Mechanical Problem Grounds Air Force One

[deminks]

http://www.wfsb.com/news/10357933/detail.html?rss=hart&psp=news

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam -- Air Force One has suffered a mechanical problem, forcing President George W. Bush to shift to a smaller backup jet as he continues his Asian trip.

The White House isn't specifying the problem that grounded the Boeing 747 which usually serves as the presidential aircraft. It happened in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam before the president was to fly to Jakarta, Indonesia.

The glitch left officials scrambling to accommodate dozens of traveling staffers. Most were getting seats on a press charter aircraft.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

1. Yep, AF1 will be all fine and dandy for that Hawaii trip. Gosh, broke down just before Jakarta.

:eyes: MKJ

[krispos42]

2. Is he gonna let the Vietnamese keep this plane too?

Just like he let them keep that P-3 reconassiance plane that the Chinese disabled back in 2001?

[Captain Hilts]

8. In '75 we left them with the 4th largest air force in the world. nt

[krispos42]

10. ¿Qué?

I'd be most curious to hear about how that happened. Of course, we helped Iraq have the 4th largest army in the world back in the '80s, so I guess I should not be too surprised...

[lonestarnot]

19. We don't need no stankin' planes!

[Kagemusha]

3. And the backup is now Air Force One, technically

Nomenclature sure has its wrinkles.

[krispos42]

12. Ah, that is true.

So then Air Force One is now Air Force 1½?

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

14. Lame Duck Zero would be my nomenclature of choice.

:hi: MKJ

[krispos42]

15. You just made me choke on my popcorn! rotflmao!

<cough cough>

I also almost fell off of my stool!

[catzies]

22. LOL it screams for a photoshop

:hi: Hilarious

[napi21]

4. Isn't this very unusual?

I realize it's just an airplane, but I don't think I've ever heard of AF1 being stranded in another city, let alone another Country!

[CrazyOrangeCat]

5. Smells like fear to me.

Chimpy and the boyz are runnin' skeered . . .

[uppityperson]

9. Switching planes so he can get into Indonesia, protests going on

threats to him there also, so they want to fly him in more anonymously.

[Kagemusha]

13. The key word in that sentence is "heard".

It's unusual, but any plane that's used to globetrot is going to get mechanical problems. If one's thorny enough to cause a schedule to be missed, well, that's what the back-up plane is for... bet you never heard about the back-up plane much, right? That's for security and PR reasons.

[napi21]

21. Yes I've heard of the back up plane. Thing is, I thought they double checked everything before it

left Andrews, and if one had a problem, they used the other one. You're right though, I wouldn't have heard if they had to fly the back-up somewhere to fill in for a problem with the other one.

I still say it's very unusual that AF1 was grounded in a foreign Country.

[RamboLiberal]

24. During Clinton's Term AF1 got stuck in the mud

and he had to take ironically the old 707 from the days of Kennedy. It happened in a US city. I saw that on a special on AF1 I tuned in to while channel surfing this week.

The 707 is now retired and on display at Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH.

[rug]

6. The plane couldn't stand the irony.

[brook]

11. Hey - if I were a plane,

I wouldn't want to carry him either!

[Captain Hilts]

7. It's problem is that identifying "Prez of US" seal on the side and paint scheme. nt

[krispos42]

16. Why don't they just use the other one?

The Air Force has two of them, the VC-25A (the 'V' stands for VIP). The one the president is on is called Air Force One. So, let's fly the other one out there ASAP.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_One

[Benhurst]

17. When you are the Commander in Chief of The World's Only Superpower

you will probably have to hitch a ride from time to time.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Up2Late]

18. "Mechanical Problems..." RIGHT! I'm sure that why...

...I wonder if the "smaller backup jet" is going to be a basic Gray Air Force jet or Condi's 757?

It wouldn't have anything to do with all the massive Protests today, would it?


REUTERS/Beawiharta
Protesters march during a rally against U.S. President George W. Bush's planned visit, in Jakarta November 19, 2006.

Lots more at this link: <http://photos.reuters.com/Pictures/NewsGallery.aspx?type=News¤tPage=14>

[malaise]

27. Maybe Bushie heard about these

?x=380&y=262&sig=iqgy5Bb7xUPmmlJvRZfOaA--

?x=380&y=257&sig=LIG.hMq4gusvAFeGfUKpBQ--

I'm looking for the photo with The American Psycho. It was all over TV

[KoKo]

20. He has to fly in "undercover" the way he and Condi/Cheney go into Iraq

Straight nose dive down.

[IndianaGreen]

23. Update: Bush to fly regular Boeing 747

Initially, the White House thought Bush would have to fly to Indonesia on a backup Air Force One. There was a problem with a tire upon landing in Ho Chi Minh City, said White House spokesman Tony Fratto. But a replacement tire was found, and the president is scheduled to fly his regular Boeing 747 to Indonesia.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10362963/

[RamboLiberal]

25. Geez with all the gear they carry in for his trips you'd think

they could add a spare tire(s) for the 747. I seem to recall that blowing a tire is not an unknown thing to happen to a plane.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

26. Not true

"Air Force One" (one for each branch of the service) is the automatic designation of ANY airplane or helicopter the President steps aboard, and it's well-known that there hasn't BEEN a President aboard any plane in over six years. Only George *bush, but he's not our President.

[Ian David]

28. I found the problem...

I found the problem... what ya got here is a Turd-Blossom stuck to your landin' gear.

http://www.wfsb.com/news/10357933/detail.html?rss=hart&psp=news

[Lisa]

29. please let him experience economy class like the rest of us!

Just remembering this delightful Onion story from earlier this year.

"Flustered Bush Misses Air Force One Flight
October 3, 2006 | Issue 42•40

CAMP SPRINGS, MD—Despite sprinting through the Andrews Air Force Base south terminal, President Bush narrowly missed his Air Force One flight to Boise earlier today after arriving just moments after the plane's doors had closed."

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/53594

[KansDem]

30. "Most were getting seats on a press charter aircraft."

Here's how the Bushitas are getting the press corps around...



...catapultin' the propaganda!