Special operations PC12 / U-28As

[The AvgasDinosaur]

Re posted with permission
I'm sure I read an article recently on these spooky PC-12 guys
http://www2.afsoc.af.mil/library/fac...eet.asp?id=226 but can't
turn it up, nor can I get much further with IDing the two aircraft that
deployed east last week via Lajes to Rota, Spain and Sigonella, Italy which
showed up over Spain.

If anyone has a fleet list of U-28As or can remember a recent article on
them, I'd be grateful.

For mode-S code collectors out there FFFFF8 as RCH1028 ties up with serial
'50477' and FFFFFE '050573' operating as RCH1029 although showing 'Shark
91' in the callsign field of the SBS-1.


I asked the author if he had any further details. He replied
This appeared on another yahoogroup
05-0409 confirmed
05-0419 confirmed
05-0424
05-0447
05-0482
05-0573
The last three are the c/n, and only the first two had been previously
confirmed in the Azores.


So I did a bit of cross checking and came up with the following tie
ups taking the last three = c/n as correct
C/N 409 = N922RG
C/N 419 = N419WA
C/N 424 = N424PB
C/N 447 = N447PC
C/N 482 = N482WA
C/N 573 = N666GT
So I did a n number enquiry (like you would ) and surprise surprise
N922RG c/n 409 05-0409
This aircraft's registration status may not be suitable for operation.
Please contact the Aircraft Registration Branch at 1-866-762-9434 for
additional information.
Possibly damaged South Bend IN. Dec 04
NTSB =Current 12/14/2004
South Bend, IN
Pilatus PC-12/45
N922RG
Nonfatal
Part 91: General Aviation
Preliminary
12/14/2004

N419WA c/n 419 05-0419
Page can not be displayed error message
2nd attempt
This aircraft's registration status may not be suitable for operation.
Please contact the Aircraft Registration Branch at 1-866-762-9434 for
additional information.

N424PB cn424 05-0424
This aircraft's registration status may not be suitable for operation.
Please contact the Aircraft Registration Branch at 1-866-762-9434 for
additional information.

N447PC c/n 447 05-0447
This aircraft's registration status may not be suitable for operation.
Please contact the Aircraft Registration Branch at 1-866-762-9434 for
additional information.

N482WA c/n 482 05-0482
This aircraft's registration status may not be suitable for operation.
Please contact the Aircraft Registration Branch at 1-866-762-9434 for
additional information.

N666GT c/n 573 05-0573
This aircraft's registration status may not be suitable for operation.
Please contact the Aircraft Registration Branch at 1-866-762-9434 for
additional information.

So what does "This aircraft's registration status may not be suitable
for operation really mean??
And where are these PC12 / U-28A s based. I have checked the suggested
FY serials at Scramble and none have any trace.
Be lucky
David