It's true: Air Force One was here
GREENSBORO — No, your eyes weren't deceiving you, that really was President Bush's plane flying high above the city.
One of the Boeing 747s, referred to as "Air Force One" when the president is on board (he wasn't this time), was flying in and out of Piedmont Triad International Airport this week, said Ted Johnson , the airport's executive director.
Johnson said the flights are a normal procedure to keep pilots sharp and typically consist of a quick landing and takeoff at PTI before flying back to Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington.
"We see it quite often here," Johnson said. "We've got airspace that's not overly populated with aircraft, and it allows individuals flying ... to work with civilian towers."
Johnson said pilots often use the runway that's 10,000 feet long — an ideal length to practice landing large government planes.
"Because we get federal grant money, we have to allow the takeoff and landing of federal aircraft," he said. "They have the pleasure of coming in and out whenever they wish."
The airport doesn't release a schedule of when such planes are expected.
— Staff writer Ryan Seals
Accompanying Photos
Photo Caption: It's true: Air Force One was here
Did you know?
Todays fleet has two specially configured Boeing 747s.
The president has his own office, dressing room and shower on board.
Retired Master Sgt. Jeffrey Powell, a former Air Force One mechanic, lives in Greensboro.
Sources: whitehouse.gov; http://www.af.mil; News & Record research
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