Topic: "Did I just see Air Force One?"

[BortaS]

Quote:
If he was that close to I.D. it, why in the heck did the pilot of A.F. One say gulfstream 5? I could have come up with a better excuse than that, LMAO. Another thing, here he is flying on a secret mission, where were the fighter escorts? I know the Atlantic is a big Ocean, but we do have carriers out there, and even land based fighters with drop tanks cruising at the speed of a 747 could go a very long way...  

They had to say something obviously not a 747, but something that could have still been in that airspace.  A G5 fits that bill.  Thankfully the BA pilot understood and acknowleged.  Good job all around.

[TB613]

 

Quote:
 In response to press inquiries, British Airways checked with its crews. But so far, no one has come forward.  

Apparently there are still some people in the world with the pride and honor to not try and get their fifteen minutes of fame by going to the press about something like this and I find it very refreshing.  

[762]

The fighters would not need to be flying close escort. You can bet yer BVD's there would have been multiple AWACS covering that airspace and knowing the position of every bird within a thousand miles.

[SL-Punisher]

Air travel routes are very strictly defined....so Airforce one couldn't really deviate from established air routes without causing every airtraffic controller along the way to wonder why.

[Rat_Boy]

From CNN

Better question, did anybody see where this guy ended up?  I'd start bragging.

[JMM]

If he was that close to I.D. it, why in the heck did the pilot of A.F. One say gulfstream 5? I could have come up with a better excuse than that, LMAO. Another thing, here he is flying on a secret mission, where were the fighter escorts? I know the Atlantic is a big Ocean, but we do have carriers out there, and even land based fighters with drop tanks cruising at the speed of a 747 could go a very long way...  

[SL-Punisher]

Because a bunch of fighters in close escort to a 747 just screams air force one.  

[Rat_Boy]

Plus it would've meant more people in the loop.  Pilots, squadron officers, ground crews, tanker crews and their support staffs.  And, like Pun said, a group of fighters flying with a 747 draws attention.

[hobbesmaster]

Quote:
If he was that close to I.D. it, why in the heck did the pilot of A.F. One say gulfstream 5?

Because this way it would be blatantly obvious to the BA pilot that he was to keep quiet.  Also RE: The fighters; they were probably in range but out of sight... AF1 doesn't fly unescorted...  

[Toasty0]

I want one of those:

Quote:
Large pins featuring the president's plane and the BA pilot's words -- "Did I just see Air Force One?" -- were sold out by mid-day Saturday.

 

[JMM]

Thanks Hobbes, you gave me a better understanding for the blatant lie the pilot of A.F. One told, hehehehehe... In a way it was cool, I would have said "Saddam Airways Gone."  

[JMM]

On another note, if I was flying a secret mission, you bet I would steer clear of all traffic that could get a visual, it must be getting very crowded up there, hehehehehe...  

[BortaS]

Quote:
If he was that close to I.D. it, why in the heck did the pilot of A.F. One say gulfstream 5? I could have come up with a better excuse than that, LMAO. Another thing, here he is flying on a secret mission, where were the fighter escorts? I know the Atlantic is a big Ocean, but we do have carriers out there, and even land based fighters with drop tanks cruising at the speed of a 747 could go a very long way...  

They had to say something obviously not a 747, but something that could have still been in that airspace.  A G5 fits that bill.  Thankfully the BA pilot understood and acknowleged.  Good job all around.

[TB613]

 

Quote:
 In response to press inquiries, British Airways checked with its crews. But so far, no one has come forward.  

Apparently there are still some people in the world with the pride and honor to not try and get their fifteen minutes of fame by going to the press about something like this and I find it very refreshing.  

[762]

The fighters would not need to be flying close escort. You can bet yer BVD's there would have been multiple AWACS covering that airspace and knowing the position of every bird within a thousand miles.

[SL-Punisher]

Air travel routes are very strictly defined....so Airforce one couldn't really deviate from established air routes without causing every airtraffic controller along the way to wonder why.