Holbeach range radio log 19 th to 23rd August 2013

[Gary]

Monday 19th August

11.12l Marham ** working with JTACs on 292.150, mentioned Holbeach but could be on Sculthorpe or Muckleburgh

Theres a CAS EX on all three locations this week viewtopic.php?f=117&t=84775

[Gary]

12.41l Chaos 22 [3(F)Sqn] working the range 375.225

[stealth117]

Got the day off work Wednesday to go to holbeach so hope that they use it more than the other two places Have phoned the tower today around dinner time to see what is booked in for the week and was told that so far nothing is booked in officially but apparently they are phoning from base before hand to get a slot as and when they want it so it could be a bit hit and miss (pardon the pun)

Fingers crossed for wednesday
Martin

[mirage41]

Marham zone, 124.150, advised a civilian passing through MATZ at 16.43l "Holbeach range is now closed".

[stealth117]

Thanks for the info mirage41 although its not looking good then, even when there's notams out for the ranges it seems like it can be pot luck as to whether you see anything or not. Its nowhere near as good as it used to be a few years back
Just a quick question, why does the notam say holbeach will be open until 23:00 yet it closed before 17:00 today? Is the notam there just in case they want to use the range until that time? Just I cant see the point of having the notam when the range closes at 17:00ish most days

Martin

[Gary]

Martin

The range opening hour are usually

Monday 09.00 to 17.00 ish
Tuesday 09.00 to 22.00 ish (Might have changed with the lack of traffic nowadays)
Wednesday 09.00 to 17.00 ish
Thursday 09.00 to 22.00 ish (As Tuesday)
Friday 09.00 to 12.00 ish

When there is a CAS Ex on the range like the current one, which is also on Sculthorpe or Muckleburgh at the same time. Holbeach is usually the weather back up location or over spill location on the rare occasion the other locations are too busy, but the action usually focuses on Holbeach one day during the exercise. Guess so they can drop weapons.

It's known the JTACs to pack up early and heading to one of the other locations, only for the aircraft to check in on the range to be told they've moved the 321st STS seem to do that quite often

From a phone call I received today from Mark Ranger, there was no JTAC on the range this morning, not sure about the afternoon.

[stealth117]

Thanks for the info Gary, much appreciated

[Gary]

No problem mate

Tuesday 20th August

10.02l Chaos 11 - 13 [3(F)Sqn] working the range 375.225, dry

[Gary]

15.40l Triplex 51 [29(R)Sqn] working range primary 375.225, must be working medium to high altitude because the tower is reporting aircraft not seen

[Gary]

Wednesday 21st August

11.01l Spartan 1 [II(AC)Sqn] checking in with range primary 375.225

[rich1988]

2 of at 3000ft+ one pass only

[Gary]

13.47l Panther 21 flight [494th FS] Checking in to work the range, 25 degree high angle strafe target 1, all events dry

Edit :-

no will be low angle strafe due to weather, also they mentioned the call sign Hoss [492nd FS]

[Gary]

Thursday 22nd

09.06l Typhoon 25 checking in with range primary 375.225 and switching to Mayhem control 231.925. Looks like JTACs on the range today

[Gary]

10.01l Pirate 09 [100 Sqn, Hawk] checking in with primary 375.225 to work the exercise

Pirate 09 showing as [43C403] XX198 /CG

[Gary]

12.31l Pirate 09 [100 Sqn, Hawk] checking back in with primary 375.225 to work the exercise

Pirate 09 showing as [43C403] XX198 /CG

[Gary]

12.40l Panther 11 [494th FS] checking in with secondary 281.375 to bootleg some time.

Edit :-

Range couldn't accept them because of the EX

[Gary]

16.20l Loisse 41 checking in with range primary 375.225, working the exercise

2 x Paveway IV
2 X DMS Brimstone
30 rounds of 27MM

Showing on PP as 43C1BF

[Gary]

Friday 23rd August

09.49L Chaos 11 [3(F)Sqn] checking in with primary 375.225, strafe target 1

Edit :-

One pass then depart