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Author Topic: What is "Terra 41"?  (Read 20536 times)

Offline StrongDreams

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What is "Terra 41"?
« on: August 17, 2011, 10:13:01 AM »
There was a B757 flying around the KROC airspace this morning.  I noticed it on my way into work when it broke off a standard approach and did a go-around even though it was a clear sunny day with no winds or weather.  It then did a touch-and-go and left the area.  It was painted in unmarked white (as far as I could tell).   Checking the archives, it was using the call sign "Terra 41" (or maybe Tara or Sara) and spent more than an hour flying ILS approaches.  FlightAware shows no B757s in the area of Rochester today, so it's an unlisted flight of some kind.

I've encountered the FAA prop aircraft that fly around calibrating ILS systems, although I forget their call sign.  Is this a similar thing but with a jet?

The biggest aircraft Rochester gets is normally the A320 flown by FedEx.  Driving down the highway and seeing the big 757 peel off the approach was quite a sight.

http://archive-server.liveatc.net/kroc/KROC-Aug-17-2011-1200Z.mp3



Offline Walters

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2011, 11:42:14 AM »
military aircraft..TERRA is a tactical callsign

Offline joeyb747

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #2 on: August 17, 2011, 12:48:54 PM »
The biggest aircraft Rochester gets is normally the A320 flown by FedEx.

FedEx doesn't operate the A320...they do operate the A300 and A310...

military aircraft..TERRA is a tactical callsign

Correct:

"TERRA B-757/C-32A 486 FLTS, Eglin AFB, used by State Dept. FEST missions"

From:

http://www.monitoringtimes.com/MilitaryCallsignList-APR09.pdf  (see page 36)

Offline StrongDreams

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #3 on: August 17, 2011, 12:53:58 PM »
Thanks, of course that just raises the question of why an unmarked 757 from Florida with an anti-terrorism task force call sign was flying ILS approaches in Rochester NY.

Offline StrongDreams

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #4 on: August 17, 2011, 12:58:19 PM »
The biggest aircraft Rochester gets is normally the A320 flown by FedEx.

FedEx doesn't operate the A320...they do operate the A300 and A310...

Right, sorry.  Mostly we get the A300-600 version (A306 on Flightaware) which is bigger than the A320 anyway.  I'm used to hearing calls for "FDX 948 heavy" but not "Terra 41 heavy".

Offline joeyb747

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #5 on: August 17, 2011, 01:03:18 PM »
The biggest aircraft Rochester gets is normally the A320 flown by FedEx.

FedEx doesn't operate the A320...they do operate the A300 and A310...

Right, sorry.  Mostly we get the A300-600 version (A306 on Flightaware) which is bigger than the A320 anyway.  I'm used to hearing calls for "FDX 948 heavy" but not "Terra 41 heavy".

That's what I thought you ment... 8-)

Did they actually use "Heavy" in the callsign?? Here we go again...B757...heavy or not?? LOL!  :lol:

Offline StrongDreams

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #6 on: August 17, 2011, 01:10:23 PM »
The biggest aircraft Rochester gets is normally the A320 flown by FedEx.

FedEx doesn't operate the A320...they do operate the A300 and A310...

Right, sorry.  Mostly we get the A300-600 version (A306 on Flightaware) which is bigger than the A320 anyway.  I'm used to hearing calls for "FDX 948 heavy" but not "Terra 41 heavy".

That's what I thought you ment... 8-)

Did they actually use "Heavy" in the callsign?? Here we go again...B757...heavy or not?? LOL!  :lol:
In the archive link above that starts at 1200Z, I heard "heavy" a couple of times but mostly not, and when I was listening live at 1305Z when it did the circle maneuver, they did not.  I have not gone back to locate the first appearance of the jet on the day.

The approach I saw that got me interested turned out in the archive to be an "ILS 28 with circle to left base for 22" approach.  So the plane got within 2 miles of the field or so at about 1000 AGL, then swerved to the north.  The main north-south highway in Rochester runs near the airport, and I was heading south with this huge airplane (Rochester mostly gets RJs and Dash-8s) at my 11 o'clock, when it suddenly banked and peeled away from the airport.  I'm not surprised it was a military pilot, and wonder if he was showing off a bit.

Offline joeyb747

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #7 on: August 17, 2011, 01:16:12 PM »
Sounds like a neat experience!  8-)

Whuts_goingon

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #8 on: August 17, 2011, 01:54:07 PM »
 :-D

Good old 757's , I know Brittish Airways did a VIP takeoff with unusual high engine trust and climb rate to say farewell to their 757's.... Amazing airplane !  :mrgreen:


Offline Danno_FZ1

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #9 on: August 17, 2011, 04:08:25 PM »

Offline dan9125

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #10 on: August 17, 2011, 04:38:47 PM »
I have heard Terra 41 many times doing touch and goes at KIAG (Niagara Falls) The first few times I saw it the same thing went through my mind, what is it and where the heck did it come from. When they depart the Falls they are given vectors back to a military facility,can't remember which one though.

Offline ridejumpfly

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #11 on: August 17, 2011, 10:52:34 PM »
It could have been from McGuire AFB in NJ too.  We used to send them that way often.

Offline StrongDreams

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #12 on: August 18, 2011, 11:38:48 AM »
Did it look like this perhaps?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22221147@N02/2269889348/
Yes, in the sense that one white unmarked 757 looks like any other white unmarked 757  :-D

If it becomes a regular visitor I'll try and get some numbers.

Offline StrongDreams

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #13 on: August 18, 2011, 11:46:49 AM »
It could have been from McGuire AFB in NJ too.  We used to send them that way often.
Yup.  I listened to the last departure and they were cleared to McGuire.

Offline BMT

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #14 on: August 19, 2011, 05:55:59 AM »
 TERRA C-32B  NJ ANG | 108WG | 150SOS [KWRI]


BMT

Offline aevins

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Offline philip

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Re: What is "Terra 41"?
« Reply #16 on: August 28, 2011, 04:03:51 AM »
Thanks for the pdf   8-)