Interesting Aircraft

GlynH · September 18, 2008, 07:35:09 AM

Here's another interesting aircraft spotted by my friend Terry...hi mate :-)

ADFEBA 99-0004 Boeing VC-32A 757-2G4 B752

This particular aircraft seems to be used in a US Diplomatic role and can count amongst it's passengers First Lady Laura Bush, Condaleeza Rice, John Negraponte, Colin Powell

There is also a 99-0003 listed in much the same role.

Investigating a bit further there are also references to 99-0001 also referred to as Air Force 2 which has carried Dick Cheney amongst others and 99-0002 but www.airframes.org make no mention of the latter...although there are references to 98-0001 & 98-0002 which I believe are the same aircraft.

Plenty of pictures on the Internet though...

Might be worth adding into your Alerts list...

Kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

DaveReid · September 18, 2008, 07:45:02 AM

Quote from: GlynH on September 18, 2008, 07:35:09 AM
and 99-0002 but www.airframes.org make no mention of the latter...plenty of pictures on the Internet though...

Do you mean 98-0002 ?

GlynH · September 18, 2008, 07:56:37 AM

Quote from: DaveReid on September 18, 2008, 07:45:02 AMDo you mean 98-0002 ?

I did and I had already edited my post...

Thanks Dave.

Kind regards,
-=Glyn=-

Terry · September 21, 2008, 06:31:36 PM

Another interesting catch today,ADFEB9-99-003.BOEING C-32A(757-2G4).Another diplomatic aircraft,which according to airframes.org.has carried many U.S.diplomats,including the President.
And another just caught ADFEB4 E-4B(742-200B).This seems to be the favourite craft for Defence Sec. Mr Gates as he has used this aircraft very frequently.
Regards Terry.

tarbat · September 23, 2008, 11:19:26 AM

This one caught my eye this morning. Glad I wasn't on-board!

Terry · September 23, 2008, 12:02:53 PM

Hey Tarbat,
That ones Economy class,rumour has it the food on there is not fit to eat,Haw!Haw!.Take it,it never got to Edinburgh then?

testmonkey · September 27, 2008, 11:50:09 PM

Okay, not so much interesting aircraft as what aircraft - or even just what?

Just let one of my cats in and there was a bmiBaby 737 going over inbound to EGBB rwy 33. At the same time I spotted a red light in the sky, looked like an aircraft but bright orange / red, coming the other way (heading south) at what I would estimate was probably 12-15k ft or above. My first instinct upon seeing it was an engine fire due to the colour but almost immediately 2 more similar lights came into view. The 3 lights were line astern but no more than a mile between each one and all travelling at a similar speed. I put the colour down to possible atmospheric conditions and had a quick look at the RB to see what they were but they weren't being picked up. Went back outside to have another look but they'd vanished. However there were now 2 more of the same side by side where I originally spotted the first 3 coming the same way. Kept an eye on them and whilst they were out of sight behind a neighbouring house one of them dissapeared. The other dissapeared shortly after becoming visible to me again. Needless to say neither of these appeared on my screen either. I turned the scanner on but got no transmissions that would have linked to them and no other chit chat referring to them either.

So the question is what were they? Military traffic maybe (possibly helos judging by the light source if they were lower than they appeared)? The JetMan appreciation society? Anyone any ideas?

......and no, I haven't been drinking :)

CoastGuardJon · September 28, 2008, 05:26:16 PM

No direct connection to testmonkey's post, but does anyone know what USAF aircraft carry out flights using the callsign "Shadow XX". A couple of weeks ago on HF, another USAF a/c was asking Andrews AFB, if there were any "Shadow" missions on - the reply was that the only had recently landed at Ramstein AFB, then Friday night Andrews was transmitting blind for Shadow 42 to contact any Global HF station.

Bethsalem · September 28, 2008, 06:25:17 PM

The callsign "ShadowXX" is used by fixed-wing gunships in support of special operation ground forces. Closer to home, certainly up until summer 2005, the USAF 352nd Special Operations Group based at Mildenhall used that callsign for their C130's.

Terry · September 28, 2008, 06:45:17 PM

CoastGuardJon,
Try this site,its a long one."www.Panix.com~clay/scanning frequencies/military/mil callsign.text".It gives all ops callsigns of active ops around the world.Hope this helps you.
Regards Terry.

RodBearden · September 28, 2008, 07:01:55 PM

I haven't seen any recently on MyFlights, but they were common a few months back, and I did a logo for the unofficial SHA callsign showing a Hercules gunship.

EDIT - the actual designation of the Shadow is MC-130P last one I registered was using the callsign SHADO 62 at the beginning of September.

Rod

CoastGuardJon · September 28, 2008, 07:06:08 PM

Thanks Terry and Rod.

Terry · September 28, 2008, 10:24:46 PM

One for our friends down under,just caught R.A.A.F B-737,7CF85C,A36-001,this aircraft was just nearing Melbourne (i believe)on the Network.

Regards Terry.

P.S. Flight I.D. EVY55.

Terry · October 01, 2008, 06:52:34 PM

Hi again,
I`ve noticed in "my log" that there are two U.S Diplomatic aircraft using the same registration.

mode-s AE11F6+AE11F7

Both are using the registration 01-0041,Wonder if anyone would or could shed some light on this,as there is an entry for each individual craft. Is it the same craft using the different mode-s codes I ask myself,any theories Glyn?

Regards Terry.

DaveReid · October 01, 2008, 07:01:55 PM

Quote from: Terry on October 01, 2008, 06:52:34 PM
Both are using the registration 01-0041,Wonder if anyone would or could shed some light on this,as there is an entry for each individual craft. Is it the same craft using the different mode-s codes I ask myself,any theories Glyn?

Most transport aircraft have two transponders, normally used on alternate flights. In an ideal world, they should both be transmitting the same code :-)