Chris.. 
 
 > CT: I do believe AF1 is the code name for the particular Boeing 
 > CT: VC-135 that the president uses 
 
   I don't fly in the system heavily like I used to in one of 
   two Beech Baron's we've owned and flown as solid IFR operations 
   all the time.  That's 1968-78 range flying, OK? 
 
   :) 
 
   From professional experience at hearing the upstairs conversations, 
   as far as ATC is concerned, the machine(s) the President is on 
   are referenced as (service)1 no matter what the type of craft is 
   in use. 
 
   For example, on his recent sojourn to Texas A&M for the inauguration 
   of the Bush Library, he departed in a flight of four.  There were 
   two, I think, Sikorsky's, escorted by two Cobra's, that carried him 
   from Easterwood Airport to wherever in Houston.. 
 
   The flight of four, as I was told, were referenced as ARMY1, and not 
   commented with, as is usually heard "Flight of Four." 
 
   The usual phraseology from the tower will include the leader's 
   designation, followed with the phrase "Flight of Two", or whatever, 
   if a formation take-off or control comment is needed.  We had 
   many of these type statements during my time as the Chief Pilot for 
   the ROTC Flight Training school at Texas A&M during the Nam War. 
 
   If the marines are doing the job, I been told it's MARINE1.  If the 
   Navy has the honor, it is NAVY1, etc.  I've heard, upstairs, the 
   ATC comment "Air Force Two", which I think I understand means the 
   Vice President is the ranking official aboard. 
 
   You are correct about configuration issues as to what's actually 
   involved with the special units in the service, from a layman's 
   point of view.  Even a layman such as I, can get a lucky tid-bit 
   of information on such things, every now and then... smile. 
 
   The aircraft can be MUCH modified, especially as to those units that 
   are reserved for command post operation in the horrible what if scenarios 
   we'd rather not think about. 
 
   Many years ago I took a relief truck driver to Missouri in our Baron 
   to take over for one who was taken off our rig, sick.  Smokey, the new 
   driver, had never been in an airplane before and got deathly sick over 
   Greenville, Texas.  I had to ask FTW CTR for an approach to Greenville to 
   get him to a bathroom, and on breaking out, lo and behold, in front of me 
   with it's nose in the hanger at that tiny field, was an unmarked 747! 
 
   I pushed and pushed on the FSS guy to tell me what in the heck it was 
   doing there!  He finally opened up and told me that Greenville was the 
   place that E-Systems did the EMP shielding and re-furbishing work on the 
   military aircraft for AF1 if we ever needed a flying command post. 
 
   To substantiate your comment about the configuration being different, 
   I'll pass along his remark to me all those years ago, "Beats me how 
   much good they'd ever do with it.  By the time they get all the shielding 
   in place, it is so heavy that it only has enough fuel to get off the 
   ground and remain airborne for about 45 minutes, until they can begin to 
   get a tanker up there to keep feeding it." 
 
 
Yeah... 
 
Mike @ 117/3001 
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