AE61F6 - AE61F9 Who or what are they?

This block of hex codes is very interesting on many different levels. I have seen tie-ups all over the place because of all the mixed signals that have seen in the various intercepts.

Here is what I have seen:
AE61F6 5/13/2019 Mode-S c/s 1720978, Fixer 55
AE61F7 6/6/2019 Mode-S c/s G20979, R20979, Assault (ASLT) 979, LAC5873
AE61F8 7/2/2019 Mode-S c/s 1820980, LAC5875
AE61F9 7/3/2019 Mode-S c/s Raid 91, LAC5876

The first three do not look like C-130s, unless the Army has purchased some. Look at AE61F7. These Mode-S calls G20979, R20979 indicate US Army and National Guard G#####. The AE61F6 1720978 and AE61F8 1820980 are US Army serials. But all have either a LAC Mode-S or Fixer 55 call which is used by Lockheed down in Marietta and I see here almost daily for the 130J testing program.

Finally, I have seen the Raid ## call used by the 27SOW/9SOS Night Wings out of Cannon AFB, NM. (See below)

AE61F9 17-5876/18-20 RAID91 2019-07-03 13:30:08 MC-130J United States USAF | 5731 20825

Not sure what is going on here but does anyone know if the Army has purchased some 130 rolling stock? Or is Lockheed intentionally miscoding these to fool those of us reporting their test? Or is it something different? These blocks are preassigned by DoD to Majcoms and then usually further assigned to airframes and or tactical use. This block fascinates me. Comments and thoughts are most welcomed at this point. Send them along to the email addy in the masthead.

Happy 4th to you all and keep our military servicemen and their families in your thoughts and prayers as we celebrate the day we declared our independence.

Mystery Mode-S Codes That Could Be P-8A Flights

My Milcom buddy Mac McCormick III on his KF4LMT Radio Shack blog has posted an interesting article about some mystery Mode-S hex codes that I have monitored here on the radio ranch in Btown.

We are trying to identify the aircraft associated with hex codes AE66B9 and AE66BA. If you have anything to pass along hit me in the email in the masthead.

Mac's article is at https://kf4lmt.com/2019/05/08/mystery-mode-s-codes-that-could-be-p-8a-flights/

Where in the world is AE0463?

Just as we all settle in to this North Korea mess, I have another Mode-S hex code mystery.

While working up my Mode-S intercepts for this blog and updating my call sign db, I noticed something a bit odd. On 6 Aug 2017 here on the radio ranch I caught Hex Code AE0463 overflying the area. When you cross that hex you will see most all have it coming back to a US Navy C-2A 162148 assigned to VRC-40 based out of Norfolk.

But the story takes an even stranger twist. AE0463 is being actively reported by mil monitors in the UK to the same serial Mode-S c/s RG01, a C-2A flying with the air wing on board the USS George H.W. Bush, currently operating in the eastern Atlantic and participating in a major Euro exercise.

That has to be one fast flying C-2A cod aircraft looking at all the intercepts.

So is 162148 (AE0463) in the eastern Atlantic or is it stateside?

Another Mode-S Hex Code Mystery Mid Atlantic

Photo courtesy of Aviation Week and Dean Muskett

Seems like a lot some of my readers love a good mystery and many of you have Mode-S capability. So here is one to watch for in the mid-Atlantic area.

Have hex code AE5D19 and he is signing a Mode-S c/s of H15. Anybody gets anything positive, please drop me a note at the email in the masthead.

More Mystery US Registered Aircraft Over Iraq

Peter Harley, who follows our @MilcomMP twitter feed posted yesterday about a probable fake US registration/hex code. The registration N11710/A048C8 in the FAA database is reserved to NCH Flight Services in Tampa FLA. Of course a Google search drew a complete blank. Spec Ops or a three letter agency would be my best guess.

And now today Peter Harley posted on his twitter feed (@PeterHarley20) that he has spotted another mystery US aircraft registration flying over Iraq. Like yesterday's registration/hex code this one it is not a current US registered airframe.

The aircraft was seen flying over the same area as above using the registration N5064N with a hex code of A6532B. The FAA database says this registration is cancelled and not assigned. So is this an aircraft that was sold to some entity in Iraq and they have not replaced the US credentials with Iraqi reg? Or is this something else such as what I mentioned above, Spec Ops or an aircraft from a three letter US agency?

The Mystery of AE059A - now solved!

Update: From an anonymous contributor - The "mysterious" hex AE059A on RCH302 was being used by 22ARW KC-135RT 60-0362 (should be AE059D).  It may well be that the aircraft's 2nd box was being used - which had been replaced and not recoded. This aircraft landed at EGUN (Mildenhall AB, UK) at 0951 UTC. Thanks to our anon source.

Well here is a really interesting mystery for my readers to contemplate. We have a Mode-S hex code address AE059A flying around Europe right now displaying a Mode-S call sign of Reach 302. So what is such a big deal about that?

USAF KC-135R 60-0319 in flight (Photo courtesy of Air International)

Well AE059A was last used by a KC-135R tanker serial number 60-0319 assigned to the 22 ARW at McConnell AFB in Kansas. problem is that airframe is now sitting in the 309 AMARG boneyard at Davis Monthan AFB in Arizona.

There is this post on the Aviation Week Network site on March 3, 2013:

USAF Retires 'First Operational' KC-135R .... Again

Mar 3, 2013 by Nigel Howarth in Ares

The U.S. Air Force announced on Feb. 22 that it had retired the "first operational KC-135R" from service, when tail number 61-0312 arrived at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. However, Aviation Week Intelligence Network's Fleet database records KC-135R tail number 60-0319 arriving for storage on Jun. 20, 2012. It's unclear therefore why the folks at Altus proclaimed this month's arrival as the "first".

In the 1980s and 1990s the USAF re-engined over 400 tankers with more powerful and efficient CFM-56 engines, designated KC-135R or KC-135T. These are now the only KC-135s in the fleet and are expected to soldier on for many years yet.

Often referred to as the "boneyard", the vast desert storage location at Davis-Monthan holds almost 4,000 US military aircraft, mainly for parts, but also for future re-activation or sales to domestic and foreign government agencies. Pictured are some older model KC-135s never to fly again, but still a valuable source of parts for the large active fleet.

According to another article on February 26, 2013, KC135R 61-0312 of the 97AMW/54ARS at Altus AFB arrived at AMARG for storage. It was posted that it was the first of 16 which were being retired as part of a Force Structure Reduction authorized by the National Defense Authorization Acr for fiscal year 2013. This article claimed it was actually the second KC-135R  to be retired (see article above) but it is assumed (based on its unpainted appearance) that the first, 60-0319, was not considered operational at the time of its arrival at AMARG.

So readers has 60-0319 been made operational again, reactivated and flying around Europe right now as Reach 302 or has AE059A been reassigned to another AMC airframe? My guess is the later but which AMC airframe is using it?

If anyone has anything solid to share on AE059A please drop me a line at the email address in the masthead.

Who is this mystery KC-135

Recently a new Mode-S hex code AE0542 has popped up/ This hex code definitely looks like a KC-135 tanker based on call signs and boy has this hex code used a wide variety of Mode-S call signs since 1 Oct 2016.

What call signs you ask?

Arius 21
CETUS 21
Cabal 31
Happy 63
Kanza 01/71/81
Snap 83/90/92
Spur 91
Turbo 13/78/81

This one has me scratching my head and if anyone gets a serial number tie up for the airframe, please drop me a note.

Time for Another Mystery Aircraft on the Milcom MP

I love a good aviation mystery. And I have another one that has appeared on my and other Mode-S/ADB boxes/ So here goes ---

N32D Hex Code A36C42

Airframe in FAA database is a reserved assignment by Dynamic AvLease. This company has been associated with some interesting aircraft (see http://www.jetphotos.net/showphotos.php?airline=Dynamic%20Avlease)

So who is flying this aircraft, what is its mission and what kind of aircraft is it?

Update: Interesting Mode-S Hex Code Flying Around the Radio Ranch

From time to time I see an interesting hex code pop up on ye ole Mode-S box. Since the last week in March A3F362 is one of those hex codes. It has been a regular visitor here in these parts recently despite the fact that it is the hex code is assigned to an aircraft registered to a company in the Northeast U.S.

The Live Mode-S website/database says this hex code is assigned to various aircraft. The FAA database indicates that this is a Beech B-100 assigned to N3538 owned by FLI HI LLC, 250 Clark Street, North Andover, MA.

There is not much on this company other than it started in 2009, is incorporated in Massachusetts and has no D&B listing. I did find US Security and Exchange filing for Flight Landata Inc that "provides high resolution airborne digital imaging systems and services." In the write up it indicates that the company provides digital imaging services to the U.S. Military.

Check out the flight profile it flew yesterday from KGVL Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport in Gainesville up here to the north Georgia mountains courtesy of Flightaware (click on image to enlarge it). Looks like they may have been imaging around Dahlonega and Camp Merrill which is a US Army Ranger training facility.

Here is the book on this aircraft over the last two months.

A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-10 18:36:51  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-10 17:27:48  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-09 13:59:53  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-08 14:29:17  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-06 14:47:56  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-05 18:16:15  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-05 17:20:48  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-05 16:39:12  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-05 16:02:55  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-05 14:37:32  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-03 14:38:47  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-02 18:41:30  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-02 16:14:21  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-02 15:21:28  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-02 14:33:15  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-01 16:13:57  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-01 15:34:26  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-04-01 13:26:24  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-31 17:25:05  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-31 13:07:44  Hanging Dog NC, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-30 16:59:48  Hanging Dog NC, US 0000  10000   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-30 13:35:09  Hanging Dog NC, US 0000  10000   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-27 20:41:09  Fairfax, VA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-27 20:40:54  Baltimore MD, US 6510  14500   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-27 17:59:31  Baltimore MD, US 6510  14500   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-27 17:30:29  Baltimore MD, US 6510  14500   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-27 16:43:11  Baltimore MD, US 6510  14500   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-27 16:42:32  Fairfax, VA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-24 18:11:18  Fairfax, VA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-24 17:25:37  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-24 16:00:53  Fairfax, VA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-24 16:00:27  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-21 16:18:40  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-21 15:57:42  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-21 15:55:38  Fairfax, VA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-20 18:15:44  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-20 17:21:15  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-20 16:35:29  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-20 16:10:00  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-20 16:07:25  Fairfax, VA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-14 18:36:58  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-14 17:31:31  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-14 17:30:47  Fairfax, VA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-10 19:28:04  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-10 18:52:52  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-10 18:27:52  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-10 17:54:38  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-10 16:41:38  Baltimore MD, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-10 16:36:33  Fairfax, VA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-06 19:02:50  Fairfax, VA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-06 17:35:46  Fairfax, VA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-05 18:31:46  Fairfax, VA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-05 18:27:53  Baltimore MD, US 5316  7100   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-05 16:07:20  Villas NJ, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-05 16:04:41  Fairfax, VA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-05 15:59:27  Baltimore MD, US 5316  7100   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-03-05 14:50:44  Fairfax, VA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-28 12:33:46  Fairfax, VA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-28 12:20:46  Magnolia, DE, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-28 11:59:20  Northeast MD, US ---  15600   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-28 11:57:03  Villas NJ, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-28 11:08:15  Northville NY, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-28 11:07:19  Albany NY, US ---  15700   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-28 11:01:34  Palmer, MA USA 3553  15700   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-28 10:47:11  Northeast MA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-28 10:40:53  Billerica MA, US 3553  4200   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-18 15:45:02  Billerica MA, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-18 14:16:58  Gray ME, US ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 15:48:51  Paisley, GB 6472  20000   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 14:32:37  Carnoustie Scotland UK 6472  20000   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 14:08:53  Best, NL 4147  20000   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 14:02:36  Bemmel, NL 4147  20000   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 14:02:33  Den Dolder, The Netherlands 4147  22850   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 14:59:11  Sutton Upon Hull. UK ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   @@@@@@@@ 2014-02-14 13:57:07  Naaldwijk, NL 4147  20000   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 12:53:54  EHTW10, NL ---  ---  
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 13:52:51  Apeldoorn, NL 4147  20000   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 13:50:41  Malden, NL  4147  20000   
A3F362 Various   @@@@@@@@ 2014-02-14 13:49:12  Nieuwegein, NL 4147  20000   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 14:48:29  N Sheffield UK ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   @@@@@@@@ 2014-02-14 13:43:26  Sheffield, UK 6067  20000   
A3F362 Various   @@@@@@@@ 2014-02-14 13:42:51  Breda, NL 4147  20000   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 13:42:51  Breda 2, NL ---  20000   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 14:40:05  NORWICH GB ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   @@@@@@@@ 2014-02-14 13:37:46  Breda East, NL 4147  20000   
A3F362 Various   @@@@@@@@ 2014-02-14 13:33:46  Boven Pekela, NL 4147  20000   
A3F362 Various   @@@@@@@@ 2014-02-14 14:29:08  Attleborough, UK 4147  20000   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 14:28:39  Southwold,Suffolk,GB ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 14:28:35  Brentwood, Essex GB ---  --- 
A3F362 Various   @@@@@@@@ 2014-02-14 13:25:36  ETNG,DE ---  ---  
A3F362 Various   @@@@@@@@ 2014-02-14 14:22:50  Wymondham, GB 0000  0   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 14:15:55  Southend, GB ---  ---   
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 12:12:52  Filderstadt, DE ---  ---  
A3F362 Various   @@@@@@@@ 2014-02-14 12:09:10  12nm W of EDTY, DE ---  ---  
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 10:52:12  EDDM-2,DE ---  ---  
A3F362 Various   @@@@@@@@ 2014-02-14 10:48:06  Reichenkirchen, Germany ---  ---  
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 09:51:32  EDDM-2,DE ---  ---  
A3F362 Various   ---  2014-02-14 09:39:59  EDDM-1, DE ---  --- 

So is this N3538 - a Beech B-100 flying A3F362? What was A3F362 doing over in Europe in February? Is the Euro aircraft and the aircraft flying around here one and the same? Are we dealing with more than one aircraft flying the A3F362 hex code? Looks like they are doing some sort of digital imaging given the flight profile they flew yesterday. Nice "little" mystery. Hopefully I can catch these guys and try to get some additional or definitive answers. 

In the meantime I would say that A3F362 is assigned to the aircraft that the FAA says it belongs to N3538 a Beech B-100 flying in and around Camp Merrill conducting digital imaging missions.