Williamtown Night ops

[Mick.B]

Got my Dad up at Willytown this week for some spoting and he wants to know what night do they normaly do night ops. I thought it was Wednesday.

[Ahmet H]

I believe it is Wednesday although I have heard them flying around on Tuesdays or Thursdays.

[Stephen Brown]

Monday and Wednesday are usually the days.

Although there is an exercise starting soon that will last until June 3rd that involves F-18's, F-111's and PC-9's. That may change the patterns slightly.

[Ahmet H]

Any idea when that starts Stephen?

[Craig Murray]

Hi Ahmet,

Exercise "Black Dagger 09-2" runs 18-29 May, 2009 excluding weekends and involves RAAF Williamtown and also RAAF Amberley.

Billsville will no doubt be a hive of RAAF activity during this period.

More info can be found by following this link:
AIP Supplement - Exercise Black Dagger 09-2 (http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/publications/current/sup/s9-h17.pdf)

[Ahmet H]

Thanks for that info Craig.

[Ahmet H]

Here are the exercise activation times in easy to read local time.

18 May 2009 14:00 - 18 May 2009 18:00
18 May 2009 19:00 - 18 May 2009 22:00

19 May 2009 14:00 - 19 May 2009 18:00
19 May 2009 19:00 - 19 May 2009 22:00

20 May 2009 14:00 - 20 May 2009 18:00
20 May 2009 19:00 - 20 May 2009 22:00

22 May 2009 14:00 - 22 May 2009 18:00
22 May 2009 19:00 - 22 May 2009 22:00

23 May 2009 11:00 - 23 May 2009 15:00

25 May 2009 13:00 - 26 May 2009 00:00

26 May 2009 13:00 - 27 May 2009 00:00

27 May 2009 13:00 - 28 May 2009 00:00

28 May 2009 12:00 - 28 May 2009 19:00

29 May 2009 12:00 - 29 May 2009 18:00

It's interesting to note that on the 23rd May the times are listed as active yet it's a Saturday.

"The RAAF will conduct strike exercises, code--named “BLACK
DAGGER” in the Singleton/Williamtown area over the period 18 May -- 29
May 09 (excluding weekends)."

[andrew evans]

Is anyone heading up to Willi town for this.

[Nick W]

Ill probably go out and take a little peak :D

[andrew evans]

Gday Nick if you go out can you let us know if it is worth going out to have a look.I planned on going on Friday and Saturday but the weather is predicted to be showers.I don't want to drive up from Sydney if the weather is crap.Thanks mate

[Gerard M]

May be a bit soon to ask but due to the Talisman Sabre 09 during July how many of the Hornets will be going north for that from Willie as i'm heading up Williamtown way in July and was hoping for a couple of days of their usual circuits and training?
Cheers
Gerard

[Stephen Brown]

Williamtown has 3 Sqdn, 77 Sqdn, 76 Sqdn, and 2 OCU. I don't think they will all be going up there, so there still should be some flying around.

BTW heres the website. Devoid of information except to quell the environmentalists.

http://www.talismansaber09.com.au/

[andrew evans]

Has anyone been out to Williamtown yet.

[Nick W]

I think your all going to want to make it out on June 5th as the Antonov-124 will be coming in. Its scheduled to land at 0855 :D
Cheers Nick

[andrew evans]

I have just contacted fighter world at Williamtown and they have adviced me that there hasn't much flying with this exercise on.They gave me this number1800 033 200 and that tells you what day and times the RAAF are flying and it says that there is no flying on Saturday(It also says that it is subject to change).With the way the weather is at the moment and that news I will be staying at home this weekend.
Bugger

[Michael M]

I went up to Williamtown yesterday from about 1.30pm to 3.30pm. I didn't see any Hornets in action. There were 6 Hawks take off and return during that period as well as 2 Hercules which arrived and departed shortly afterwards. Certainly was less action than I had expected especially without any movements by the Hornets. There were a few commercial movements and I got a good look at Fighterworld so an enjoyable afternoon.

[andrew evans]

Yea that's bad luck I wonder if the weather has anything to do with it.

[Mick.B]

My dad was up there acouple of weeks ago and had an absolute ball. He rang me when he was out next to the Salt Ash weapons range and said listen to this. Then I heard the unmistakable sound of a 20mm canon being fired from an F-18. There were 6 in the loop. They were working up for the exercise that week with alot of Hornet movements.

[Gerard M]

How do you get out to the Salt Ash range? Never thought about going over there whenever im up there.
And i'd be able to make it for the antonov but i'm probably not because the last time i tried, ended up having to wait the entire day to see it and it came in on 12 anyway!
But thanks to that i got to see the amazing F-15's and their un-restriceted climb!!! (sorry to bring them back up again but lets hope they come back some time soon!)
Anyone else thinking about heading up to see the Antonov?

[Nick W]

Please refrain from quoting the 'whole' previous thread. It's not necessary, thank you - mod

I will be heading out. Even if it comes in on 12 it will be parking on the civy side this time not the military side :D

[Greg McDonald]

Thinking about going up for the Antonov. Anyone else driving up on the day?

[Nick W]

Sorry but the arrival time has changed from 0855 to 1930 ;)

[Gerard M]

I'd consider it because i just realized its the day before a public holiday but now im not so sure with the time change? Anyone else know if they are still heading up? And it will be dark too!

[Greg McDonald]

Better still...anyone know when it's due to depart?

[Gerard M]

ok so can anyone tell me if there is still a 124 coming in tonight? The one tht came into sydney has really confused me now and i dont want to drive up there for nothing. Cheers

[Gerard M]

My dad was up there acouple of weeks ago and had an absolute ball. He rang me when he was out next to the Salt Ash weapons range and said listen to this. Then I heard the unmistakable sound of a 20mm canon being fired from an F-18. There were 6 in the loop. They were working up for the exercise that week with alot of Hornet movements.

Is anyone able to give me some directions on how to get near the Salt Ash weapons range? Was thinking i'd head out there whilst i was up near the area this week? And any good viewing spots for when they operate there?

[Gerard M]

So no-one with any local knowledge can help me out with the best location for the salt ash? I was hoping to head down there tomorrow after an early morning fish and google earth isn't helping me on where i should be? And if someone can is there a frequency i should monitor to listen to them whilst/if i'm there?

Any help would really be appreciated

[Bob C]

Maybe it's not such a great idea to be near a "live" range. Maybe it's off limits as well as areas nearby ? I don't know.

Why not just be happy with watching the comings and goings at Williamtown ?

[Stephen Brown]

Gerard,

I have never gone out anywhere near Salt Ash, as it is a live ordinance range and therefore any public access is extremely limited and a fair distance away. You could go to eastern end of Medowie and you will able to see the planes diving in and pulling out, but still at a distance.

If you open up google maps you will see the range to the right and up a bit from the base (the lines with the circle in the middle of them). All the roads you see around the range are either Military Private, or Hunter Water Private roads. No access at all. You can see where the limits of the public roads go and since theres not a lot of spots that provide good viewing access you will have to experiment.

As a long term resident I've never been out trying to look at the range becasue of those reasons.

And thats assuming the range is in operation that day. They don't use it every day, and sometimes don't use it for weeks. It's only used for particular portions of their training. They only use high Military VHF frequencys for the range control, whereas at the base they use lower VHF frequencies that are accessible to the everyday scanner. Even if you can receive the Mil freqs, they are always referred to as 'Stud' frequencies and they change those based on the mission, so finding which one they are using can be hard.

You would be better watching the operations at Williamtown.

[David C]

Here is a list of Willy freq's .... I would advise basing yourself at the airfield and not to venture anywhere near to the range ..

*Williamtown - YWLM
Ground Frequency: 118.300 MHz
Ground Frequency: 121.800 MHz
Ground Frequency: 127.250 MHz
Tower Frequency: 118.300 MHz
Tower Frequency: 121.800 MHz
1 394.4000 Surface Movements Control Vehicle
2 393.7000 Salt Ash Weapons Range - XMT2A
4 395.7500 Security / Base Control Point
5 392.8000 3 Squadron - XMT3A
6 395.5250 ESN / SAR - PABX Tactical No. 1
7 395.9250 Explosive Ordanance - EODF
8 392.4500 Air Movements - XMT1B
9 395.3500 76 Squadron - XMT2B
44 394.5000 Head Quarters Air Command ( During Exercises )
45 394.6000 Head Quarters Air Command ( Exercise )
46 394.8000 Head Quarters Air Command ( Exercise )
47 394.9000 Head Quarters Air Command ( Exercise )
48 395.0500 Head Quarters Air Command ( Exercise )
54 395.1500 Aviation Fuel Supply
55 395.2250 Base Control Point
56 395.4000 Air Transportable Telecommunications Unit
57 395.4750 PABX Tactical No. 2
58 397.9750 481 Wing Barrier Training
84 398.6500 CTCSS Repeater
85 398.4750 Fire Control Repeater
86 398.8750 Spare Repeater
93 395.0250 77 Squadron - XMT3B - Surface Movements
94 398.0750 RAAF Military Police Discreet Channel
95 397.6250 Ops Support Service PABX Tactical No 1
96 397.5250 Air Movements Section Operations - XMT1C -Tower
98 398.3500 2 OCU - XMT2C
99 398.1250 481 Wing XMT3C - Engine

Dave C

[Stephen Brown]

David,

Do you have the current 'Stud' Equivalents?

Clarification on some freqs.

118.3 - Willy Tower
121.8 - Willy Ground
133.1 - Willy Approach
135.7 - Willy Departures
13X.X - Willy Clearance Delivery (I'll get this freq when i get home and look at my scanner)

[David C]

I believe the stud numbers are listed next to the listed freqs, for example "stud 1" would be 394.4 Mhz . The other freqs you mentioned are correct , and Willy Clearance Delivery is 130.35 Mhz ...Have fun .

Dave C

[Stephen Brown]

Yeah I don't thik thats right, as they use Stud 2 and Stud 5 When departing and arriving, I think tower is Stud 2 and Departures, Stud 5

[damien b]

The numbers listed don't account for all of the "studs' - i was at Williamtown yesterday and heard studs 12, 13 and 14 being used amongst some others that do not appear on that list. Stud 3 seemed to be Willy Tower yesterday. Willy Centre asked the flight leaders to contact stud 3 at 10 miles TACAN, and they then came up on towers frequency. Stud 5 was also heard but not all that often - i'm guessing it was Willy Centre.

[Gerard M]

Thanks for the help guys, ended up taking your advice and stuck with the base. Was pretty active today, especially early afternoon. Thanks for the help again and the frequencies.

And just as a side, i was out fishing on the beach tonight and noticed in the sky a single white light which only flashed maybe three or four times, quite high up, but not high enough to be an overfly or a satellite. It was moving very eradicly and i thought it might have been a raaf aircraft releasing a flare every now and then? Does anyone know what it might have been?

[Gerard M]

Was on the beach again last night at around 7pm or something and was quite surprised to realize that i was watching a couple of jets doing all sorts of dog legs and maneuvers etc over the water for at least 30minutes till the water got too cold. Wasn't as impressive as i thought it would be as most of the time it was a simple red light flashing all over the sky, but now i can say i've finally seen some of these Willy night ops! :rolleyes:

And whats even better, is just now looking up whilst on the veranda and seeing a hornet zipping across the water no more than 500? feet on the water. Amazing sight! I really envy the people that live up this side the coast!