On the Airbands

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Something worth lifting from the Shirley Temple movie ‘Bright Eyes’. Actor James Dunn was speaking to an old man who was seated in a wheelchair.

Old Man: “You’re that aviation fella, aren’t you?” Dunn: “Yes. ” Old Man: “Well I don’t like aeroplanes!” Dunn: “Well I don’t like wheelchairs!” Old Man: “Stick to the aeroplane business and you’ll wind up in one!”

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Military monitoring buffs will be pleased to known we have the entire list of RAAF tactical callsigns, together with pilot serial numbers, with the gaps filled in courtesy of John Willmot of 2-way magazine, South Australia.

Amberley F-111-1 Sqn: Buckshot-cannon, carbine, colt, sabre; F-111 – 6 Sqn: Falcon – cutlass, rapier, sabre; Iroquois – 9 Sqn: Albatross-cruiser, diver, wheeler, Chinook – 12 Sqn: Buffalo – bison, bronco; Chinook – HQ: Ramrod.

Butterworth Mirage 79 Sqn: Firebird – phoenix, dragon, phantom, centaur, pharaoh, bacchus; Caribou – HQ: Emu.

Darwin Mirage – 75 Sqn: Classic-blackbird, buzzard, condor, magpie, sparrow; Caribou – HQ: Dingo: Squirrel – HQ: Top End – python.

Edinburgh P-3 Orion-10 Sgn: Striker; P-3 Orion-11 Sqn: Shepherd; P-3 Orion-92 Wing: Sea Lion; P-3 Orion – 292 Sqn: Mariner; All Type – ARDU: Tester.

East Sale Macchi – Aerobatic Team: Roulettes; CT-4-Cent. Flying School: Central – camel, spad; Macchi – Cent. Flying School: Alladin – bearcat, corsair, mustang, roulette, spitfire; HS748- School Air Navigation: Torch – sable, saffron, scarlett, silver. Fairbairn Iroquois 5 Sqn: Eagle – badger, Bassett, beagle, harrier, hawk, shrike, wedge; BAC-111-34 Sqn: Envoy; HS748-34 Sqn: Consort; Mystere – 34 Sqn: Regent.

Point Cook CT-4-1 FTS: Charlie-garrett; CT-4-1 FTS: Roller-griffin; CT-4-1 FTS: Tango – gypsy, king, merlin.

Pearce Caribou – 2 FTS: Backduck-vanguard; Macchi – 2 FTS: Charlie-valiant; Macchi-2 FTS: Tango-vampire; Macchi-2 FTS: Viper – vixen, voodoo, vulcan.

Richmond 707-33 Sqn: Windsor; Hercules-36 Sqn: Stallion-shadow, thunder, maverick, chieftain, tornado, charger; Hercules – 37 Sqn: Trojan; Caribou – 38 Sqn: Enfield – steel, iron.

Townsville Caribou-35 Sqn: Wallaby-boomer, wizard; Iroquois – 35 Sqn: Whiptail-barra, lancer, manta, stinger.

Williamtown Hornet 2 OCU: Maple-hawkeye, hipshot, homburg, hoodoo, hornet, hunter, hydrant; Hornet-3 Sqn: Baron-cobra, lancer, raider, zulu, cougar, apache, ranger; Winjeel – 77 Sqn: Dagger – dirk; Macchi -77 Sqn: Stingray-talon, tiger, toxin, trident, tripod: Mirage – 77 Sqn: Despot – amber, black, blue, brown, gold, green, orange, purple, red, silver, white, yellow; Squirrel – HQ: Chopper – searcher; Squirrel – HQ: Oxford.

In the September 1986 issue of Australian Aviation, we flew Richmond to Edinburgh and return via a number of stops along the way in Hercules C-130E A97-167, from No37 Sqn, callsign Trojan 753. RAAF callsigns are not made up from aircraft tail numbers, as you can see from A97-167. The three digit number immediately following the tactical word callsign is a pilot serial number, each one personally allocated to a RAAF pilot.

Whoever is captaining the aircraft gives his serial number to make up the callsign of the flight. All RAAF aircraft travelling overseas are callsign prefixed AUSY, then follows the same serial number it would have if it was flying internally in Australia with that particular captain.

Here now are the various serial number groups for each base: Amberley: 401-442, 851-855, 872-899. Butterworth: 687-699. Darwin: 443-464, 791-793, 930-933. Edinburgh: 901-929, 937- 999. East Sale: 150-209, 801-850. Fairbairn: 354-399, 601-618. Point Cook: 011-149. Pearce: 210-353. Richmond: 465-499, 619-630, 636-640, 701-790. Townsville: 650-677, 856-865 Williamtown: 501-599, 641-655, 678-686, 794-796, 934-936.

That should satisfy those of you who hang on every word uttered from military aircraft. I must admit, I myself am a hopeless military monitoring bug, so this list has meant a great deal to me. Hope you get as much from it and our thanks to John Willmott.

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James Smith from Hornsby, NSW monitored this small piece. Sydney Ground 121. 7 2302 Zulu.

Ground: “Station calling Sydney Ground in with the vacuum cleaner, say again!”

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The author personally monitored this exchange, which was not so jovial on Sydney Control frequency 131. 3 one Saturday morning.

AHS748 military aircraft from the School of Air Navigation had been on a long-range overwater training flight. After some really abysmal radar vectoring for a runway 28 approach for Richmond, the pilot of AUSY 828 was none too impressed.

“That’s not the best bit of controlling I’ve had the occasion to see Sir!” commented the crew member on the microphone. The next part really threw me, the controller replied: “You’re telling me!” (Maybe that meant he was blaming a ‘flow’ controller for the awkward manoeuvres)

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From an anonymous contributor.

One Sunday afternoon, a USAF C-141 Starlifter calling MAC 70009 was overflying Brisbane inbound to Richmond when the following conversation was monitored on control frequency 123. 0.

MAC: “Control, triple-zero-niner, bit quiet today huh?” Control: “Yes Sir. ” MAC: “How’s the weather down there?” Control: “Oh, not too bad, You’re just passing over the top of Bris- bane, just a few octas, very hot, about 31 degrees centigrade. ” MAC: “Ah, it’s not bad. . . (few seconds pause). . . beach weather!” Control: “If I was there it would be. ” MAC: “When we get there (Richmond) we’re gonna grab a beer and head for the beach. ” Control: “It’s a good move, but it’s a fair drive from Richmond. ” MAC: “Yeah. ” Control: “MAC zero-zero-zero-niner, is that the. . . ah, military version of the Lockheed Tristar is it?” MAC: “Negative sir, it’s a four engine. ” Control: “Roger. ” MAC: “The military version is an L300. ” Control: “Roger, the flightplan must have come out garbled, it has it down as a C-11, that’s a C-141 is it?” MAC: “That’s affirm. ” Control: “MAC zero-niner, enjoy the beach, the beer and if you can make it. . . the birds, contact Control 130. 4. Gidday. ” MAC: “OK, thanks a lot, I’ve taken my vitamins. . . ah 130. 4 for the zero-niner heavy, have a happy day. ” Control: “You too. ”

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Thanks to the gentleman who provided me with that last anecdote. It was terrific. If you wish to contribute, write to me at 68 Ashby Ave, Yagoona 2199. Now turn on your scanner and take up your pen!

Next Issue: In addition to our regular Airbands feature, we will also be providing our exclusive 1988 Frequency Guide. Our Frequency Guide will list the complete UHF and VHF frequencies for all principal and secondary airports around Australia including all surface movement, arrival and departure frequencies. Don’t miss it!