Presidential Flight

[Tonic Please]

When AF ONE came into EGLL and departed, I heard (not from a reliable source), that there were some fighters out of Mildenhall (sp?) circling around awaiting any sign of trouble that would affect the plane and its occupants.

Is this true? It doesnt sound untrue. Actually it seems quite feesable(sp?) to me.

Dan

(note the sp's so i dont get nailed for incorrect spelling :rolleyes: )

[Buster Hyman]

You spelled sp wrong.

[Floppy Link]

...and Mildenhall might be spelt Lakenheath, if that's where the F15Es are still based.

[VectorLine]

I dont know what aircraft they were, but I definitely saw 2 squawks on radar just east of A25, South of G1 (now L9!!) making nippy looking orbits as AF1 trundled through

[Huck]

That's been standard procedure since 911 - along with some spiffy equipment on the ground....

[yachtpilot]

A very modest precaution I would have thought.... the last time I was working out of Baku the presidents jet came in with a 2 fighter escort laying a decoy flare path either side of the pesidential jet...
Obviously Mr Popular.

[Airbubba]

The Presidential CAP (Combat Air Patrol) is a standard security measure in the post-911 world. There is normally a CAP over the President whenever he is on the ground. Since Presidential movements are often not publicized very long in advance, it is easy for a Sunday flier to unknowingly wander into the protected area. Many small planes have only one receiver and often do not monitor guard frequency. The CAP aircraft, usually F-16's, try to identify any intruders but often have a hard time flying slow enough to get the N-number on light planes. An AWACS and tankers are usually involved, AF1 had CAP coverage over the Atlantic on the recent crossing which is unusual in my experience.

Many countries try to provide a wingtip fighter escort for AF-1 as an airborne honor guard. The gesture is appreciated but strongly discouraged in recent years.

You can hear a recording of a Presidential CAP over Daytona Beach, Florida several months ago here:

http://www.milaircomms.com/audio/032603-potus-cap.mp3

Here's a couple of articles on the city CAP's, very similar to the Presidential CAP missions:

http://www.aviationnow.com/content/publication/awst/20011022/avi_stor.htm

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/US/07/03/btsc.meserve.ahlers/

[Unwell_Raptor]

A long time ago I had a guided tour of Bentwaters (then an F4 base) and based alongside the Phantoms were SAR Hercs and Super Jolly helicopters. I was told that when AF1 crossed big water a series of Hercs would orbit on the line of the route (pronounced Rout) in case of trouble. Apparently they could have had PJs in the water within a relatively short time of AF1 getting its feet wet. The helicopters were fitted with refuelling probes, so their range was limited only by the crew's endurance.

It struck me at the time that only a very very rich nation could do that. At the time the Queen's flight had Andovers, I seem to recall.

[bagpuss lives]

There were plenty of closely orbiting mil flights (lots just inside the N Wales MTA too actually) when AIRF1 flew into EGNV too - a sensible precaution I suppose.

[Torquelink]

Why weren't the CAPs during the Pres's recent visit flown by the RAF - given he was in Her Maj's sovereign airspace? Or don't we have suitable escort/interceptors these days?

[Final 3 Greens]

What is the legal/jurisdiction position of a USAF fighter intercepting a G reg aircraft in UK airspace?

Sounds a bit dodgy to me.

[pug munter]

Final 3Gs

It was only when the British Home Secretary refused diplomatic immunity for the US Secret Service snipers, and that other weapon, that we Australians woke up to the unbelieveable demands that these people make.

The Pres had been in our country and no mention was made of such immunity yet the our Aussie Press mentioned that the Pres's men were controlling everything in our Parliament and beyond. If they had that permission I am disgusted by my government.

Can that America's President be that demanding that they must be immune from a court of law?

Must be "Wag the Dog" again!

pg
(yes I have posted this elsewhere)

[Unwell_Raptor]

"Or don't we have suitable escort/interceptors these days?"

Er - no.

[Agatha]

Absolute rubbish!!!!!!

...and that is from a reliable source!:cool:

[DummyRun]

Socialism eh?

Strikes me that President Tone is getting ideas above his station.

[LatviaCalling]

Since Danny has locked the other site on this subject on Rumours & News, I have an interesting observation by a senior FAA employee who doesn't want to be known.

He says:

"When the BA pilot asked on the open frequency if he'd just seen AF1 there was long pause and the AFI pilot -- or someone on the frequency -- replied, "gulfstream five". also kinda makes sense....travel in trail with another aircraft with your transponder off and let the other flight handle everything in terms of communcations. AF does it all the time with formation flying so the multiple transponders do not confuse ATC. everyone stays on the same frequency to hear the controller but only one acknowledges it. S2800 would square with SAM 28000."

[Shackman]

Re Unwell Raptor:

In the days when we had a bit more clout (and a lot more bases in warmer parts of the world) it was standard practice to have airborne SAR cover for Royal Flights over water/inhospitable terrain. I can still remember getting airborne from Changi (in a Shack) to cover HRH PC who was flying by Vickers finest from Changi to Darwin. However, we took off 5 hours before he did, and arrived in Darwin 5 hours after he had left.

However, even tho' he passed over us at some god forsaken early hour he still passed a message down and promised us some beer at the other end. Unfortunately that part had been drunk by the Aussie escort by the time we got there!

:mad: