So a flight gets a callsign from the ATO or frag, say, Springfield 11. But in the Navy there is also the squadron callsign, say for VF-103 with a 103 MODEX it is Victory 103, or if you are flight lead Victory 1.

So, when are these callsigns used? When would a flight call on the radio Springfield 11 and when would they say Victory 103? Listening to cockpit audio of the Gulf of Sidra II incident of 1989, VF-32 makes calls as Gypsy 107 while in 1981 VF-41 makes them as Fast Eagle. But nothing like Hammer 11, Colt 32, etc etc.

Anyone know how it's done?

v6,
boNes

Nope. But I do know that callsigns are changed during the day for various reasons. When I fly for the Young Eagle program I start as my normal tail number, but once I have them aboard my call sign changes to YoungEagle#. So I will call tower and say “N55555 now calling as YoungEagle2” . After that I am YoungEagle until I stop flying them and then notify tower that “YoungEagle2 now calling as N55555”.

Never knew that. I used to do Young Eagle flights back when Harrison Ford was my President, heh. But I was flying from an uncontrolled airport locally so maybe that's why I never heard of it.

v6,
boNes

Good for you that you flew Young Eagles. My respects.

You too!

v6,
boNes

I organized two Young Eagles events for my son's scout troops as each advanced through that organization. Got a ride in a Citabria myself at one event, at the end of day.

I’m thinking that the military may change callsigns because they use a normal National callsigns flying in civilian airspace and under regular ATC. Then switch to a military call sign when they are in a Military Operating Area (MOA) when training. I know when I called airsupport it was always a military callsign.

I will pay attention next time we have military aircraft at the field. I will also go up in the tower and ask them about it.