Planefag update.
No anon, that is the little town of Las Vegas, New Mexico.
They are no where near Las Vegas, NV.
How about, it is passing coded messages from time to time, and needs to maintain a constant presence for cover for when it is passing real messages?
They are very large propellor planes
flying at 22,000' or so
I'm not sure you would hear them.
You might see the lights
The Pilatus U28-A is a reconaissance aircraft. We have not been able to find specs on the U28-B. Here's the -A:
The U-28A is the United States Air Force variant of the PC-12 for intra-theater support of special operations forces. The 319th Special Operations Squadron is stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida at the headquarters of the Air Force Special Operations Command. The 34th Special Operations Squadron (SOS) was activated on 9 April 2010 as the second U-28A unit at Hurlburt Field. Both squadrons operate as part of the 1st Special Operations Wing/ 1st Special Operations Group (SOG) at Hurlburt Field. The Pilatus PC-12 is also operated by the 318th Special Operations Squadron as part of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.
The U-28A provides a manned fixed wing, on-call/surge capability for Improved Tactical Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) in support of Special Operations Forces.
All we know is it is equipped for special operations surveillance missions. The circling also suggests surveillance.
There's 1 or more big underground data centers in Henderson, NV. Not suggesting that's a surveillance target; IDNK.
Planefag update.
3 of the groups converging in NW NM.
All still <20,000' and no sign of landing.
@Milfag: Do they descend to perform a parachute drop?
A 4th group is converging with the other 3 groups. Western New Mexico.
http://www.eam.watch/log
Probable that the numerous mil radio broadcasts are associated with the unusual # of aircraft we're observing? Unknown.
Newfags: We can't infer anything from the coded military radio transmissions except for the time they occurred and the quantity of them. Everything is coded.
I'm checking…
The C130 Hercules can carry 92 passengers, 72 fully equipped troops or 64 paratroopers. This airlifter made its name for reliability. The C130 Hercules is capable of short takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways.
The C-130J can hold 64 troops and 74 medical litters. The C-130J-30 increased the amount of troops 39% to 92.