ScanRiverside.com

http://www.pe.com/articles/military-810 ... eimer.html

Todays Press Enterprise has an article on Drones moving in at MARB and Pilots/Controllers learning to fly them back and forth from here to Edwards AFB. I don't know if they have any Freqs for them or if they would even need any. I have seen a few on ADS-B up in Northern Cal.

John L

I have heard Global Hawk drones on 369.90 mhz when they are in the area, based at Beale AFB, call sign is HIGHTEST. I just checked a DoD document on frequency allocations that someone gave me, the larger UAVs are capable of transmitting on VHF & UHF aero freqs, the smaller drones like the Reaper are not.

How does the Tower know when these Reapers are coming in to land? I ASSume that they will use runways 14/32 just like everyone else. I keep looking up for something with a propeller on the rear when I hear planes outside. Just wondering if we are going to get some kind of heads up when they arrive and depart so we can get a look at them.

John L

Good question. I just did some searching, apparently Reapers are being equipped with this radio, which can transmit between 30 - 400 mhz. https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/produc ... -9150.html
So I guess they will come up on ATC freqs & other military UHF freqs. 369.90 is a good start to listen for them.

Through some detective work, I have found that MQ-9 Reapers from March are escorted in & out of the area by Cessna Centurions from a company called Chalk 2 Aviation, using call sign CHASE for the Centurions, and GRIZZLY XX for the MQ-9 Reaper. 122.650 mhz for CHASE & GRIZZLY MQ-9s, 127.650 March tower, 134.0 mhz & 127.0 as they leave the area & RTB. 124.550 mhz as they check in with Joshua Control to enter R-2515 where they operate. Have not heard any UHF comms so far, all VHF HI. Seems to be almost daily activity with the MQ-9s last week or so.

Nice work, I'll plug these in and see what I hear. I read on the MARB Web page that there will be an Airshow in May 18. Something to look forward to.

John L, they are up today, GRIZZLY 42 went up to R-2515, you should be able to hear CHASE & GRIZZLY 42 when they RTB March later this afternoon. 122.650 mhz you should hear them air to air as they come back, then March tower, 127.65 & SoCal TRACON 134.0 mhz