View Full Version : Bush Visit to Northern Ireland
Kestrel_909
5th Apr 2003, 00:23
Hi All,
I hear President Bush is visiting Northern Ireland next week and is to arrive on Monday, but does anyone know what time he is expected at and what other aircraf apart from Air Force 1, and the second 747 come with him as I want to go up and get some pictures for the site. Anyone, any ideas.
Many Thank
Chris
buffalowing
5th Apr 2003, 01:13
Are you actually excited about this murderer's visit to your area? :yuk:
Airbubba
5th Apr 2003, 01:28
>>Are you actually excited about this murderer's visit to your area?
Here comes the usual Yank bashing thread...
Ho hum...
Kestrel_909
5th Apr 2003, 02:03
My reason for visiting is to take some photos of Air Force 1, like Clinton said at Boeing a few years ago, "Everywhere I go in that aeroplane, I am the 2nd biggest celebrity, peopel just really wanna see the plane." I want to see AF1 and whatever else, from the point of view on an aviation enthhusiast. Everybodys' views on politics and world affairs I think should not be on these forums.
buffalowing
Should we take that you are ready to give the worlds greatest peace maker Saddam Hussain a new home.
BELHold
5th Apr 2003, 03:21
I guess that explains the MAC heavies today then!
909, the exact timings for these flights will not be public knowlege for obvious reasons, however what I can tell you is that on the last two occasions numerous AC arrived days before the event including C-137 (707) and the big transports.
Two Globemasters and a Galaxy where at BFS today and I would expect to see a couple more, they usually arr/depart again the day after Airforce1.
Pride of place in my living room is a picture of myself along with my crew standing along side Airforce1 taken on the first Clinton visit, this really is a beautiful aircraft.
Kestrel_909
5th Apr 2003, 03:25
BelHold,
Affirm, That was why the C17s and the C5 were in today, all in preparation for his visit. Also more expected over the weekend and then AF1 and 2 next week.
Speaking of the BEL hold, they had to put I think it was one of the Baby flights in a hold over the OY today to allow the C5 to backtrack and take off runway 25 as they didn't think it would fit along taxiway Alpha so it was sitting for quite a few minutes waiting for a break in the traffic.
Air Force 1 landed at approx 18:20 at Aldergrove. Does anyone have any idea when it is leaving or if it will remain at Aldergrove during Bush's stay? I would like to get down to get a few pictures of it :)
Kestrel_909
8th Apr 2003, 03:34
Scuzi,
I think AF1 will be leaving on Tuesday afternoon, could be and most likely am wrong though.
Bel Hold was in use tonight with a few a/c, which I doubt the pilots were happy about.
We have one of the USAF 747s, 757s, an RAF BAE146 which brough Mr Blair in so my knowledge at BFS, although the 146 may have went back out again. Also had a few others in this evening, and a BA from Edwards or Andrew's AFB.
I doubt you will get many pictures of it, since it is sitting at DAT or DA2 down on the RAF side, behind the tower. Maybe some of those nice BFS controllers or ground staff could get a few shots for us, would look nice on my site hint hint ;) ;)
Nice to see something interesting going on at BFS for once apart from the usual!
akerosid
8th Apr 2003, 03:37
I only saw a snippet on the TV, but it looked as if he came in on a 757 (which would be a 757 anyway, since the callsign doesn't change), or was that Powell's plane?
Kestrel_909
8th Apr 2003, 03:43
akerosid,
Bush came in on the 747, Powell probably on the 757 as they don't get on well very well and do not fly together. Last I saw of the 757 was parked on the threshold of runway 35, and ATIS is now reading for choppers to report passing 35 threshold due to parked a/c.
Dispatcher
8th Apr 2003, 16:20
as a side, heard the BD082 (LHR-BHD) was pulled to the side on arrival BHD due to a non-specific bomb threat made in connection with AF1 landing later on yesterday (7apr). anyone else have any info ?
Seen a Gulfstream, followed by SAM091 (the 757, and the nicest of them all) followed by AF1 all land after six last night. Was the second "AF1" also in BFS? Also thought we heard something loud above the cloud on 25 approach? Maybe this was just too vivd an imagination! But there was a rumour of some fighter escorts. Also heard a rumour that an E4 NCAP wasn't too far away!
BELHold
9th Apr 2003, 04:05
C17 made a really impressive flyby this afternoon followed by a circuit to really short finals to 25. Glad the Ezy on take off roll didnt have rear view mirrors, there may have a couple of damp patches on the cockpit seats, never seen a landing so close to a departure before, Ezy just airborne as the C17 was over the numbers......very impressive!
controller friendly
16th Apr 2003, 03:34
Never mind damp seats on the EZY, there were some in the VCR....but sure it was all great craic!!!!!
As well as having the pleasure of speaking to the most powerful man in the world's aircraft we also had some luvly eye candy in the tower for 2 days watching over us!!!! Well it pleased those of us in the staff who are in the minority.....:p :p