Message posted by Gregos on August 27, 2006 at 18:04:48 PST:
I’m in Washington DC on business this week. I have a contact at Andrews AFB. About a year ago, he said if I were in Washington, he would give me a tour and hopefully see Air Force One. I rang him up and asked if the offer is still good… He picked me up at my hotel and we entered the base. We transferred into an Air Force F-150 pick up and headed out to the planes. It actually looked more like any other airport, as there were a lot of Lear Jets, 707 types, etc. The only difference was they all had US AIR FORCE on them instead of Southwest! We passed a Saudi Air Force Jet Tail number HZ 124. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=HZ-124&distinct_entry=true Then they took us to the terminal thru more security to await POTUS returning from a trip. That's right POTUS -President of the United States! Air Force One #29000 (once again there are two) pulled up about 100 feet from us. The Pres came out and went aboard the Helicopter "Marine One" and then up, up and away. I didn't vote for that guy but all I can say is you have to respect the position! It was a way cool visit! I had my 35mm camera but it was 9pm with no flash. I don't expect any pictures but attached is a thumbnail from my cell phone. http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1447/5244554/10627512/182023364.jpg
Then we pulled up to a C-32 (Boeing 757), which happened to be AIR FORCE TWO -Dick Cheney's plane. They told me to leave my camera behind but we were allowed to go on board! When you first get on it looked like any normal plane, then you saw navigator’s seats, comm equipment, fax machines, etc. The VP's State Room had a desk and a couch that turns into a bed. A Plasma Flatty on the wall. I think I saw a Play Station hooked up to it, LOL!!! Business class all the way to the last few rows. The last few were for the media chumps. Bitter sweet. Unfortunately, I didn't get a good look into the cockpit even though the door was open and it was empty. I also didn't catch the tail number, as there are two of the same aircraft. Sensory overload ok!!!
http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=90
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