included:  148.075, 150.0625 (MDT's?)  There was 
mention of going to Channel #16 on one of the nets, which indicates that 
perhaps the base now has a 20 channel VHF radio system.



867.5125  Civilian Law Enforcement  ITAC "Show Area"

868.0125  Civilian Law Enforcement   ITAC  "Show Area"



No activity was monitored on any of the 300 mhz ISR frequencies, nor any CAP 
VHF frequencies.



AIR SHOW PERFORMERS (limited by my scanning audio limitations):

F16:  GRITZ 1?

F15:  unknown

A10's:  JAVA 1 & JAVA 3 (Flight of 2 each)

C5:  RODD 12 HEAVY

Blue Angels:  BURT (C130), and typical BA 1 through 6

Various civilian performers & war birds as listed on the website

Jet Truck

Etc, etc.



EXHIBITS:

Federal Aviation Administration --- didn't have an exhibit this year.



Transportation Security Administration -- had a small tent (and I was held 
captive while they showed me pictures of all the illegal weapons they 
discovered!!! ;)  ).



Civil Air Patrol --  basically had a table (with almost no information (just 
some pamphlets) , manned by someone from NH wing) & at their aircraft 
exhibit (Cessna 172) (at least at the time we were there) didn't have anyone 
that was available to answer any questions.  I did note that the aircraft 
has 2 VHF (originally installed aircraft) fiberglass type antenna & there 
were also 4 additionally installed antennas (with one looking like a VHF/UHF 
band gain antenna) & the other 3 (perhaps VHF high band/directional 
finding).



USCG Auxiliary - typical handouts/set up, didn't see aircraft this year.



AF MARS had a setup and was eager to show all including typical HF 
frequencies used  (apparently on the 13 mhz frequency there's about 6 active 
stations thorough out the US that are on daily to provide phone patches to 
military aircraft)    ;).



ANG Combat Communication Squadron (Otis ANGB)--  Unit basically had an 
exhibit showing communications equipment used to link satellite uplink with 
base support.  Depending upon distance from the comm. setup they can use a 
radio or laser link (encrypted digital), which cuts down on the amount of 
actual cabling/wires they have to run.



STATIC AIRCRAFT DISPLAYS (many aircraft were closed rather than open, and 
did not have stand to allow climbing up to see the cockpit).  What you see 
here is all the information I have.



F16, Syracuse ANG unit, 85-565

C17, AMC McGuire, 44132 (open cockpit)

A10's multiple (1 open cockpit)

T6A Texan II., MY AF 00-587

T6A Texan II, (USN), F, 6006 (TAW 6)

T6A Texan II, (USN), F, 6000 (TAW 6)

T1A Jayhawk, CB, AF 90-413

F/A 18, VFA-32, 166669, 106

F/A 18, VFMA 115, 212

F/A 18, VFC 12, E, 02, "Fighting Omars"

F15, MA, AF 77-089

F15, EG (2 Demo aircraft)

EA 6, RM,  01, 161880

E6B, 406, VQ4

OH58, 20727 (open cockpit)

C130 (open cockpit)

C5, ARC, 9009 (open cockpit)

Marines Helo, YN19  (open cockpit)

CH47, 20291 (open cockpit)

KC135, MAINE, ANG, 71505 (open cockpit)

AH1, Marines, M, 65324

Civilian B737, N743NV (open cockpit)

USCG HH65, 6585 Atlantic City (open cockpit)

AH 1W, 65902, MP,

Canada CH-146, Griffon

T45, Navy, A, TW-1, VT-9, 165503

Cessna 172, CAP, N97313 (open cockpit)

UH 60 (open cockpit)



GENERAL BITS OF INFORMATION GATHERED:

Look for all Coast Guard Helos to armed in future M60 Machine Guns, etc. 
All CG helos are rotating in/out for temporary Washington DC homeland 
security/defense missions.



ARNG Aviation Support Activity "FURY OPS"  will continue to use 242.4 due to 
new radio equipment problems (bizarre since the radio won't operate on the 
new UHF freq!!!) the new radios have 'encryption' (frequency hopping/) 
capabilities



Maine KC135's, use channel #6 UHF (238.2).  Callsigns are not pilot or tail# 
related but mission related, e.g. 85 (first training mission for day), 86 
(2nd mission),.. etc.   91 is the cross country call sign.  Typical "Blue" & 
"Gold" callsigns when supporting coronet/tanker task force missions.  Also 
they use "REACH" callsigns at times.   They see 439 AW C5's (RODD 99) every 
Thursday evening for a/r practice.



CT ARNG CH47 - Interestingly I was talking with the crew chief about them 
losing the cement block training load in KCEF "Dog Patch" about 3 years ago. 
Got a tour/demonstration of the back end of the helo including opening the 
hatch to the hoist area & pulling out the rope & holding/latching 
mechanism - so I now have a better understanding of their training.    They 
do quite a bit of  NVG training.  KCEF's "Dog Patch" & "Alternate Dog Patch" 
is the best places they use for training.  They also use October Mountain 
(which is in Southern Berkshire County, Massachusetts).



Some comms cards were visible in aircraft/helos.



Six milcom list members were in attendance.  There were a lot of other 
people walking around with scanners.  We got approach by about 5 people 
asking for frequencies, weather forecast, etc.  Some folks with scanners 
didn't have UHF or vhf am capabilities.

//end//



Ken