Strathclyde Police have confirmed they are beefing up security to deal with the record number of spotters who will go to Prestwick. The £1billion Lockheed C5 Galaxy and its back-up Air Force Two, will remain at Prestwick during the summit.I used to live in Prestwick and spent many a happy hour watching the planes there. It looks as though the police are taking a more sensible attitude than I had feared. It would be completely impossible to stop "spotters" from gathering in the town (population 15,000) during next week. Aircraft enthusiasts are a patriotic bunch and have been recruited by police at other airports as useful observers who know when anything untoward is going on. I know that the main Scottish aviation enthusiasts' website has decided to publish nothing at all about the G8 visitors. The planespotters are allies of the police in this matterAssistant Chief Constable Kevin Smith, of Strathclyde Police, who is head of the force's G8 operations, said: 'We are aware there will be a large number of spotters heading to Prestwick to see Airforce One.
'That should not be a problem so long as the plane spotters conduct themselves in a responsible manner.'
I still can't work out why GWB and the others aren't being flown into an RAF base like Leuchars or Lossiemouth. Unless the Prestwick arrival is all an elaborate hoax of course. By the way, I'd be amazed if Air Force One were a Lockheed C5.
1 comment:
Comments made on previous template:
Richard
Air Force One is the call-sign of any plane that has the President on board. Normally, of course, it's the pair of 747-200s, but if there is a reason that he's in a Galaxy, then that Galaxy is Air Force One.
Hell, GWB is a fighter pilot; Air Force One could be an F-16 if he felt like flying himself.
3 July 2005, 10:56:58 GMT+01:00
– Like – Reply
David Farrer
Laban
As much as I can. But I won't be blogging from the demos themselves, only from home or Internet cafes. I expect to have a good selection of photos.
1 July 2005, 21:27:58 GMT+01:00
– Like – Reply
Laban
Will you be liveblogging the demos ?
1 July 2005, 21:22:40 GMT+01:00
– Like – Reply
dave t
Prestwick to Gleneagles 87 miles, Leuchars - Glen E 47 miles.
Watch AF1 suddenly swing wide and head for St Andrews on the day!
The C5 is bringing in the choppers and the limos as well as the SUVs for the Security Team. Oh and a mobile Wendys/McDonalds Catering van...
1 July 2005, 19:40:51 GMT+01:00
– Like – Reply
Andy Wood
I still can't work out why GWB and the others aren't being flown into an RAF base like Leuchars or Lossiemouth.
I can give you one compelling reason why they didn't choose Leuchars: Fife is the Land of the Sunday Drivers from Hell, on every day of the week. They will have to spare the President and his chauffeurs from road-rage when they find themselves unable to overtake some ninety-year-old granny doing 40mph down the middle of the A91.
1 July 2005, 17:58:10 GMT+01:00
– Like – Reply
dearieme
Watch a film of the 30s e.g. of Hitler being driven through the streets with utterly negligible "security". Any decent shot could have bagged him. Then consider the ridiculous "security" demanded nowadays by democratic politicians. This shows, I suggest, that (i) civilisation has receded (ii) the moderns are taking preposterously exaggerated care of themselves.
1 July 2005, 15:05:52 GMT+01:00
– Like – Reply
PAlbin
Airforce One is a Boeing 747-200B. According to the book "Airforce One, the Aircraft that Shaped the Modern Presidency," by Von Hardesty, there are actually two in service. They are identical except for their tail numbers. Chapter six details the possible convoy of additional aircraft and personnel of about 16 plains including 2 C-5s and 3 C-17s.
1 July 2005, 14:50:24 GMT+01:00
– Like – Reply
Mark Holland
Doesn't the Galaxy bring in the limos and secret service Hummers? I've seen someting about a Presidential trip on the Dicovery Channel or similar and the logistics are astonishing.
1 July 2005, 10:15:01 GMT+01:00
– Like – Reply
mat
I still can't work out why GWB and the others aren't being flown into an RAF base like Leuchars or Lossiemouth.
Just what I was thinking when I drove past Prestwick yesterday. Perhaps PIK is both easy to secure and has good VIP facilities? Those are probably the only relevant considerations given that Bush will mostly be flying around in a helicopter.
1 July 2005, 09:25:05 GMT+01:00
Post a Comment