Air Force One 747 at YBBN ?
 

I flew out of Brisbane on Thursday, and saw what looked like the Air Force One 747 parked towards the south of the airport. Was just wondering if anyone knows what its doing there ? I thought it would be in sydney for a quick getaway ?

cheers

Air Force 2
 

It is sitting there powered up for a 2 min getaway, crew in place, 24/7. Doubt the engines are running but definately powered up ready to start. Just a backup, guess it makes sense to have some redundancy not at the same airport.

Saw an article on the tele about it yesterday and it was pretty cool. No one allowed within 100m of it and ready to go anywhere at any time. Inflight refuelling and it also acts as a back up communications centre to Air Force One if it's comms gets screwed with. They made it sound like the 2 74's fly around in the vicinity of each other whereever the POTUS goes.

The other one is parked at Richmond RAAF Base, in plain view for anyone driving between Windsor to Richmond to see.
Maybe the guys from Chaser should've tried this,
http://youtube.com/watch?v=eP0iSJQLfJ4
Regards,
BH.

The primary is parked up the slot at the Mascot Jetbase.......hidden from all roads !

triple redundancy.......

With an entourage of 670 bodies you need a few airframes.

Edited to add - 1 man, US President, George W Bush will visit Sydney, Australia, for 5 days. He will travel in Air Force One which will be one of 3 747 Jumbo jets his entourage will fly in. A further 5 transport aircraft will accompany the Jumbos, carrying 2 helicopters (including Marine One, his official chopper), more than 20 motor vehicles including 1 ambulance 2 Presidential limousines, and 18 secret service and other vehicles.

I'll never complain about the missus packing heavy again on a trip.

I guess it needs to be explained once more.

"Air Force One" and "Air Force Two" are not aircraft, they are radio callsigns. They can be used by any aircraft in the USAF fleet carrying the President or Vice President respectively.

The two VC-25's which use these callsigns are known as SAM 28000 and SAM 29000 when not carrying the appropriate VIP.

Where both of them are away on the same trip one will be Air Force One only when the President of the USA is on board, if he's not on board it will be SAM28000 or SAM29000. The one not carrying the President will always be SAM2x000.

So...Air Force 2 is not sitting there all powered up, SAM 2x000 is.

I think I read somewhere that an E4B is parked at Brisbane. A 747 platform but I think used by the Secretary for Defence?

Is it true that thr RNZAF VIP 757 is called Shepherd 1??? Or did I just make that up?

Yes thats right Buster and the entire aircraft is decked out with 100% deep pile wool carpet and all the seats have sheepskin covers.

They even have a sheep dip down the back..it's called a spa tub and it has ramps for easy access.

The crew wear gum boots and the chief F/A name is Barbaraaaaaa.

Leg of lamb is always on the menu.....

The NZ's PM has a secret service detail of 6 kelpies.......:E

One VC-25a at Mascot, and one at Richmond.

The 747 in Brisbane is an E4b National Emergency Aiborne Command Post (Kneecap). It's the original so-called 'doomsday plane'.

Anyone got any pics yet?

What makes you so sure he wasn't on board?

Maybe he was taking Little Johnny for a spin around the block.

AF 1 & 2 ( or things that look like it) are at Richmond as i type. Same with i think the Canadian a310. saw it this morning.

Probably because Sydney Airport fees are too high? :}

Unless Dick Cheney is in Australia, Air Force 2 is nowhere near Richmond.

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 (:confused:), 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.

What did Putin fly in on?

Actually, Shepherd 1 is the callsign for aircraft on which tte pope is aboard.

WilliamOK. What did Putin fly in on?

Ruslan An 124