Forum: F-22A Raptor

Two quick questions for the F-22 fans here:

What is the nickname and radio callsign for the two F-22 Squadrons at Elmendorf?

and What would be the quicker route to deploy from Elmendorf to Japan, a direct or a great-circle down the Kamchatka Peninsula?

Thanks

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90th is the "Pair 'o Dice" and the 525 is the "Bulldogs" as far as radio callsigns go, each pilot has his own call sign given to him in flight school. Callsigns for the flight are assigned by OPs and there are multiple callsigns that they use. When I got my incentive ride we were Repro01. Each aircraft in the flight will be assigned the callsign plus a consecutive number so it would be something like Repro01, Repro02, Repro03, and Repro04 for a 4 ship. You aren't gonna find aybody that's gonna tell you the direct route (I cincerly hope) the Raptors are going to be taking to Japan, but great circle steering plays a part. BTW Elmendorf Raptors are deploying to Guam, not Japan. Langley Raptors went to Japan.

I meant a squadron-wide code to designate a flight from the squadron, like in Operation Allied Force (i'm guessing) the 555th used "Basher"

I know the Navy does something similar: VFA-41 "Black Aces" radio callsign is "Fast Eagle" and VFA-25 "Fist of the Fleet" is "Fist"

Do they have a standardized code, or can I just use "Dice" for the 90th and "Bulldog" for the 525th? This is for my book, and I don't want to come up with all the different callsigns (I would get confused in no time)

Actually, we don't get our radio callsigns in flight school. The call signs used on the radio are assigned per FAA region and then divided for the number of squadrons in that region. The squadrons routinely attempt to get rid of the lame ones and get better ones. Often radio callsigns, at least a couple of them, relate to the squadrons that use them, such as Skull or Bones for the Tophats, or for the Black Widows-Spydr, or Venom.
The callsigns guys get as nicknames are usually assigned for something they have done in a fighter squadron. Usually it is less than flattering, but almost always humorous such as SAIGON. As in Situational Awarness is Gone. Or Tulsa, as in Total utter lack of S A.

You get the idea.

Quote:

Often radio callsigns, at least a couple of them, relate to the squadrons that use them, such as Skull or Bones for the Tophats, or for the Black Widows-Spydr, or Venom.

I understand the individual pilot callsigns, but in time of war it does not seem practical that they can keep track of all the airborne planes by their individual callsign, so do the USAF squadrons that deploy to a conflict zone keep their FAA radio callsign--if so, what is the 90th's?

My

: This is just my observation but ANG sorties more often than not use the personal callsign of the flight lead. I had to pass the flight board at Tucson every morning on the way to the sim and saw flights with "Hubcap', "Pizza", and "Gator" as desingations. (callsigns of some IPs I knew there)

Now if the unit is sending some guys/gals TDY someplace where they'll be representing the unit, then they'd use approved unit callsigns in transit. Whether they switch back to the personal callsigns afterward is their call.

ptplauthor wrote:

...do the USAF squadrons that deploy to a conflict zone keep their FAA radio callsign--if so, what is the 90th's?

The callsign for the transit flight is normally the approved unit callsign, but the callsign for an operational combat sortie is done by the people who generate the Air Tasking Order (ATO). I think they do try to keep it pertinent but it could be anything the computer spits out.

So if this is true for AD units--the first flight off could be Gator, with theother pilots taking the callsigns "Gator 2" "Gator 3" and "Gator 4" or could it be a theme like cars i.e. Operation Bolo, Chevy, Ford, Pontiac, etc.

BTW: this is all for the sake of realism in my book.

That's basically it. For a flight with 4 elements, flight lead is always "Whatever" 01 and the other elements would be 02, 03, and 04 (always 2 digits). But the entire flight is referred to as "Whatever 01 Flight".

The ATO will assign callsigns to packages with the same tasking. So for multiple flights in a package, they're just sequential. Like "Chevy 11 Flight, "Chevy 21 Flight", etc., and the elements in each flight are sequential also: "Chevy 11/12/13" or "Chevy 21/22/23".

Scott O'Grady was "Basher 52", meaning he was the 2nd jet in the 5th flight in the "Basher" package.

Clear as mud? Wink

Last edited by outlaw162 on Jan 18, 2009 - 12:36 AM; edited 1 time in total

Used to be (maybe still is) that the “FAA” (actually USAF) call signs for a unit aircraft flying out of its local area, but in the US were rotated weekly or so and came down in the Voice Call Sign List (VCSL) at whatever the interval was.

Prior to this, for cross-country flights people used their imagination (“webad”, “hotbox”, etc.)

Squadron commander yelled at one of our guys just after this change and told him for cross-country he had to use a VCSL callsign.

Next time he went, he filed as Vcsl (“vissel”) 91.

(You buy ‘em books, they eat the covers.)

OL

edit: I don't mean your book, I wish you great success, sounds good

Quote:

(You buy ‘em books, they eat the covers.)

Buy someone BOOKS? I only buy beers (once I'm old enough that is)
If ya wanna read my book, you'll have to wait for three things:

1) Me to finish the synopsis
2( Finish writing the book (should be done by this time next year, not starting until November's National Novel Writing Month--could get a publisher without a literary agent.)
3) A publisher to say "Let's do it"

If I can't get #3, heck I might talk to Lieven, and set something up to buy electronic copies from here, seeing as I've gotten some very valuable info from my fellow forumers, and it has a character flying an F-16, and another flying an F-22.

Hi guys,

Any news about the two last ELMENDORF's birds : 06-4130 and 07-4133 ?
for 90th or 525th fs ?
thanks

130 and 133 go to 525 but they are not the last of the Elmendorf Raptors

Quote:

That's basically it. For a flight with 4 elements, flight lead is always "Whatever" 01 and the other elements would be 02, 03, and 04 (always 2 digits). But the entire flight is referred to as "Whatever 01 Flight".

The ATO will assign callsigns to packages with the same tasking. So for multiple flights in a package, they're just sequential. Like "Chevy 11 Flight, "Chevy 21 Flight", etc., and the elements in each flight are sequential also: "Chevy 11/12/13" or "Chevy 21/22/23".

Scott O'Grady was "Basher 52", meaning he was the 2nd jet in the 5th flight in the "Basher" package.

Clear as mud? Wink

Clearer

I just have one last question, what would the flightplan be for a deployment to Misawa from Elmendorf--would they take a great circle-routing? I'm looking for the fastest route in, so they can get in, get the pilots crew-rest and get up kickin' six ASAP.

That's another question, what is the AF reguslations on crew rest?

Flightplans are usually classified especially during deployments

Question why do you have to go into utter detail about the flight from Elmendorf to Japan? Flightplans for flying to asia commercial wise are not classified so maybe you should take a look at that - flightplan are all over the net. Also remember the curvature of the earth!

By the way war time call signs for US Air Force units differ from operation to operation. When the 90FS deployed to Kwang Ju back in 94 for team spirit they did not use the Dice callsign. There were five different callsigns they used. From a creative stand point you can practically use any type of callsign.

Forum: F-22A Raptor

Raptors at Elmendorf