Which AF1 was used on 9/11?

Rudi · 08-21-2012, 01:25 PM

In another thread in the 1:200 forum ( IF200 B747 new release. USAF & CP Air) somebody raised this question.

There were two conflictive answers but both seemed to be based on facts.

Since there are only two AF1s we still have the open-ended sixty-four-dollar question. Does anybody know ore has an idea how we can find out the answer?

Do we have any members who work for the USAF? I mean it happened more than ten years ago. Probably it isn't "Top Secret" any longer, is it?

David Hingtgen · 08-21-2012, 02:26 PM

Same question was asked on another diecast forum recently, and IIRC someone posted a photo taken at Offut AFB that day showing it was 29000.

lmisbtn · 08-22-2012, 08:12 AM

Trivial question, but would not both be airborne during such a crisis?

President in one plane, VP in a bunker somewhere and the second plane airborne with other notables/planners/military?

Seems a bit of a 'waste' of it's Raison d'être to have it sitting around on the day unless specifically held at readiness somewhere in case the first plane goes U/S....

Rudi · 08-22-2012, 05:47 PM

One of the photos shows SAM 29000's tail. The text says,

"Secret Service agents inspect luggage from members of the media travel pool on the tarmac next to Air Force One Tuesday morning, Sept. 11, 2001, at Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport in Sarasota, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)"

Could it be that only members of the media travel pool etc. used SAM 29000 while the president boarded SAM 28000? Were they both in Sarasota or just SAM 29000?

tripoli · 08-25-2012, 06:53 PM

Only one presidential 747 is flown at any one time. Any other press/personnel that cannot fly aboard AF1 is shifted to one of the usual 3 C-17s that accompany the 747 to any location. The C-17s are used for AF, extra staff, Secret Service, ground support and the vehicles used to transport the president and support staff, usually arriving earlier by up to two days and leaving after the presidential aircraft has taken flight. There are staff and secret service as well press that arrive early and leave later that can use other modes of transport. If there is a nearby military installation, the 747 aircraft will be parked there during the stay.

gospodin · 08-26-2012, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tripoli

Only one presidential 747 is flown at any one time. Any other press/personnel that cannot fly aboard AF1 is shifted to one of the usual 3 C-17s that accompany the 747 to any location. The C-17s are used for AF, extra staff, Secret Service, ground support and the vehicles used to transport the president and support staff, usually arriving earlier by up to two days and leaving after the presidential aircraft has taken flight. There are staff and secret service as well press that arrive early and leave later that can use other modes of transport. If there is a nearby military installation, the 747 aircraft will be parked there during the stay.

Where did you get this information? I've seen more than one picture of both VC-25s arriving at locations as a kind of "shell game", and I've seen pictures of C-5s unloading the presidential convoy. I'm wondering if what you say is the usual operation or if under certain emergency conditions (like 9/11) both aircraft are activated.

Rudi · 08-27-2012, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gospodin

... I'm wondering if what you say is the usual operation or if under certain emergency conditions (like 9/11) both aircraft are activated.

If so I'd say on 9/11 it was "usual operation". Of course no one expected the terror attacks. They planed a visit at an elementary school - nothing more than a "company outing".

So far I expect only AF1 (SAM 29000). On different websites I saw pictures of the same situation. (Notice the guy with the white hat!)

Scroll down to the middle:

Complete 911 Timeline: Bush's Actions on 9/11

Our own forum:

http://www.diecastaircraftforum.com/...-cp-air-2.html

What do you think?