Comments on: Over-thinking It

By: Chris Taylor

Chris Taylor — Tue, 12 May 2009 23:14:43 +0000

The VC-25 pilots would require MQT/CT flight currencies (RNAV, PAR/ASR, formation, whatever) the same as any other pilot. It’s a long range jet. It is going to go decent distances. It also has enormous stock weight and four engines which is going to make it several times more expensive than flying anything much lighter. Ask the airlines.

The F-16s could have benefitted from flight leader currency (two formation takeoffs and landings, trail departure, trail recovery) etc.

Like I said, you are spending that money anyway. Throwing a combat cameraman in the back to snap pics while you’re doing your upgrades/currencies isn’t going to cost you any more.

It is not the ACM/BFM/SEAD stuff one might expect of 16′s, but sometimes you get the non-glamorous assignments like escorting trash haulers around. Still have to train for that, too.

By: Ron Snyder

Ron Snyder — Tue, 12 May 2009 00:04:59 +0000

Liz, no problemo. Sometimes even coffee doesn’t help me

Regards,

By: Ron Snyder

Ron Snyder — Tue, 12 May 2009 00:01:23 +0000

Chris, it was the photo op aspect (both in cost and judgement) that makes me angry. I’ve no problem at all, none, with paying whatever is needed (as in “needed”) for those that are manning the Thin Red Line.

Others on this site are experts as to what would be most appropriate for training; a photo op mission profile would not be the best I’m thinking.

By: OldT6Flyer

OldT6Flyer — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:42:24 +0000

On of the best photo platforms used by a lot of the pros for GA shots at Oshkosh, etc is the venerable AT-6/SNJ.

Slide open the glass and shoot unhindered by plexiglass distortion.

Best model are thos with the old gunnery training seat in the rear that could swivel backwards.

Kind of hard to maintain formation with a 747 or F-16 though.

But agree there seems to be more to the story than we are getting. Transparency my ass.

By: virgil xenophon

virgil xenophon — Mon, 11 May 2009 21:19:50 +0000

George P/

It’s really not that long or involved, no big deal, just a small square to fill in what is the standard daily am intel brief. Two reasons. 1) requirement Pres assured always has one primary & one spare avail in case of emergency no matter what the Pres is scheduled to do that day and 2) what the other birds are doing as America’s (and the Presidents) prestige is on the line every time the aircraft are seen in public–as was obviously the case in the NYC deal.

Actually it takes less time to tell the President the daily status than it does for me to type this. It’s very routine (but necessary) very, very small part of a much larger briefing–takes maybe 30sec to verbally note status update unless special problems/circumstances arise or foreign trip in planning stages. Might be as simple as: “no status change from yesterday” or, “Brig. Gen X on AF Chief of Staff’s staff is taking AF3 to the UK today to rtn Fri to coordinate “y” with CG 3rdAF” –then they’re on to other things. Point is, NO WAY–not a snowball’s chance in hell– Obama didn’t know one of HIS birds was up NYC way that day and for what reason.

By: Formerly known as Skeptic

Formerly known as Skeptic — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:15:43 +0000

Having flown photo-chase in an A-37, I can tell you that while a small fighter-type aircraft provides excellent maneuverability and can get in close for detailed shots, as a photo platform they leave much to be desired. I would not think that an F-16 (even a 2 seater) would be the choice photo platform for a publicity shot. Handling photo equipment in a confined space (which also must be secured for take-off and landing) and shooting through curved, thick, polycarbonate all while wearing a helmet and mask is not conducive to high quality photos. Far more likely to be done from a biz-jet sized platform or larger. The presence of the red-tail F-16 from the Alabama Air Guard (can anyone confirm that ID?) is highly suggestive that the F-16 was to be IN the photos (the Tuskegee airmen connection is obvious) not taking them, if photos were the goal at all. I don’t claim to know the truth, I just think the official explanation doesn’t smell quite right.