[MilCom] Huntsville Airshow (Saturday June 28, 2008)

[Joe Cobb]

I'll fill in some things that were there for Saturday's performance.  Michael did a good job of getting the types and serials.  

Saturday static displays not listed in Michaels post:

Navy T-34C---160523/E-523            (TAW-5, Whiting Field)
F-15E--------90-0243/MO              (366th FW, Mountain Home)
OH-58D-------didn't get his serial
UH-60--------didn't get his either
T-1A---------95-0044/CB              (48th FTS/14th FTW, Columbus)
T-6A---------06-3814/CB              (14th FTW, Columbus)
T-38C--------65-x(x)374/CB)          (50th FTS/14th FTW, Columbus)

Thats all i have for statics there on Saturday in addition to what Michael mentioned.

Frequencies (Air):

127.6/350.35------Tower
118.75------------Airboss (also A-10 demo and Heritage Flight)
123.15------------Discrete (Aeroshell T-6's and Red Eagles)
123.475-----------Golden Knights
305.5-------------Blue Angels Fat Albert Demo (C-130T)
346.5-------------Blue Angels taxi out
284.25------------Blue Angels Show Center/Delta Formation
275.35------------Blue Angels Diamond (Behind the Crowd)
237.8-------------Blue Angels Solos   (Behind the Crowd)
139.8125----------Blue Angels Comm Cart (Alpha)
142.6125----------Blue Angels Maint (Bravo)

Ground Comms:

460.525 (Tone: 123.0)----Not completely sure
155.010------------------Sheriff (trafic)
172.85 (P-25 Digital)----Poss FAA (for coordination between the airshow and the regular scheduled traffic)

Notes:

I tried my darndest to program in the EDACS system for the airport public safety in both my PSR-500 and BC-796D (in the truck) and couldn't track it.  Both scanners did the same thing:  they showed the talkgroup off and on (flashing kind of) but no voice.  Heard some cool stuff from Redstone while waiting for the gates to open.  Freqs: 409.275 (P-25 digital) in the clear and some encrypted and 409.6375 (these could have been part of their trunked system)

The flying was great.  The A-10 was a good demo as well as the Heritage Flight.  The Blues never disapoint but i will critique my favorite flying team.  The sneak pass was lacking.  I know we weren't right at show center but it seems to me he pulled back on the throttle too soon.  Maybe he was getting too fast but when he got to us (we sat in front of where the Blues parked) we kind of got a swooshing sound rather than the full power rumble.  It wasn't loud at all.  That was the only negative i had about their performance.  All the civies did great.  Patty Wagstaff is unbelievable.  Traffic was a nightmare leaving.  Show was over around 1615 and we didn't get out of the parking lot until around 1820-1830.  Whenever they have it again, i'll be back.

And finally, my thoughts and prayers go out to the injured spectators and their families and to those of the 5 yr due to a freak of nature at todays show.  It's a tragedy that won't soon be forgotten.  

Joe
Nashville, Tn.