Air Force One photo op causes thousands to flee NYC buildings in terror

[Vuk]

Heh. We did that once (or similar): tasked to permanently move 2 Mil Pol companies from Calif to Tacoma in 90 days, we encountered so much red tape and bureaucratic crap that we almost gave up. Then the Ops NCO had a *flash*: Conduct a Field Training Exercise (FTX), ostensibly practicing convoy protection, from San Fran to Fort Lewis.

And just never come back. So we did, and didn't. Worked like a charm, and was actually cheaper, and quicker, than going the "permanent change of station" route.

So, yeah, I can see (from an Air Force point of view) the way to cover this is to call it an exercise in evasive maneuvers for AF1, and "chase-and-target" for the f16's. Brilliant, in an accounting sense.

Still... I wanna see the photos.

Nah, they were just teaching the pilot to fly in circles.

[seireikhaan]

I'm pretty darn confuzzled as to who on earth thought this was a brilliant idea. Personally, I think if they wanted a photo of air force one with Lady Liberty, they should have just photoshopped it.

[Hooahguy]

also, doesnt AF1 have to follow the prez around? so if theres an emergency he can get on ASAP. it would be horrible if there was a disaster as that pilot was doing his shinanegans up there.

[Lemur]

Interesting, NYPD knew about it, the 911 dispatchers knew about it, the State Government knew about it. The Mayor's "event coordination and management director" knew. So why didn't Bloomberg? And why were police and emergency services told not to alert the public? And who exactly signed off on this?

The person falling on his sword over this is Louis Caldera, director of the White House Military Office. Hard to tell if he's really the person responsible, though. For some reason people have been getting mad at the FAA, so I wonder if something was greenlit there. Interesting.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Good for them. Thousands of people in Manhattan, having faced the possibility of death, now have a renewed appreciation for life. You can almost feel the goodwill towards there fellow men bubbling up inside the hearts of every New Yorker.

[Tribesman]

just don't think it is fair to compare the experiences, especially in a way that seems to mock New Yorkers for some kind of lacking fortitude.

Hey I don't mock new yorkers (unless they are presnt and I wish to take the piss out of them) , but 9/11 gave very mixed reactions from the crowd (mainly disbelief) , by the time of anthrax it was just a bunch of annoying panicing headless chichens running like crazy and making it hard for me to get where I had to go (OK they didn't make it that hard for me if I was willing to leave the missus behind , but hey I wouldn't abandon the poor creature on the way to the pub in a crisis no matter how many panic stricken new yorkers are trying to rush downwind in a blind panic)

also, doesnt AF1 have to follow the prez around?

It wasn't airforce 1

[Hooahguy]

It wasn't airforce 1

...it wasnt? so why is everyone saying AF1?

[Tribesman]

...it wasnt? so why is everyone saying AF1?

It be becausen they do be slightly thick like all them human beans do be

[HoreTore]

...it wasnt? so why is everyone saying AF1?

It was the backup plane.

[Hooahguy]

nm.

[drone]

A plane is called Air Force One only when it is operated by the USAF and the President is on board. Just like any aircraft (helo) operated by the USMC is called Marine One, but only when carrying the President. This is just the air traffic control call sign while flying, the aircraft themselves have unique tail numbers. Air Force Two is the ATC call sign of whatever USAF plane is carrying the Vice President.

There are 2 VC-25s (747s) that normally carry the president around, this was one of them. The other was probably parked at Andrews AFB, ready for duty.

[KukriKhan]

I'm just amazed: it's been over 48 hours, and it's not yet George Bush's fault.

[Fragony]

edit, nvm, way to graphic

[Gregoshi]

I'm just amazed: it's been over 48 hours, and it's not yet George Bush's fault.

Still, we must remain vigilant.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I'm just amazed: it's been over 48 hours, and it's not yet George Bush's fault.

Too late, Kukri-san. Schumer was already sniping about the FAA being part of the problem for having been run by a "political hack" under the previous admin (position is as yet unfilled in the new admin). So, we can take comfort in the fact that W malfed this one too.

I am almost of the belief that we made a mistake outlawing the Code Duello. I suspect that a bit of Burr v Hamilton action would clarify our political snarls a touch -- or at least leave cleaner wounds on the combatants.