Air Force One seen by BA pilot

On 28 Nov 2003 10:37:39 -0800, (Milo) wrote:

The news mentioned that while AF1 was enroute to Baghdad Int., a
British Airways pilot saw AF1 and asked (on the horn) "is that AF1?".
Then AF1s' pilot responded "No, it's a Gulfstream". At first I
thought that was funny but then after thinking about it, I'm wordering
how true this is. First of all, did that BA pilot have binoculars?
How did he see AF1 with the TFR in place, I assume they are in effect
wherever AF1 goes in the world. ***I just thought of something as I
was typing this, maybe there was no TFR because Pres. Bush "wasn't
onboard" and it wouldn't have offically been AF1, as far as call sign
and ATC goes, at the time.*** Secondly, if none of that is the case,
why would the BA pilot would ask that question over the radio and what
are the chances the 2 aircraft would be on the same freq.? Just
wondering and speculating, not that it matters either way. If this
did happen, the pilot of AF1 has a great way of saying "Shut the hell
up man, this isn't what you think" wink wink. Very funny.

A tall tale. If another aircraft really had eyeballed "AF1" and called up
as stated, the AF1 pilot would have just ignored the call.

Also very unlikely that any other aircraft would be able to get into visual
range -- AF1 would have deviated to maintain greater separation. They do
have better than average radar, you know. :-)

"Jay Somerset" wrote in message
...

A tall tale. If another aircraft really had eyeballed "AF1" and called up
as stated, the AF1 pilot would have just ignored the call.

It's been widely reported in both broadcast and print media and has been
confirmed through gov't sources. Knight Ridder Newspapers even printed a
quote from the AF1 captain. No one is trying to keep it a secret.

Also very unlikely that any other aircraft would be able to get into
visual
range -- AF1 would have deviated to maintain greater separation. They do
have better than average radar, you know. :-)

Many times over the years AF1 has been on the same center frequency as me.
On more than one occasion I have "eyeballed" it inflight myself. Not really
that unusual actually.

Mish

Mish

I thought center gave vertical and horizontal separation for birds on
same over water route? Didn't they a few years ago reduce vertical
separation from 2K to 1K if certain (new accurate alt measuring)
equipment was on board the aircraft to increase (double) traffic
density on the overseas routes?

If flight was direct from way point to way point then I doubt if the
birds came within visual range??? Would be an odd throw of the dice.

That said, I can postulate a situation where two birds with a few
thousand feet vertical clearance going the same direction on the same
route and with different cruising speeds, slowly pass each other and
BA be able to recognize the distinctive paint job on AF1. This in day
light of course.

BA upon landing and telling story (Gulf Stream) around Ops, someone
would have called media (always some blabber mouth) and media would
have added 99 and 99 and gotten 1 and broke the story someplace in the
world from where it would have been picked up and gone like wildfire
to everywhere.

Now if the so called reply had been "Naw, we just got a special load
of Thanksgiving 'turkeys' for the troops", might have been a better
put off G

Tale has a lot of characteristics of a good bar story (another double,
bar keep) or news milking every story for a 'human interest' slant.

Good show George.

Big John


On Sat, 29 Nov 2003 15:47:38 GMT, "Gary Mishler"
wrote:

"Jay Somerset" wrote in message
.. .

A tall tale. If another aircraft really had eyeballed "AF1" and called up
as stated, the AF1 pilot would have just ignored the call.

It's been widely reported in both broadcast and print media and has been
confirmed through gov't sources. Knight Ridder Newspapers even printed a
quote from the AF1 captain. No one is trying to keep it a secret.

Also very unlikely that any other aircraft would be able to get into
visual
range -- AF1 would have deviated to maintain greater separation. They do
have better than average radar, you know. :-)

Many times over the years AF1 has been on the same center frequency as me.
On more than one occasion I have "eyeballed" it inflight myself. Not really
that unusual actually.

Mish

Big John wrote:

I thought center gave vertical and horizontal separation for birds on
same over water route?

Perhaps AF1 wasn't talking to center?

George Patterson
Some people think they hear a call to the priesthood when what they really
hear is a tiny voice whispering "It's indoor work with no heavy lifting".

"Big John" wrote in message
...

That said, I can postulate a situation where two birds with a few
thousand feet vertical clearance going the same direction on the same
route and with different cruising speeds, slowly pass each other and
BA be able to recognize the distinctive paint job on AF1. This in day
light of course.

I thought any aircraft which caries the President is refered to as Air Force
1?
I do not know but I would guess he left the flashy blue and white bird on
the safe side of town.

Pat Thronson

In a previous article, "Pat Thronson" said:
I thought any aircraft which caries the President is refered to as Air
Force 1? I do not know but I would guess he left the flashy blue and
white bird on the safe side of town.

The flashy blue and white bird has a few things your average Gulfstream V
doesn't, like anti-missile flares and air-to-air refueling. I'm sure he'd
feel a lot safer in his normal bird.


--
Paul Tomblin http://xcski.com/blogs/pt/
"The question of whether a computer can think is no more
interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim ."
E. W. Dijkstra

In article , (Paul Tomblin)
writes:

The flashy blue and white bird has a few things your average Gulfstream V
doesn't, like anti-missile flares

Now optional equipment on Gulfstreams.

G. Lee

"Pat Thronson" wrote in message
et...


I thought any aircraft which caries the President is refered to as Air
Force
1?

Any Air Force aircraft with Prez on board is AF1.
Any Marine aircraft (such as the helicopter ride in/out of White House lawn)
is Marine 1, Navy aircraft is Navy 1, etc, etc.

I do not know but I would guess he left the flashy blue and white bird on
the safe side of town.

Nope, he took Big Bird - range, communications, countermeasures, press,
staff, etc. I believe there are pictures of it on the ramp in Baghdad.

I thought any aircraft which caries the President is refered to as Air Force
1?

True.

I do not know but I would guess he left the flashy blue and white bird on
the safe side of town.

According to the Washington Post pool reporter, whose notes are posted
on the Drudge Report, it was one of the AF1 paint jobs. I believe
there are two of these, and I don't think there is a variant in mufti
that carries all the equipment needed for POTUS, as he is
unfortuantely called.

One AF1 was flown from Texas to Andrews AFB, where they changed planes
and picked up more reporters (and perhaps staff, I don't recall).


all the best -- Dan Ford
email:

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...

I thought any aircraft which caries the President is refered to as Air
Force
1?

True.

Not quite true. If it is a navy plane, it is Navy 1, or a coast guard is
coast guard one.
--
Jim in NC