KW4B and AK4CP Go Aeronautical Mobile for an Evening of Radio Fun

Posted by KF4LMT on March 14, 2011 · 2 Comments 

Update 15 March 2011:  I added Kevin’s log from the flight that he posted on Facebook.  It includes the stations he worked and their locations.

Location: Brunswick

Yesterday evening, Kevin Bell – KW4B and Chuck Watson, AK4CP went aeronautical mobile in a Cirrus SR22 flying from Savannah to Beaufort, then down to Brunswick and back to Savannah.  While Chuck flew, Kevin operated aeronautical mobile using his HT on 146.520 simplex and the 442.700 repeater in Savannah.

I woke up late yesterday afternoon and didn’t get my day started until 6pm.  I had gone out to get a sandwich from Subway and read about the flight on a Facebook post from Kevin.  While in the grocery store picking up a few items, I got an SMS message from Guy – K4GTM telling me about it as well.  As I was leaving the Harvey’s at Perry Lane and the Golden Isles Parkway, I turned on the radio and immediately heard Kevin calling me on 146.520. We talked on .52 for a few minutes, then Chuck and Kevin lined up to do a touch and go at Brunswick-Golden Isles Airport (KBQK).  As I came back towards the Golden Isles Parkway on Cate Rd. I could see them lining up for the approach and I heard them on 122.800, BQK’s CTAF frequency.  As Chuck and Kevin climbed out of BQK  and began circling near St. Simon”s Island, I began talking to Kevin again on 146.520 until he decided to switch over to the 442.700 repeater.  At that time I wasn’t able to hit the 442.700 from here in Brunswick, so I flipped the input/output of the repeater and talked to Kevin on the output of the repeater while listening to him on the input side (Kevin explained to those on the repeater what I was doing since they couldn’t hear me).  I could hear Kevin on 447.700 until he and Chuck began descending near Tybee to begin their approach toward Savannah (SAV).  Dan Scott – KF4MND, in Glennville, could hear Kevin until they dropped below 800 ft on the approach to SAV. As it began to get darker, I was able to make it into the 442.700 repeater with the mobile on full power and joined in some of the conversation until Chuck and Kevin landed at Savannah.

Here’s my Twitter stream from the evening:

• Just talked to Kevin, KW4B on 146.520 as he was aeronautical mobile along the GA coast. Saw him turn final into BQK.

• Kevin should be back in the air in a few headed back toward Savannah.

• KW4B back in the air along the GA coast, circling near Brunswick, will be headed back to Savannah at some point. 146.520

• KW4B now on the Savannah 442.700 rptr as they circle over St Simons Island

• I can’t get into 442.700, but I did flip the pair to talk to Kevin. They’re at 7500 ft over St Simons, turnIng NB to Savannah.

• Kevin says he can see the brush fire in McIntosh Co, a lot of smoke and a clear line of flame.

Note:  There was a rather large brush fire in McIntosh County that required mutual aid assistance from Bryan, Glynn, Liberty, and Long counties as well as Georgia Forestry.  That is the fire that Kevin saw as they were northbound from Brunswick

• Can still hear KW4B on 447.700, he’s reporting near Wassaw Island.

• Kevin reported they were at 5600 ft descending near Tybee for approach to SAV and I’m still talking 70cm simplex to him.

• Good band condx now, able to get into the 442.700 now. Have lost Kevin on the input though.

• Dan, KF4MND in Glenville could hear Kevin on the input of the 442.700 down to the 800ft level.

It was a fun evening of radio! Numerous hams in the Savannah, Richmond Hill, and Midway area got to talk to Kevin throughout the flight.  It was also good to know that at the 5000-7000 ft level, we can conduct 70cm (440 MHz) simplex communications between a mobile in Brunswick and a portable in an aircraft around Savannah.

Here is Kevin’s log from the flight listing the stations he worked:

1. K4YGD – Russ in Savannah
2. KJ3FFD – Jeff in Richmond Hill
3. K4GTM – Guy in Savannah; thanks for texting some of the other guys to let them know I was up…
4. N2DRL – John in Midway
5. W4SGA – Jerry in Richmond Hill
6. KI4QOQ – Philip, I think… Call comes up as being in Twin City, GA; was right at my noise level
7. KA4KOE – Philip in Richmond Hill; worked both from his vehicle and his handheld
8. K4SDJ – Steve in Savannah
9. KK4AMD – Don in Midway
10. KF4LMT – Mac in Brunswick; Mac saw us on approach into Brunswick and listened to Chuck on the aviation frequencies while we approached for our brief landing there. Later I worked Mac in the reverse of the 442.7000 Mhz repeater in Savannah.
11. KJ4FAV – Paul, midtown Savannah
12. KK4ANB – Nick on the Isle of Hope; Nick could see us on approach into Savannah.
13. KF4MND – Dan in Glenville, GA; worked him on UHF direct and through the repeater in Savannah.
14. KJ4YPP – Ken in Midway, GA I think.
15. W4JKG – Ken in Savannah

Filed under Aeronautical Mobile, Amateur Radio