IVIILCOM A GUIDE TO MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS Larry Van Horn, N5FPW email: [email protected] Air Show Season 2000 Commences There is nothing quite as thrilling as an airshow is a very noisy place and a good is linked to public address system (AM mode) going to an airshow and watching the quality set of headphones designed for high 143.850 Four ship formation (Victor 2) air-to-air which is linked to public address system (AM mode) Blue Angels or Thunderbirds flight noise environments will help quite a bit in 235.250 Thunderbird control demonstration team strut their stuff in front making the audio from your scanner intelli- 322.950 Solo aircraft (5-6) air-to-air of thousands of fans. But, add the element of gible. Grove sells the Racing Classic head- 413.025 Maintenance/ground teams (146.2 PL tone) listening to the teams during their shows and phones (HDP-4 at $59.95) that work very 413.100 Maintenance/ground teams your airshow experience will be complete. A well with any of the scanners above. These The U.S. Navy Seal Parachute Team, handheld scanner opens a whole new world headphones were designed for use at race known as the Leap Frogs, are frequent visi- for the monitor during airshows that the non- tracks (also a very noisy place) so they are tors around the country at various sporting scanner equipped audience will never know. very well suited for the airshow flightline. events and airshows. Look for their commu- Since the air show season for military Also don't forget extra charged batteries. nications on 407.500 MHz. The U.S. Army flight demonstration teams starts this month, Murphy's law applies, and nothing is worse Milcom will review some possible frequen-than having your rechargeable battery die Parachute Team, known as the Golden Knights, also make the rounds during the cies to monitor and the schedules (Table half way through the show with your replace- One) for several teams. ments at home in the shack. airshow season. Look for their comms on 123.475 or 123.500 MHz. You should also IIAny old scanner won't do III So where is the action? keep an eye on 32.300, 42.350, 123.425, and 367.700 MHz. Most handheld scanners currently being You will need to concentrate on threeThe Canadian Forces aircraft demonstra- marketed are not suited for airshow monitor- different bands for airshow activity. Search tion team is known as the Snowbirds. Only ing. The Uniden brand scanners (except for in the 138-150.8 MHz band (minus 144-148, two frequencies have been recently reported the BC -3000) cannot be used due to their lack in AM and FM modes), 118-136 MHz (AM for this group: 272.100 and 299.500 MHz. of independent mode selection. If you are mode), and 225-420 MHz (AM in 225-400/Several years ago Daryl! Symington in his going to a Thunderbird (T -bird) show you FM in 406-420 MHz). bookMonitoring The Militaryhad the fol- will need a scanner that will let you monitor The following discrete frequencies were lowing list for the Canadian team. It is un- the 138-150 MHz range in the AM mode. reported in use by the U.S. Navy Blue An- known how accurate that list is now and it is Most Uniden scanners will not work for VHF gels during the 1999 season. Frequencies provided here only for reference purposes. T -bird comms, as they will lock you into the marked "last reported in 1998" will be FM mode in that frequency range. dropped in next year's list if no activity is 227.600 (F4), 236.600 (F15), 239.800 (F20), Your scanner will also need to cover the reported on them this season. 240.500 (F6), 245.000 (F19), 245.700 (F1 I), 225-400 MHz band. Most of the action (es- 266.300 (F8), 272.100, 275.800 (F1), 283.900 pecially the Blue Angels) will be heard in the FrequencyU -ge (F16), 289.400 (F18), 294.500 (F9), 295.600 military aeronautical band. This criteria nar- 142.000 Ground support (Comm Cart) (F2), 310.800 (F3), 316.500 (F12), 322.800 142.625 Ground support (last reported in 1998) rows down our choice of scanners even fur- 143.600 Ground support (F10), 344.500 (F13), 356.600 (F14), 363.800 ther for use at airshows. 164.900 Ground support (F17), 378.500 (F7) Below is a list of units appropriate for 168.900 Ground support (last reported in 1998) airshow use. Prices are current Grove prices/ 169.400 Ground support (Comm Cart) 170.900 Ground support (Startup/Taxi) In Europe, the Army Air Corps helicopter stock codes and do not include shipping or 236.450 Usage unknown display team, the Blue Eagles, has been taxes (if applicable). Prices are subject to 238.150 Show center/Delta formation reported on 136.975 MHz. The RAF flight change without notice, so call 800-438-8155 251.600 Solo aircraft (5-6) air-to-air 256.250 Usage unknown demo team, the Red Arrows, has used for current info. 263.350 Fat Albert (C-130) flight demonstration 243.450 for air-to-air comms. The Turkish 263.500 Usage unknown military team, the Turkish Stars, has been Grove 264.550 Usage unknown (last reported in 1998) reported on 264.400 MHz. 275.350 Diamond aircraft (1-4) air-to-air Unit Stock # Price 286.000 Usage unknown During the 2000 season we want to hear Alinco DJ-X1OT WBR-2 $389.95 307.700 Delta formation air -to -ground from our readers about active freqs. If you AOR AR -8200 WBR-7 $569.95 345.900 Solo aircraft (5-6) air-to-air attend an airshow, please pass along what Icom R-2 WBR-28 $199.95 you hear. You can reach us via e-mail at Icom R-10 WBR-6 $359.95 The following discrete frequencies were [email protected] witha subject line of Sony SC- I SCN-17 $249.95 reported in use by the U.S. Air Force Airshow Intercepts, or you can write us at: Sony SC-1PC SCN-18 $329.95 Thunderbirds during the 1999 season. Milcom, P.O. Box 98, Brasstown, NC 28902. Uniden BC -3000 SCN-29 $339.95 Thanks to Bruce and all our contributors 140.400 Support aircraft: cross country air-to-air 141.400 Four ship formation (Tentative: last reported who took the time to share their airshow Another purchase you should consider is in 1998) reports. We will see you in two months and a good set of headphones. A flightline during 141.850 Four ship formation (Victor 1) air-to-air which good hunting. 84 MONITORING TIMES March 2000.