USAF fact sheet on VC-25
Boeingmad,
Maybe they used that c/s at YSSY simply for clarity? That is, a) it's easier/quicker to say 'Air Force One' than 'Reach 29000'; b) it's seen/known by millions as AF1, so to others on the field, they'll see a blue 747 and identify it as 'AF1' rather than 'Reach 29000'. Sounds like it might've been positioning up to RIC?
I'd suggest the USAF 747 at YBNE would be a
E-4 Kneecap. It's be white with a navy cheat-line, and a hump behind the hump (
), rather than with the sky-blue and gold colours of the VC-25s.
Prolly lots of C-17s, C-5s and KC-10s parked around the traps as well, supporting the POTUS drop-in.