MATS

[FiannaFail]

Observing events in Shannon has made me wonder whether the Air Corps MATS aircraft should be named Air Corps One, Air Corps Two and Air Corps Three? After all they have flown the flag to countries that otherwise would never hear of our services.  Any ideas guys?
FiannaFail  '>

[irishsamourai]

why not irish air one irish air two  

[Silver]

not a bad idea FF but, then again, why copy the americans ?!

[Irish251]

Of course the tag "Air Force One" is a radio callsign and despite what the media say, it does not belong to a particular aircraft.  It's used by any USAF aircraft carrying the POTUS.  Likewise when he travels by USMC chopper it uses "Marine One".

Most air arms use either the aircraft tail number (increasingly unusual) or more commonly, a mission/flight number which does not indicate the particular aircraft's identity on ATC frequencies.

[Guinness]

You're right here Short Finals,

the callsign is used by every aircraft which carries the POTUS in USAF service.

I've also heard that the POTUS is always flown around by USAF personel and that the USN / USMC planes are placed under USAF command while POTUS is onboard.
There for I think that "Navy One " and "Marine One " are non-used callsigns for this purpose.

Just look at the support planes.
Very rarely they are non-USAF.
And the ony aircraft non-USAF are the helicopters the POTUS uses.
They are VX-5 heli's registrated USMC but under USAF command.
The "guard-of-honour" of the POTUS are Marines but again nothing to say about the "flying circus"

Guinness

P.S.
any pictures availible of the visit on SNN '>

[Irish251]

Sorry, Guinness, that's not correct.  The USMC choppers (VH-3s and VH-60s) have used "Marine One" on several previous visits to Ireland.  As for the support transports, as only the USAF operates the C-5 and C-17 types, the other services could not provde these.

The infamous 2003 carrier landing by the current POTUS used an S-3 Viking and media reports indicated that it used "Navy One" - it is now preserved at Pensacola in the USN Aviation Museum.  I can't see how USAF personnel would have been permitted or qualified to take over a USN aircraft for such a mission - can you?

Have a read at the following link if you want some detailed information on US Presidential transport operations:

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/docs/11028900.pdf

[Guinness]

Thanks for that Short finals.

My info was ( partly ) incorrect indeed.

Kind regards,

Guinness