MISSION OVERVIEW
DATE: 21 January, 2024
TIME: 14:00
SUNRISE: 06:45
SUNSET: 16:58
TASK: Unguided Munitions Training
WX: 190@6 / 9,000 Scattered / T33 / QNH: 30.07
FLIGHT DURATION: 200 nm
AVAILABLE SQUADRON ASSETS:
Dealer 1: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 2: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer 3: 4 x F/A-18c
Dealer x: 4 x F-14b
DEPART/ARRIVE:
Nellis AFB / Freq 132.55,327.0 [1] / TCN 12X "LSV" / ATIS: 270.1 [20]
SUPPORTING UNITS:
Nellis Range Control: “Blackjack” / 377.8 [2]
Mission Tanker: SHELL / 35x / 295.4 [7]
DIVERT:
Creech AFB
Rwy: 08/26
TCN: 87X
ATC: 118.3 [11]
BULLSEYE: N/A
SITUATION
For the next three weeks, squadron pilots will practice delivery of unguided munitions, specifically: iron bombs, air-to-ground gunnery, and air-to-ground rockets.
Three separate ranges will be utilized.
- Range 63B will be utilized by DEALER 1 for bombing practice and scoring.
- Range 64C will be utilized by DEALER 2 for air-to-ground gunnery practice and scoring.
- Range 64A will be utilized by DEALER 3 for unguided rocket practice.
Mission Commander’s note: F-14’s may be utilized by any pilot desiring to fly the Tomcat in these missions and may be placed in any of the three flights. Tomcats should not be tasked as flight leads due to comms requirements/mission trigger configuration. Tomcat pilots will receive the appropriate scripted audio messages via radio, but will not receive the corresponding message texts.
MISSION
Winds are from the south, so flights will depart via Runway 21 utilizing the DREAM 6 Departure. Flight leads will be directed to contact Blackjack upon range entry and will be issued a holding altitude to await their range time.
• Flights may join-up on the departure or may rendezvous at Mormon Peak (WP1).
• Once their flight is fully joined up and in holding at Mormon Peak, flight leads will receive further clearance from Blackjack.
• Once cleared to their respective range, flights may proceed out of holding towards their live fire areas (WP2).
• Approaching their assigned range, flights will be directed to switch to the appropriate range tower frequency. Range tower will clear their respective flight “hot” on the appropriate target(s).
• At that point, flights should make their attack runs on the target utilizing the range patterns as described below. Stay in the pattern until Winchester or the range time is over.
• If one member of the flight expends their ordnance before the others, they should climb out of the pattern and hold overhead the targets (above 18K) while waiting for the rest of their flight to finish up.
• Once range time is over or all ordnance expended, depart the range area as a flight and proceed to ELGIN E (WP3) for recovery via the Mormon Mesa Arrival.
• Creech AFB is located just to the south of the utilized ranges and is available as a refuel/divert if required.
RANGE PATTERNS
Range 63B will be utilized for CCIP iron bomb delivery against any of the three bomb circles located within the range boundaries.
The bomb targets will initially be marked with green smoke to aid in identification.
The bomb pattern should be flown as a left-hand racetrack, with the run-in to target oriented roughly north to south. While in the pattern, pilots should make the following voice reports over Flight frequency to inform other flight members of their location and enable the flight to space their runs accordingly.
“IN” or “IN center/left/right target” call should be made when rolling wings level and initiating dive on selected ring target.
“OFF” an off call should be made post-drop when climbing back up to altitude
“ABEAM” an abeam call should be made just prior commencing turn towards target at end of outbound leg.
Range 64C will be utilized for air to ground gunnery practice against any of the six strafe targets located within the range boundaries. The gun pattern should be flown as a left-hand racetrack, with the run-in to target oriented roughly south to north.
Strafe targets will initially be marked with Blue smoke to aid in identification.
While in the pattern, pilots should make the IN, OFF, and ABEAM reports as described above over Flight frequency to inform other flight members of their location and enable the flight to space their runs accordingly.
Range 64A will be utilized for unguided rocket training against various vehicle targets that will appear on the range. Target groupings will initially be marked with red smoke to aid in target location and identification.
There is no set pattern within the rocket range, but it is recommended to orient rocket attacks generally from East to West to prevent nose to nose encounters between flight members. Once all targets in a particular group are destroyed, a new group of targets will be spawned and identified with a different color smoke.
THREATS
With multiple aircraft operating in confined areas, the risk of mid-air collision will be the greatest threat. Staying within your assigned range while making the suggested advisory calls and other deconfliction via radio amongst flight members will critical to mitigating the threat.
R-4808A (Groom Lake/Dreamland) will be active and flights will need to remain clear - particularly affects DEALER 3 who is working immediately to the South of the restricted area.
ROE
Follow the prescribed route of flight and any directives issued by ATC/Range Control.
All aircraft are reminded that it is squadron SOP to monitor GUARD frequency (121.5/253.0) on COMM2. This will be required at all times in the range complex for high priority information and traffic deconfliction purposes.
Week 2 Mission Data Card
- Nellis Wk2 MDC.png (98.17 KiB) Viewed 1576 times
Range 63B Bomb Targets
- 63B Bomb Targets.png (3.69 MiB) Viewed 1576 times
Range 63B Bomb Pattern
- 63B Bomb Pattern.png (2.08 MiB) Viewed 1576 times
Range 64C Strafe Targets
- 64C Strafe Targets.png (3.78 MiB) Viewed 1576 times
Range 64C Strafe Pattern
- 64C Strafe Pattern.png (2.02 MiB) Viewed 1576 times
Range 64A Rocket Targets
- Range 64A Rocket Targets.png (2.9 MiB) Viewed 1576 times
DREAM 6 Departure
- DREAM Departure.png (798.02 KiB) Viewed 1568 times
MORMON MESA Arrival
- P_Mormon Mesa Arrival.png (254 KiB) Viewed 1568 times
