Comments on: Air Force One Up Close

By: Champ

Champ — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:14:23 +0000

I am an employee of JetBlue at LGB. It definitely was AF1. We listened for it on our air to ground radios, an heard the Capt call out AF1 during his transmissions. The reason it landed at LGB was due to runway maintenance at Los Al. We had a complete ground stop on the terminal ramp. We weren’t even allowed to offload or upload our a/c because that would require us to move and operate ground equipment. The ground stop was in effect 15 before arrival and for about 20 minutes after. I watched the arrival from the DeVry lot, but was at work for the departure. If you saw the LB Press Telegram from the day after his arrival you will see me, my two boys (the blondes), and my 3 nephews on the cover. Something my boys will have forever.

By: CF

CF — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:24:34 +0000

Doug – Yes. This was the aircraft on which Obama flew in and out. I’m not sure where the backup was, but I would guess it was at Edwards or some other AFB close enough.

By: Doug Swalen

Doug Swalen — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:11:11 +0000

You sure it was the primary AF1 and not the backup? There’s two and supposedly the backup follows/shadows the primary around the country/world.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 01:19:02 +0000

My wife works near LGB, and on her way home, she noticed that a lot of parents had brought their children to see the President take off. I would have loved to have seen that as a kid. And as far as Los Al, I guess it doesn’t help that our mayor was forced to resign last month for sending some “joke” emails involving Obama. You’re right about LAX though, my dad worked for what seemed like half a year on preparations for the Queen flying on Air New Zealand into LAX. And that was just a layover.

Thanks again for the pictures!

By: CF

CF — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:55:43 +0000

Tim – LAX would have been a mess, because it could really disrupt the frequent commercial traffic. Security is pretty easy at LGB, but Los Al probably would have been ideal. I’m sure there was a reason that they couldn’t use Los Al for one reason for another and that’s why they chose LGB.

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:13:45 +0000

Did they make any mention of why LGB was chosen? I’d think that security might be easier at LAX….or perhaps the Los Al base down the 405.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:03:31 +0000

Here’s the link the (pretty old) Air Force 1 in Seattle. About the only thing I remember is the rotary dial phone. I guess that was pretty advanced to have that on a plane back in 1959! There was even more plexiglass inside the Concorde, such that you could walk down the aisle but not touch anything.

http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/boeing-vc-137b-707-120sam-970-air-force-one

By: Nicholas Barnard

Nicholas Barnard — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:39:33 +0000

The US Air Force Museum near Dayton, Ohio also has some planes that served as Air Force One previously..

By: CF

CF — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:26:32 +0000

David/Eric – While they were fine with taking pictures, they were a bit concerned about where we took pictures. So we couldn’t take pics from the front or back. So, I’m sure they were still trying to hide some sensitive areas.

winter travel – Well, one is at Boeing Field and another is at the Ronald Reagan Library here in SoCal. I think the Smithsonian may have an old presidential transport as well. Any others?

By: winter travel

winter travel — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:26:05 +0000

I must say that was a pretty good catch for your blog.. Not everybody get to see the Air Force One up close like that..

I wouldn’t mind a tour inside that plane..

Btw: What do they do with the old Air Force Ones? Are they in a museum?