Air Force One Trouble

[JC1188]

[ QUOTE ]
Mechanical Problem Found on Air Force One


OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (AP) - A mechanical problem was found on President Bush's plane Monday during a routine check up after it landed in Tennessee.

There was no danger to the plane - a Boeing 747 - or anyone in the president's entourage, said Bush press secretary Scott McClellan.

``One of the flaps on the wing was off its track and they thought it was best to have a 757 fly down from Andrews,'' McClellan said.

Bush was at McGhee-Air National Guard Base. He flew from Andrews on Monday morning. Air Force One for the trip back home was to be a smaller plane, McClellan said, and the Boeing 747 was likely to undergo repairs in Tennessee.


Bush was in Tennesee to inspect a display of nuclear weapons parts and equipment from Libya and give a speech on U.S. efforts to combat terrorism.

[/ QUOTE ]


Speaking of Air Force One, how many are in the fleet (if you can say fleet )

[MikeD]

There's a pair of VC-25s (747-200s) for presidential detail. The 89th Airlift Wing flies numerous other types of aircraft for other VIP duties. All the VC-137s (707 types) that used to be Air Force One have been retired.

[Tim]

Mike does that airwing still have the 747-400's that are used for Air Force One.

[MikeD]

[ QUOTE ]
Mike does that airwing still have the 747-400's that are used for Air Force One.

[/ QUOTE ]


The two 747s (VC-25s) are, if I remember correctly, -200 models.

[Tim]

Ok I just thought I remember back at the end of the Reagain years and Bush 1 that they had replaced the 707's with 747-400's. I know all I see when he come to ATL is the -200's. Just curious

[Tim]

I just found there website and they only have the 747-200 B models..

[USMCmech]

Does anybody rember back in 98 (I think) when they taxied AF1 (VC-25) off the pavement and got stuck.

I was away from HMX-1 at the time for school, and when I got back I heard the story. The way I heard it ground asked them to make a 180 and they ran the nose gear into the dirt. The President had top cool his heels for two hours while another plane was flown out to meet him.

OOPPS!

[Tim]

I guess that 747 didnt have as tight of a turn radius as they thought.

[tonyw]

Isn't any airplane that the President is on designated as Air Force One? Doesn't the 747 go back to being N12345 if he's not on it?

Or is that one of those urban legends?

[JayB]

That's right...its only Air Force One while he's on it. And it depends on which branch is operating his transportation. His helicopter is Marine One when he's on it because it's operated by the Marine Corps.

[flyover]

After they decided to upgrade it took quite awhile. I had a friend in Wichita that helped install the interiors. It took forever to do the mod work. So this was all started well before the -400s even came out.

Dave

[MikeD]

[ QUOTE ]
Isn't any airplane that the President is on designated as Air Force One? Doesn't the 747 go back to being N12345 if he's not on it?

Or is that one of those urban legends?

[/ QUOTE ]

No. It is true. In the case of the 747s, they are Air Force 1 or Air Force 2. Flying by themselves, they are SAM 27000, or SAM 28000; which is the tailcode of the planes. SAM, being Special Air Mission.

[BuckTurgidson]

[ QUOTE ]
Does anybody rember back in 98 (I think) when they taxied AF1 (VC-25) off the pavement and got stuck.

I was away from HMX-1 at the time for school, and when I got back I heard the story. The way I heard it ground asked them to make a 180 and they ran the nose gear into the dirt. The President had top cool his heels for two hours while another plane was flown out to meet him.

OOPPS!

[/ QUOTE ]


I have a cousin in the Secret Service, he told me an interesting story about that.

Apparently, the captain? (don't know what rank would be in the left seat of AF1, but we'll refer to him as captain). Well, this captain had just been upgraded to the left seat. According to my cousin, it was his first trip and his last trip. He lost his slot flying AF1.

Everyone who witnessed it had to give a report, they tried to soften the blow by saying that it wasn't his fault, narrow taxiways, etc... But, he lost his slot anyways. I can understand, when you are flying the leader of the free world there isn't much margin for error.

[MikeD]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Does anybody rember back in 98 (I think) when they taxied AF1 (VC-25) off the pavement and got stuck.

I was away from HMX-1 at the time for school, and when I got back I heard the story. The way I heard it ground asked them to make a 180 and they ran the nose gear into the dirt. The President had top cool his heels for two hours while another plane was flown out to meet him.

OOPPS!

[/ QUOTE ]


I have a cousin in the Secret Service, he told me an interesting story about that.

Apparently, the captain? (don't know what rank would be in the left seat of AF1, but we'll refer to him as captain). Well, this captain had just been upgraded to the left seat. According to my cousin, it was his first trip and his last trip. He lost his slot flying AF1.

Everyone who witnessed it had to give a report, they tried to soften the blow by saying that it wasn't his fault, narrow taxiways, etc... But, he lost his slot anyways. I can understand, when you are flying the leader of the free world there isn't much margin for error.

[/ QUOTE ]

No matter what the President thinks. He has the respect of General Jack D. Ripper!

[BuckTurgidson]

[ QUOTE ]


No matter what the President thinks. He has the respect of General Jack D. Ripper!

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, Ripper sure gave the Prez the old end run with "Plan R". And, I'd hate to speak before all the facts are in but, it appears that General Ripper exceeded his authority.

Seriously, I agree with you. Anybody that can make it to the left seat of AF1 knows what they are doing. It is a shame that his career was derailed because Clinton wanted to show up in Champaign, IL. in a 747 instead of a 707, which would have been better suited to the size of the taxiways, ramps, etc...

[sopdan]

[ QUOTE ]
I guess that 747 didnt have as tight of a turn radius as they thought.

[/ QUOTE ]

Off topic:

Two weeks ago at BTL I watched a C-5 do a 180 on the 150' wide runway... that was pretty impressive. And I swear it lifted off the runway in 3000-4000'.

"Mr. President, we must not allow a mine shaft gap!!!"

[JC1188]

[ QUOTE ]
Isn't any airplane that the President is on designated as Air Force One? Doesn't the 747 go back to being N12345 if he's not on it?

Or is that one of those urban legends?


[/ QUOTE ]



I never knew that, surprised to find out its a fact.
HOW COOL!

[Tim]

A few years ago Al Gore was in town and he left on a 707 and when the detail left after him there was call sign was "cushy 1" and "cushy 2". These were C-130's

[mtsu_av8er]

So, if the President wants to take flight lessons in a 172, what would the callsign be??

[Alchemy]

"Executive One"?

[TrinidadGT20]

If W flies on a C172 then it is indeed Executive One.

The VC-25's are 747-200 models with 747-400 engines. The cockpit is a tightly held secret (i.e. glass or traditional gauges). I'd suspect traditional gauges.

[Doug Taylor]

Probably so. Would have a better chance of surviving an EMP I guess.

[Nick]

I saw a clip on some show of the cockpit of AF1 and the attitude indicator is glass and there is a 757/767 like navigation glass panel below it. All of the other instruments were round-dial style. Maybe the VSI is glass too, I didn't see the little things.

[Doug Taylor]

And before anyone asks, "EMP" = "Electromagnetic Pulse"

Google

[rv7]

[ QUOTE ]
So, if the President wants to take flight lessons in a 172, what would the callsign be??

[/ QUOTE ]

If he flew at my local FBO I imagine it would be: "Plant City Airport Services" One, but more realistically probably just N12345 or whatever it happened to be.