I really wish we could go into a time machine and have this incident happen 4 years ago to see how the thread would play out then.
lots of good info here, pretty good analysis suggesting there were no VIPs, or relatives on board. there's also a comment from an F-16 pilot who spoke with the pilot of the chase plane: [rquoter]This whole furor is driving me a little crazy. FWIW, I actually spoke to the F-16 pilot yesterday…we go way back. As far as I know, he was the only F-16 flying chase with the photog in back. He was on a conference call THAT MORNING with about 30 different agencies, including the DHS, FBI, NYPD and others. This photo op has been in the works for THREE months. THREE! The idea that Obama or Bloomberg didn’t know is ludicrous.[/rquoter]
more from Chris Taylor, linked above. [rquoter]The White House, FAA and Air Force need to be a little more forthcoming. First of all the FAA didn’t issue a NOTAM for ZNY ARTCC, which would have told any interested civil pilots., whose route might take them nearby, that a 747 variant would be zooming around the Statue of Liberty at 1500 feet. Sometimes presidential flights have their NOTAMs released at the last minute (or in secret cases, not at all). A picture shoot should not rate the same level of secrecy as an actual president-is-aboard flight. Second, F-16s as a still camera platform? It’s doable, but not when you are trying to maintain formation with a manoeuvring flight lead. The F-16 is a single-seater, after all. They would have to have specifically sent up a two-seat trainer, which would put the combat cameraman in the back. Which leads to the third problem. Most of the footage we have seen involves the F-16 flying echelon right (or in trail), with the VC-25 as lead. That means most of your pics are going to be from three-quarters behind, which don’t make for the best airplane glamour shots. Especially when your camera guy is in the back and most of his forward perspective is obscured by the guy flying the fighter. Typically you would want a side profile or oblique view from the front (compare existing VC-25 shots here). The F-16 should have been out in front (leading the VC-25) most of the time, or his shots are going to suck. When civilians do this stuff, say for airline commercials (where you see the 747 roll into a hard turn, and peel off to the left like a fighter jet) they hire a larger, more stable—but still very nimble—camera platform, like a Gulfstream business jet, have it fly in formation with the airliner—typically ahead of it—run through it a half-dozen times, taking the shots they need, and then go home. A NOTAM would be published, that part of the airspace would get closed for a specified period of time, ATC would keep other air traffic well away from it. Now, since the Statue of Liberty is already part of an existing TFR area, the airspace is already closed. But publishing an additional NOTAM, plus allowing the local authorities (who did know, but were instructed not to publicise it) to get the word out, could have avoided this whole mess. As for the other points… there’s no doubt good and entirely ordinary explanations for them, but keeping it all under wraps makes the whole thing look much worse than it actually was.[/rquoter]
basso in order to save your sanity and family, I suggest you get out of New York City as soon as you can. God knows what horror awaits you if you continue to live here while Obama is president. You'd do well to move to Texas and be part of the secession that is coming. Think of it! You could start a whole new life free of the Obama fear in a new country.
This issue is EXTREMELY important. It's not like there are a couple of wars going on, and a major economic crisis, potential swine flu pandemic or anything. Why aren't more people talking about the bad move that caused some folks to get scared?
That is exactly what that shows. If something happens that scares New Yorkers near the sight of the 9/11 tragedy that Obama knew absolutely nothing about, then the case is clear. Obama doesn't care about 9/11.
BEcause there has been absolutely zero evidence to show that he did know about it, and nobody has even shown a good reason why he would need to know about it.
It is likely he knew they would be taking photos but unlikely the logged a flight plan with him or anything that ridiculous. I think his staff just plain sucks. First the email snafu and now this crap. He needs to crack the whip.
Oh yeah. I agree this was a mistake. And it makes sense since that he knew something but definitely not the flight plan. I would almost hope that the President was focused on more important issues, and didn't know of this kind of thing.
I agree on the fact no evidence has been evident, but wouldn't it be very, very easy to cloak such knowledge from the public?....I would like to think not, but I think it's possible. Furthermore, I think there should approval from him on usage and scope of the plane...$300,000+ is a lot of money. Think of how many schools and social programs could benefit from this money. It wouldn't take Obama 30 seconds to outline approval for several Air Force One military exercises...This is in keeping with reviewing potential instances of wasteful taxpayer money.
