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#11
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On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 20:25:46 GMT, Mike Marron
wrote: "Scott Ferrin" wrote: This from the latest AW&ST "SECRET STREAKER? On the morning of Jan. 7, an aircraft using call sign "Lockheed Test 2334" told the FAA's Albuquerque Center it would be "going supersonic somewhere above Flight Level 60 [60,000 ft.]" for about 10 sec. It was flying over the Pecos Military Operating Area in eastern New Mexico at the time, transmitting on 350.350 MHz. When a center controller queried, "Say aircraft type," the unidentified vehicle's pilot responded: "We are a classified type and can't reveal our true altitude." About 15 min. later, the same pilot--on a different frequency (351.700 MHz.)--requested permission for a descent to 30,000 ft. and flight-following to "Las Vegas with final destination somewhere in the Nellis Range" complex. The U.S. Air Force's super-secret Groom Lake test facility is located in the northwest portion of the Nellis AFB, Nev., ranges. The Albuquerque Center controller quipped, "Trip home a bit slower, eh?" There was no response from the classified aircraft. The radio interchanges were recorded by Steve Douglass, a "military radio monitor" hobbyist in Amarillo, Tex." Couldn't this just be a plain old F-22? Going over 60k is nothing special. The part about "can't reveal our true altitude" sounds like BS. If they can see them on radar I'd think they'd be able to tell how high they were. Reminds me of the following famous SR-71 story... Los Angeles Center reported receiving a request for clearance to FL 600 (60,000 ft). The incredulous controller, with some disdain in his voice, asked, "How do you plan to get up to 60,000 feet?" The pilot (obviously a sled driver), responded, "We don't plan to go up to it, we plan to go DOWN to it." He was cleared. LOL. I thought about that one :-) There's another one about speeds being called out: "In his book, Sled Driver, SR-71 Blackbird pilot Brian Shul writes: "I'll always remember a certain radio exchange that occurred one day as Walt (my backseater) and I were screaming across Southern California, 13 miles high. We were monitoring various radio transmissions from other aircraft as we entered Los Angeles airspace. Though they didn't really control us, they did monitor our movement across their scope. I heard a Cessna ask for a readout of its groundspeed." "90 knots" Center replied. "Moments later, a Twin Beech required the same." "120 knots," Center answered. "We weren't the only ones proud of our groundspeed that day as almost instantly an F-18 smugly transmitted, 'Ah, Center, Dusty 52 requests groundspeed readout.' "There was a slight pause, then the response, 525 knots on the ground, Dusty". "Another silent pause. As I was thinking to myself how ripe a situation this was, I heard a familiar click of a radio transmission coming from my backseater. It was at that precise moment I realized Walt and I had become a real crew, for we were both thinking in unison." "Center, Aspen 20, you got a groundspeed readout for us?" There was a longer than normal pause.... "Aspen, I show 1,742 knots" "No further inquiries were heard on that frequency"" |
#12
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"Scott Ferrin" wrote in message ... LOL. I thought about that one :-) There's another one about speeds being called out: "In his book, Sled Driver, SR-71 Blackbird pilot Brian Shul writes: "I'll always remember a certain radio exchange that occurred one day as Walt (my backseater) and I were screaming across Southern California, 13 miles high. We were monitoring various radio transmissions from other aircraft as we entered Los Angeles airspace. Though they didn't really control us, they did monitor our movement across their scope. I heard a Cessna ask for a readout of its groundspeed." "90 knots" Center replied. "Moments later, a Twin Beech required the same." "120 knots," Center answered. "We weren't the only ones proud of our groundspeed that day as almost instantly an F-18 smugly transmitted, 'Ah, Center, Dusty 52 requests groundspeed readout.' "There was a slight pause, then the response, 525 knots on the ground, Dusty". "Another silent pause. As I was thinking to myself how ripe a situation this was, I heard a familiar click of a radio transmission coming from my backseater. It was at that precise moment I realized Walt and I had become a real crew, for we were both thinking in unison." "Center, Aspen 20, you got a groundspeed readout for us?" There was a longer than normal pause.... "Aspen, I show 1,742 knots" "No further inquiries were heard on that frequency"" Nice story, but the groundspeed wouldn't show 1,742 knots. Groundspeed readouts are to the nearest ten knots. |
#13
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"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:
"Scott Ferrin" wrote --cut-- There was a longer than normal pause.... "Aspen, I show 1,742 knots" "No further inquiries were heard on that frequency"" Nice story, but the groundspeed wouldn't show 1,742 knots. Groundspeed readouts are to the nearest ten knots. Just 'pilot's license', quite acceptable in this circumstance!. -- -Gord. |
#14
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When a center controller
queried, "Say aircraft type," The only reason I can think of, and the only times flying in the CONUS I've been asked this question, is if I'm going to be passing closely to another aircraft so they can be given the heads up; "United 2440, you'll be passing under a B-52 at 33,000 feet, report traffic in sight". Who's the conflict with "above FL600"? And I'm assuming his ridiculous comment about not reporting his "true altitude" implies he stopped sqawking Mode C? BUFDRVR "Stay on the bomb run boys, I'm gonna get those bomb doors open if it harelips everyone on Bear Creek" |
#15
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"BUFDRVR" wrote in message ... The only reason I can think of, and the only times flying in the CONUS I've been asked this question, is if I'm going to be passing closely to another aircraft so they can be given the heads up; "United 2440, you'll be passing under a B-52 at 33,000 feet, report traffic in sight". Who's the conflict with "above FL600"? And I'm assuming his ridiculous comment about not reporting his "true altitude" implies he stopped sqawking Mode C? Mode C altitude above FL600 reads out as FL600 regardless of actual altitude. |
#16
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Mode C altitude above FL600 reads out as FL600 regardless of actual
altitude. Interesting. I did not know that. BUFDRVR "Stay on the bomb run boys, I'm gonna get those bomb doors open if it harelips everyone on Bear Creek" |
#17
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"BUFDRVR" wrote in message ... Interesting. I did not know that. Probably few do. About fifteen years ago I was a controller at Chicago Center working traffic in the Madison, WI, area. A NASA ER-1 departed MSN requesting an unrestricted climb to FL610. I coordinated with the high altitude sector and issued the climb. He went up like a rocket! The Mode C readout couldn't keep up with him. Shortly after he reported out of FL600 and cancelled IFR, the Mode C read FL600. I asked a Data Systems Specialist about it and he told me that FL600 and higher will read out as FL600. |
#18
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"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:
"BUFDRVR" wrote in message ... Interesting. I did not know that. Probably few do. About fifteen years ago I was a controller at Chicago Center working traffic in the Madison, WI, area. A NASA ER-1 departed MSN requesting an unrestricted climb to FL610. I coordinated with the high altitude sector and issued the climb. He went up like a rocket! The Mode C readout couldn't keep up with him. Shortly after he reported out of FL600 and cancelled IFR, the Mode C read FL600. I asked a Data Systems Specialist about it and he told me that FL600 and higher will read out as FL600. Sounds like another 'mechanic to pilot answer' "That's the way it's made sir" (just kidding) -- -Gord. |
#19
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Probably few do. About fifteen years ago I was a controller at Chicago
Center working traffic in the Madison, WI, area. A NASA ER-1 departed MSN requesting an unrestricted climb to FL610. I coordinated with the high altitude sector and issued the climb. He went up like a rocket! The Mode C readout couldn't keep up with him. Shortly after he reported out of FL600 and cancelled IFR, the Mode C read FL600. I asked a Data Systems Specialist about it and he told me that FL600 and higher will read out as FL600. The pilot mentions FL60 in the audio clip, also mention of a supersonic run in Pecos MOA though, I am not sure how high Pecos MOA goes up to, but I doubt its that high. the FL60 comment is strange too. I would not be suprised if it was someone pulling a prank on Mr Douglas though. Ron Pilot/Wildland Firefighter |
#20
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"Ron" wrote in message ... The pilot mentions FL60 in the audio clip, also mention of a supersonic run in Pecos MOA though, I am not sure how high Pecos MOA goes up to, but I doubt its that high. MOAs are established outside of Class A airspace, but they frequently have ATCAAs with the same lateral limits established above them. |
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