Message posted by Joerg (Webmaster) (Member since 10/17/2000) on September 28, 2021 at 12:26:56 PST:

According to my records that Mode-S code is assigned to an F-35A (#13-5067) from the 6th WPS, Nellis AFB. That relatively new unit is associated with Weapons School training.

Per FAA, the Squawk code is in a block reserved for "Internal ARTCC subsets assigned by Enroute Procedures Group". So, basically enroute aircraft.

I first saw that particular aircraft on 9/22/2020 in my ASDB logs. It often squawks 035x, a block reserved for military aircraft operating within the NTTR.

Heavies and newer aircraft such as the F-35 increasingly have their ADSB transponder on, in compliance with FAA regulations. However, often the transponder is turned off when they enter the restricted airspace of the NTTR.

In Reply to: F-35 over NTTR. Squawked 4665 before disappearing posted by tomato on September 28, 2021 at 11:34:33 PST:

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