Flightradar24 Interesting Finds
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dmccarty
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Never, have I ever seen this before. Just noticed a 747 flying over Eastern NC. Looked closer and it was TWO 747s flying on top of each. THAT is unusual to say the least. Zoomed in and it is two VC-25A, aka Air Force 1 and 2 if the President and Vice President is on board. Never seen the flying together. They are heading offshore around Wilmington, NC... Heading to Florida?
lilranch2001
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He is headed to Africa
bdhsfz6
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For security reasons, I'm surprised Air Force 1 would even show up on FlightRadar 24.
RobertN
Super Member
That was my though also. You would think they would at least have non descript labels on the transponder. Surely they must, but didn't have alternate ID turned on?
dmccarty
Super Star Member
I have seen Air Force One/Two several times. The first time, the plane was not obviously Air Force One/Two but it was sorta easy to figure out.
This time, Air Force One was flying to South America which is why there were two 747s. I think they always fly two 747s when the President goes over seas as a backup and I suspect to make it harder to target the plane that actually has the President.
I did see Air Force Two at least once. It was flying in from overseas and there was was only one 747. I looked it up and the vice president had been in Central America.
I seldom see C5M's but they show up from time to time over NC. Prior to seeing the two 747s flying south, a day or so prior I saw a C5M flying south as well. I did not see where it was going, just assumed it was heading to a military base on the coast. I know wonder if it was carrying vehicles for the motorcade. It was flying a similar course as the 747s so it could have gone to South America or to a coastal base like I thought.
This time, Air Force One was flying to South America which is why there were two 747s. I think they always fly two 747s when the President goes over seas as a backup and I suspect to make it harder to target the plane that actually has the President.
I did see Air Force Two at least once. It was flying in from overseas and there was was only one 747. I looked it up and the vice president had been in Central America.
I seldom see C5M's but they show up from time to time over NC. Prior to seeing the two 747s flying south, a day or so prior I saw a C5M flying south as well. I did not see where it was going, just assumed it was heading to a military base on the coast. I know wonder if it was carrying vehicles for the motorcade. It was flying a similar course as the 747s so it could have gone to South America or to a coastal base like I thought.
ning
Elite Member
I heard this go over and thought that something interesting is going on and then watched it
Curiousities (to me):
Curiousities (to me):
- RAF flight
- From Ottawa
- Very direct until strange jog near Reno NV
- Landing at OAK
dmccarty
Super Star Member
No screen shot. Sorry. Last week I noticed a 747 doing multiple horse track pattern off of NC/VA. The 747 flew out of a base in eastern VA and was not commercial. I assume it was testing something against USN ships. I see Lear jets flying similar patterns in the same area and I assume they are testing something but I have never seen a 747 flying that pattern. The 747 was flying for hours.
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OP
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YIKES!!!
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BravoXray
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I've had three times in the last 20 years of flying, that a plane has taxied onto the runway I was on short final to land on, and I had to go around. They obviously weren't listening to the CTAF or they would have heard me announce I was in the pattern to land, and on final, let alone looked for landing traffic.
At a fly-in at Muncie, IN, we saw an idiot in an Aeronca Champ taxi out and take off in front of a B17 on short final. The B17 went around, but it could have been really bad. They got his N number and he was banned from the airport.
At a fly-in at Muncie, IN, we saw an idiot in an Aeronca Champ taxi out and take off in front of a B17 on short final. The B17 went around, but it could have been really bad. They got his N number and he was banned from the airport.
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When I worked at the Niles, MI airport 79-80 I saw several instances of similar things. We had a radio in the office and you'd hear a bunch of chatter about "Where'd he come from?" and a plane would land... often followed by another plane and a 'conversation' between the pilots would take place on the ramp.
Usually turned out to be incorrect frequency.
BravoXray
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That is common, either they dial in the wrong CTAF or it's been changed. Sometimes it's an old plane with no radio at all, but those were getting pretty rare, and now with the ADS-B requirement, all most non existent.When I worked at the Niles, MI airport 79-80 I saw several instances of similar things. We had a radio in the office and you'd hear a bunch of chatter about "Where'd he come from?" and a plane would land... often followed by another plane and a 'conversation' between the pilots would take place on the ramp.
About 15 years ago, a friend and I were flying into the Holland, MI airport on a Sunday afternoon. And as is my habit, I announced that I was inbound and was landing on 27, I think. As I entered crosswind and announced my position, a Cessna crossed my path less that 50 feet below and 100 feet in front of me. Holy Crap! Where did he come from? I called for the Cessna west of Holland and never got an answer. My friend said he had been watching for traffic, but hadn't seen him either. Apparently he was below me, climbing and headed in the opposite direction. That was the closest cal I had in 30 odd years of flying. Had to pry my behind loose from the seat when we landed. I knew I was on the correct frequency, and it's the same as Goshen's, 123.05.
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I used to fly in small aircraft quite a bit as a kid up until I quit working at the airport in late 1986. It's kinda amazing how hard it is to spot another small plane up there.
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Two k46 tankers out of Portsmouth nh tonight
