DTW757 From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 1415 posts, RR: 2 Posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 4431 times:
With the passing of President Ford, I want to see how many of us have actually seen President Ford with Air Force One. When he was running for re-election in 1976, My parents took me to TOL just a couple of miles from our house to see him board the plane. I was only 6 at the time but I remember sitting on my dad's shoulders at the fence on the west side of the terminal and watching the plane start up and turn away from us.
I do not know which aircraft if was but I am guessing it was 27000 as President Ford did most of his flying onboard that aircraft. 27000 was delivered in 1972 and was nicknamed "The Spirit Of 76" by Richard Nixon in honor of the upcoming Bi-Centennial. Here it is pictured in 1974 while President Nixon was visiting Vienna.
When President Ford took office, President Nixon was already onboard Air Force One headed to California. At the moment Gerald Ford said "So help me God," (somewhere over Missouri I believe) 27000 ceased being called "Air Force One" and went with being called "SAM 27000" for the remainder of the now former President Nixon's flight.
Sitting on my dad's shoulders and watching Air Force One start up and turn away from us is something I will never forget. I just want to pay tribute to President Ford along with Air Force One and see how many of us are old enough to have seen both of them together.
LTBEWR From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12335 posts, RR: 12 Reply 1, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 4406 times:
Nice post, in the context of the recent passing of President Ford and the connections of this aircraft and history. This aircraft was used until 2001 by the President and his support staff. It was retired by 2003 and now resides as part of the Ronald Regan Presidential Library in California.
He was running for election; Ford was appointed Vice President by Nixon after Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned (legal troubles) and became President when Nixon resigned (ditto.) Ford ran for, but was never elected, President.
DTW757 From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 1415 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 4355 times:
Quoting Maury (Reply 2): He was running for election
Yep you're right, I never even thought about the fact that he attained the presidency through resignation and not election. I guess I always think of a sitting president running for re-election rather than election.
Boeing Nut From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 4349 times:
On the lighter side, there's always the time when he went tumbling down the stairs, got up, shook it off, and went on with business by shaking dignitaries hands.
R.I.P. President Ford. You were a credit to the country.
Cubastar From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 370 posts, RR: 4 Reply 6, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 4229 times:
Quoting DTW757 (Reply 3): I guess I always think of a sitting president running for re-election rather than election.
Me too! Once after he lost his election bid, we were sitting in a DC-9 at JFK just before departure and all of a sudden, five dark-suited men with short haircuts and dark glasses came on board......one to the rear stairs, one at the open cockpit door, 2 to coach and 1 to first and after about 2 minutes Mr Ford came onboard. Our only passenger in first JFK-PHL.
Tjwgrr From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 2297 posts, RR: 3 Reply 7, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 4180 times:
President Ford's hometown is here in Grand Rapids, MI, and GRR is appropriately named "Gerald R. Ford International Airport."
President Ford will be laid to rest on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford Museum in downtown Grand Rapids. The city is already abuzz about the forthcoming ceremonies (yet to be finalized) which will take place here after ceremonies in Washington D.C.
I'm sure we'll see a number of interesting aircraft in GRR including at very least some military heavy metal and perhaps Air Force 1 (92-9000 or 82-8000) as well as aircraft transporting heads of state/ ex-heads of state from other countries.
Should be interesting.....
[Edited 2006-12-27 18:23:46]
Direct KNOBS, maintain 2700' until established on the localizer, cleared ILS runway 26 left approach.
AirEMS From United States of America, joined May 2004, 684 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 4087 times:
Although I wasnt even born when he was President from what I have seen he helped the USA heal after water gate.....
I know that he spent time in Aspen here in Colorado and I think someone said he had his own private jet.... after his recent bouts with poor health he sold off his property here in Colorado
Very sad day..... Presidential funerals always send chills up my spine....
Tan Flyr From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 1847 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 4023 times:
I had the opportunity to see President Ford at a campaign rally in Fort Wayne in early May 1976, just a few days before the primary. However, I do not recall which A/C was used as AF1 on that trip.
Somewhere in some boxes in the garage I have newspapers & photos. I'' dig them out and see if I can determine anything.
WA707atMSP From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 2042 posts, RR: 13 Reply 10, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 4020 times:
Quoting DTW757 (Thread starter): When President Ford took office, President Nixon was already onboard Air Force One headed to California. At the moment Gerald Ford said "So help me God," (somewhere over Missouri I believe) 27000 ceased being called "Air Force One" and went with being called "SAM 27000" for the remainder of the now former President Nixon's flight.
The Flying White House, by Air Force One's pilot during the Nixon administration, Ralph Albertazzie, and Gerald Ford's first press secretary, Jerald ter Horst, provides a great account of this flight, and many more interesting stories about Air Force One. It's relatively easy to find this book on the out of print book finding web sites.
RC135U From United States of America, joined May 2005, 293 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (6 years 4 months 4 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 3852 times:
I was based at Offutt AFB in Omaha when President Ford flew in for a campaign stop. Watching AF1 arrive was a real eye-opener. As the plane was rolling to a stop, the doors were popping open and the engines were spooling down in a well choreographed drill intended to impress - and that it did. Seeing Mr. Ford was almost an anticlimax compared to trying to accept that the gleaming, highly polished aircraft was part of the same Air Force as "my" RC-135s nearby.
RIP Mr. Ford - you were a class act as a former President.
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