Roger that.
Shit... Sorry, Brother.
Boeing C-17 is a heavy lift 4-engine transport, a BIG plane. Similar to the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, just a lot newer.
Now.
The C-17 is unimportant. The issue is the fact that NO military aircraft are "squawking". Every aircraft has a radio called a "Transponder". It's what civilian Air Traffic Control (ATC) uses to identify specific aircraft. It transmits altitude and other information that when combined with Radar, can give an almost "3D" picture of the airspace to ATC personnel.
NO military aircraft are using the transponder, so the civilian sites, like:
Can't see them. They still show up on Radar, but with NO identifying information.
The military has their OWN system, and civilians don't have access to it.
So, normally most military aircraft USE transponders, it makes it easier for civilian ATC, but as of a few hours ago, all military aircraft over the continental United States (CONUS), stopped transmitting transponder codes.
It's unusual, and COULD (and i emphasize C-O-U-L-D) indicate a nationwide operation in progress.
That's MY take.
You other guys feel free to elaborate or correct my assumptions...
Roger that.
Shit... Sorry, Brother. Boeing C-17 is a heavy lift 4-engine transport, a BIG plane. Similar to the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, just a lot newer.
Now. The C-17 is unimportant. The issue is the fact that NO military aircraft are "squawking". Every aircraft has a radio called a "Transponder". It's what civilian Air Traffic Control (ATC) uses to identify specific aircraft. It transmits altitude and other information that when combined with Radar, can give an almost "3D" picture of the airspace to ATC personnel.
NO military aircraft are using the transponder, so the civilian sites, like:
https://globe.adsbexchange.com/
Can't see them. They still show up on Radar, but with NO identifying information.
The military has their OWN system, and civilians don't have access to it.
So, normally most military aircraft USE transponders, it makes it easier for civilian ATC, but as of a few hours ago, all military aircraft over the continental United States (CONUS), stopped transmitting transponder codes.
It's unusual, and COULD (and i emphasize C-O-U-L-D) indicate a nationwide operation in progress.
That's MY take.
You other guys feel free to elaborate or correct my assumptions...
mtewamp...
And, I've been watching the last few nights and it was dead then too. Seems to me like flyboys gotta have sleep too.
Of course, if there are active missions you won't see them.
Damn. Is that the one with Mel Gibson, about the CIA in Vietnam?
I'd forgotten about that one...
Ah, sorry, I edited out that part as I realized after I posted that the plane in Air America was a C130, not a C17.
Oh, a C-5 is a whole nother ballgame...C-17 is not as big, but still huge. The Galaxy's engine scream is LEGENDARY..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uPiD1KlwHU
Turn it up...
I was in the USAF. YMMV.
Totally agree. There’s usually stuff up. May not be the fun stuff, but planes flying nonetheless regardless of what time of night.
Great response!
Thank you, Brother.
How do you filter this for military traffic?
The "U" icon at the top right...
Nice explanation. Thank you!
That's a good question, but what are the chances that it's EVER "Zero"?