quote:

Originally posted by JALLEN:
One of the 707s is at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley.

That is SAM 27000. The 'identical' (there were, of course, minor differences) twin of SAM 26000. It replaced 26000 as primary and was itself replaced by the 747s in 1990.

quote:

Originally posted by furlough:
As for decoy aircraft, the only time I saw that was with the helicopters.

After 9/11, I recall President Bush taking off from Washington w/ wife on one of 20 helicopters. A solemn gesture.

On a related note, I got a bunch of beer from Air Force 1. Friend was stationed at Camp David in the Bush 1 ERA. Time came to rotate the beer and they gave the old stuff to the people stationed at Camp David.

quote:

Originally posted by furlough:
As for decoy aircraft, the only time I saw that was with the helicopters. There will usually be 4 helicopters that depart the airfield - one with the President, one escort and another flight of two that are the decoys.

When I lived in Gaithersburg MD for some time, I witnessed this regularly on their trips to and from Camp David. Their exact flight paths varied a bit each time, but they always passed overhead within hearing and visual distance (it is a plenty loud convoy). Usually the return trips to DC were Sundays, so we were not in some office building but at home where we could easily hear them coming.
 

"Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself--While the Rest of Us Die"

by Garrett M. Graff

I have not read the book, but I'm sure it would add to this discussion.

https://www.amazon.com/Raven-R...t+-+garrett+m.+graff

To answer the original post, yes. There is always a second aircraft nearby in the case the main is out of commission or they cannot safely return to the original airport. It may not always be one of the 747's, as it may depend on the backup airfield they use. And there are always backup helicopters on standby as well.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
couldn't they just toss him into a two seater F16 and race fast and furious to his destination....

smashing windows and breaking the sound barrier all the way??

it's a military plane and armed, sooooooo

Nope.

Have to put him in a T-37.

So he can Tweet...

To the corner for 5 minutes...

Andrews, not Langley.

quote:

Originally posted by Russ59:
The Nat Geo or Discovery special I watched a few years ago showed both 747 nose to nose in a hangar - at Langley I believe. I believe they are equally equipped and rotated. The non-Air Force One travels (perhaps not domestically) to nearby airfields as backup.

My friend flew the C5 during Bush2 years. He would occasionally haul USSS equipment around for advance setup. The equipment and logistics required for POTUS is insane.

quote:

Originally posted by BBMW:
Andrews, not Langley.

Correct. I was watching Sum of All Fears when I posted that. I blame it on Jack Ryan.

Put him in one of these, kick the tires and light the fires!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTE2mqFNncg

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Snapping Twig:
Put him in one of these, kick the tires and light the fires!...

You want to Bone the POTUS?

You are in BIG trouble...

quote:

Originally posted by Russ59:
The Nat Geo or Discovery special I watched a few years ago showed both 747 nose to nose in a hangar - at Langley I believe. I believe they are equally equipped and rotated. The non-Air Force One travels (perhaps not domestically) to nearby airfields as backup.

I saw that also. They said they take both planes when they go out of the country.

They probably figure they can get the backup anywhere in the states in a couple hours or parts.

quote:

Originally posted by sigmonkey:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Snapping Twig:
Put him in one of these, kick the tires and light the fires!...

You want to Bone the POTUS?

You are in BIG trouble...

I admit to snorting soda through my nose when I read that!

Shouldnta had a drink while I was reading it.

Carry on.

I used to work for an airport rental car company. They usually had a backup 757 or MD-80 sized plane fly in at a separate time. Besides the USSS vehicles and limos that are flown in on the cargo plane, they also rent a large amount of rental vehicles. The USSS agents would always be football player sized, wearing jeans, polo shirts, and sport coats. The rental car would be on some sort of government direct bill or credit card that didn't scream USSS and they always had DC area licenses. They would never identify themselves as SAs and if you asked why they were there, they didn't affirmatively say but would talk in generalities of their work with the mutual understanding that both of us knew why they were there. These were usually the advance team or the ones that secured the location. I don't recall them using the rental cars in the motorcade, but I could be wrong. I saw Air Force One land and the motorcade I think three times back in the G W Bush era. Pretty impressive to see a whole branch of the government drive past.

quote:

Originally posted by DMF:

quote:

Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
Does a backup Air Force One always follow the President?

Trump's in Ohio so one is staged at a Michigan AFB.

Air Force One is a callsign, not an aircraft. If the President takes a ride in the backseat of an F-15, that would be Air Force One, as that callsign follows the President, not the plane.

That's interesting, didn't know that. Makes perfect sense though.

Possible the second aircraft was NEACP, the National Emergency Airborne Command Post, 747 based at Offutt in Bellevue, NE.

Kind of a Cheyenne Mountain of the flying type.

RMD

quote:

Air Force One is a callsign, not an aircraft. If the President takes a ride in the backseat of an F-15, that would be Air Force One, as that callsign follows the President, not the plane.

It will also vary depending upon which branch he's hitching a ride with. Could also be Marine 1, Navy 1, Army 1, or Coast Guard 1. Same would hold true for the VP, but with the number 2.