Message posted by lone wolf on December 24, 2005 at 0:07:19 PST:
I certainly wouldn't rule out your interpretation of FIDOE. However, Groom Lake has other private fixes, such as TEDDY, so it is my assumption FIDOE is a private fix. My understanding of mode S is you use a built-in 24 bit code rather than what ATC assigns. Now wouldn't you fly Mode-S all the time IF ATC can handle it? As I stated in another post, it is my guess that the air traffic display on flightaware comes from planes with Mode-S transponders. You can dig up audio on this website of the ATC handoff as planes fly from Vegas to Groom. The squawk is changed once they enter military airspace, as well as the callsign. [Not to mention the secret approach/departure and tower frequencies.] Now if they were to fly Mode-S, I would assume no squawk code would be assigned by ATC. As an FYI, from someone I know with a SBS-1, the US military heavies fly Mode-S.
In Reply to: Janet and FIDOE posted by Ron on December 23, 2005 at 23:36:10 PST:
Replies: