GA pilot reported GPS jamming while in the vicinity of several military transports. The pilot was attempting to execute the GPS 5 to SOP; Moore County Airport; in VFR conditions when the transports were transitioning the area.
Synopsis
GA pilot reported GPS jamming while in the vicinity of several military transports. The pilot was attempting to execute the GPS 5 to SOP; Moore County Airport; in VFR conditions when the transports were transitioning the area.
Narrative
I was monitoring Fayetteville approach while self vectoring for the GPS 5 at SOP.The final for the GPS 5 is very close to the airspace surrounding Camp Mackall AAF; HFF; a military practice field. Previously I had heard Fayetteville talking with a flight of several military aircraft near FBG; Simmons AAF; attempting to establish if the flight of aircraft was on an IFR or VFR/tactical flight plan. I could only hear Fayetteville but heard Fayetteville tell the flight to 'proceed VFR' to Hoffman.After crossing SDZ VOR on a heading of about 225 and proceeding for about 8 miles I turned left to a heading of 140 planning to intercept the GPS 5 inbound to SOP.I believe the military may have been 'spoofing' GPS signals since before crossing SDZ both of my GPS receivers went offline momentarily; 'not receiving GPS data'. After turning to 140 the same thing happened. I photographed the #2 GPS. Momentarily thereafter my passenger; who is also a pilot; called 'traffic' and the military aircraft were at our 12 o'clock on a heading of about 050 matching the inbound for the SOP GPS 5 but heading for HFF from the SW. The GPS signal returned; the military aircraft showed up on ADS-B; I turned left slightly short of intercepting the GPS 5 into SOP and proceeded to SOP and landed uneventfully.FIRST since I was in the CTAF for SOP I don't know if Fayetteville Approach was still talking to the military aircraft so I don't know if they were aware of my position. SECOND the HFF airspace and the final for the GPS 5 at SOP is much too close. THIRD if the GPS signal was being 'spoofed' that shouldn't be done near a busy GA airport with substantial traffic. FORTH a flight of military aircraft has no business flying VFR near a busy GA airport. For what it's worth I checked for TFRs in NC and NOTAMs for SOP about two hours before I took off from SOP at about XA:00 EST.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.