Air Force 2 muscles over a Cub

dustoff17 said:
Not entirely true.

This only applies if they are being flown in/by Air Force equipment and personnel.

The helicopter you see land on the White House lawn is "Marine One" when the President is on board, and the VH-60s that travel with him abroad are "Army One" under the same conditions.

When first lady Clinton traveled to Iraq, the Army pilots that flew her were reprimanded for making up and using the call sign "Broomstick One". You have to appreciate the nuts it took to do that! :clap:
Click to expand...

I thought it was Nighthawk 1?
 
n57flyguy said:
I thought it was Nighthawk 1?
Click to expand...

The call sign of HMX-1 is "Nighthawk" followed by the appropriate tail number. This is used for all of the aircraft during normal ops.

"Regan tower, Nighthawk 32 request the river transition northbound."



If the President is on board, then and only then does the call sign change to "Marine One"

Or Marine Two if the VP is flying.
 
USMCmech said:
The call sign of HMX-1 is "Nighthawk" followed by the appropriate tail number. This is used for all of the aircraft during normal ops.

"Regan tower, Nighthawk 32 request the river transition northbound."



If the President is on board, then and only then does the call sign change to "Marine One"

Or Marine Two if the VP is flying.
Click to expand...

I thought it was still Nighthawk though, I've heard Nighthawk come in and leave with the same call sign. And AF2 dropped Biden off the night before. Trying to keep it quit? :dunno:

(on an unrelated note, the Phrog that was behind Nighthawk was badass)
 
Just because a white top is flying doesn't mean that the president or VP is on board.

We would also fly VIPs and other heads of state if the white house asked us to. In that case, the normal squadron call sign would be used.
 
While on the subject....


This is pretty vague, but I recall reading something that said the air force one pilots always did something out of respect for the president while on board. When JFK was killed and they were flying him back to DC the pilots did whatever it is they did to pay the president this respect despite the fact they were told not to(because he was dead).

I think I saw it on the history channel or wikipedia. Anyone know what I'm talking about? I'm trying to remember what it is the pilots actually did to show respect.
 
hgroberts said:
This is pretty vague, but I recall reading something that said the air force one pilots always did something out of respect for the president while on board. When JFK was killed and they were flying him back to DC the pilots did whatever it is they did to pay the president this respect despite the fact they were told not to(because he was dead).
Click to expand...

Both LBJ and JFK's body rode SAM 26000 back to Washington DC after the shooting in Dallas.

I can't speak for the Air Force, but on Marine One there isn't anything special other than the typical military honors.

Some of the Marine One Crew chiefs were real characters. I remember one guy who was a real goth metal freak. I remember going out to a club and seeing him there with makeup, spiked hair, the whole get up. The next day, he is in spotless dress blues ready to fly the President.
 
USMCmech said:
Just because a white top is flying doesn't mean that the president or VP is on board.

We would also fly VIPs and other heads of state if the white house asked us to. In that case, the normal squadron call sign would be used.
Click to expand...

This is true.

Did you work on the Nighthawks?
 
OldTownPilot said:
There was a Blue and white 757 doing touch n goes in BGR a month or so back.

It was kinda cool to hear "Bar Harbor Traffic, Air Force One..." over the scanner. Barry landed in Blue and white GIII.
Click to expand...


Why would the President be on board during touch and goes? We can't even take ordinary pax during touch and goes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top