Short Final: Hostile Target

Monday, March 23, 2020 at 11:35 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A pilot flying a newly acquired warbird playfully responded to air traffic control's traffic advisory with combat jargon like "Tally-Ho!" and "TARGET IDENTIFIED."
This jocular radio call was misinterpreted by another warbird pilot and air traffic control, leading to the narrator's plane being identified as a "hostile target" for an intercept.
The narrator realized with alarm that his plane was the "bogie," though the situation was quickly defused when the intercepting pilot noted the target was outside their operational area.

See a mistake? Contact us.

I was ferrying my new-to-me warbird home to Texas and bubbling over with new plane pride.

Memphis Center: “Focke-Wulf 1234 Traffic at 3 o’clock, 2 mile 6000 feet.”

Me (in my best command baritone): “ Tally-Ho! Focke-Wulf 1234 TARGET IDENTIFIED.”

Then in my normal Sunday morning voice: “I mean, N-1234 has traffic in sight.”

Double click on frequency.

30 seconds later…

Mustang NP51C: “Memphis Center, Mustang NP51C checking in at angels 11 need intercept to your hostile target.”

Memphis Center: “Mustang 51C bogie is westbound at angels 8, your intercept vector 280, 75 miles.”

Wait, Westbound at 8000. Scheiße! That’s me!

Mustang NP51C: “Memphis Center, Mustang 51C, Bogie is outside my operations area.”

Memphis Center: “Mustang 51C acknowledged. Continue fighter sweep in your assigned patrol area.”

Multiple double clicks on frequency.

Brad Marzari