Spotting Air Force One this week in Canberra

[harvyk]

Well.. the VIP area and hangar is just over the fence I am thinking of... the closest C17 today would have been no more than 75 metres from it... the entrance road on the other hand is a goodly distance away..???? I think the car park area near the coffee shop will receive some serious security attention.... suspect your sniper idea will be spot on too.....

Yes, there were 2. The second taxied in while I was in the area.. and unloaded a couple of big limousines:mrgreen:...The real treat however was that the first one left while I was in the area... I had only ever seen them on the ground before... and they look good there.

In the air? Magnificent! The takeoff roll was shorter than a 737... the (presumably light) load and the strong wind right down the runway today would have helped....but still....:shock::shock:

75 meters probably, but it would be a very long 75 meters if you where not meant to be there.
Yes I think that coffee shop will have a fair bit of attention, that said there is still a building between he coffee shop and the aircraft, which again will probably take more than a smile to enter. Anther thought could be that the guard station out the front (if it's still there, It's been a while since I last worked out there) could end up with someone checking id's

The entrance road runs right along the fence near the runway. If someone was stupid enough to try to get to the plane then that would prob be the weakspot.

 

[trooper]

I won't be the one to try!!!!! :mrgreen:

straitman There have been a lot of changes around the old Fairbairn... Office buildings and so on....

The RAAF base is now a tiny shadow of its former self... the old boom gates are still there... but permanently open because that whole area near the original entrance is now all "civilian"...

The Married Quarters are still there.. but under private ownership now I think....

The fence I'm referring to was no doubt non existent in the days of the old Base....it now separtes RAAF from non-RAAF about 5-600 metres "in" from the old entrance (in meaning toward the control tower) The VIP hangar is pretty new too... certainly post MY service...

I visited Fairbairn a few times when serving at HARMAN in the 80's... and I can't even remember what used to be where all the office buildings are now!!!

 

[straitman]

I won't be the one to try!!!!! :mrgreen:

straitman There have been a lot of changes around the old Fairbairn... Office buildings and so on....

The RAAF base is now a tiny shadow of its former self... the old boom gates are still there... but permanently open because that whole area near the original entrance is now all "civilian"...

The Married Quarters are still there.. but under private ownership now I think....

The fence I'm referring to was no doubt non existent in the days of the old Base....it now separtes RAAF from non-RAAF about 5-600 metres "in" from the old entrance (in meaning toward the control tower) The VIP hangar is pretty new too... certainly post MY service...

I visited Fairbairn a few times when serving at HARMAN in the 80's... and I can't even remember what used to be where all the office buildings are now!!!

Thanks trooper, it certainly has changed a lot from when I rode my pushbike from the married quarters area to flight ops.

 

[albatross710]

Thanks trooper, it certainly has changed a lot from when I rode my pushbike from the married quarters area to flight ops.

I am sure it is still just as cold in the ex-5 Sqn hangars.

 

[Flying Fox]

Looking at Google Maps, are they not basically the same place? CBR Airport on one side, and the RAAF base on the other?

CBR airport is on the western side of the runway, the RAAF Fairbairn base is on the eastern side. If your ever at CBR and look across the runway at the tower the RAAF base is directly underneath it. They use the same runways and taxiways as CBR.

As already mentioned Canberra Airport and RAAF Fairbairn share the same runways... and as there is no hanger large enough for a 747 the aircraft will presumably be parked in the same place that other VIP aircraft (like the 747 the Chinese Deputy Premier used) end up....

..on the apron outside the RAAF VIP terminal.

As I have been told by CBR Airport Mgmt, there is a blue line across the apron. One side is the normal commercial airport operation whilst the other side is the RAAF operation. Commercial airport crews are not permitted to cross the blue line.

 

[harvyk]

Well it turns out the people doing security for the POTUS visit have a similar idea of security risks as I do, the road that runs beside the runway upto Fairbairn (apparently called Glenora Drive, I used to drive along it daily and I didn't know that) is restricted. So yes, stopping along that road will get more than just a raised eyebrow from a security person.

So that 75 meter dash would be impossible without first getting past a checkpoint about 1.5km up the road. I am a little curious as to what people who work \ visit Fairbairn will be doing.

 

[jamesatfish]

So that 75 meter dash would be impossible without first getting past a checkpoint about 1.5km up the road. I am a little curious as to what people who work \ visit Fairbairn will be doing.

Will be interesting to see what happens when my daughter goes to her 'gymbaroo' tomorrow, as that's located behind the Fairbairn RAAF base down Glenora road. I might have to volunteer to take her this week to get a glimpse of the aircraft sitting out at the base.

 

[trooper]

I'll be heading down Glenora road around 3 today... and probably at a similar time tomorrow as well..

Will report back!


If I don't make it... please send out a search party..... :mrgreen:

 

[harvyk]

If I don't make it... please send out a search party..... :mrgreen:

and risk disappearing as well?

 

[trooper]

Selfish bugger!!! :mrgreen::mrgreen:

Only interest today was the (thorough!) way the AFP were searching drains/culverts/hedges etc.....

Tomorrow will no doubt be different.. access to Glenora is meant to be "difficult" from 0600.....

<Sigh!>

 

[straitman]

trooper,

The news tonight showed footage from the gate to which you were referring. They were filming one of the C-17s from out side the gate.

I agree that the tarmac is very close and actually find that rather strange.

 

[Flying Fox]

Saw some news footage from yesterday showing a C5 landing & unloading The Beast x2. A whole convey rolled out and the news team thought that it was a recon run but they all pulled into a servo with police blockade to fill-up all those tanks.

Wonder if they had any fuel discount vouchers

 

[Danger]

Saw some news footage from yesterday showing a C5 landing & unloading The Beast x2. A whole convey rolled out and the news team thought that it was a recon run but they all pulled into a servo with police blockade to fill-up all those tanks.

Wonder if they had any fuel discount vouchers

Hillarious.

Or maybe they were using the president's Amex Centurion card.

 

[harvyk]

Saw some news footage from yesterday showing a C5 landing & unloading The Beast x2. A whole convey rolled out and the news team thought that it was a recon run but they all pulled into a servo with police blockade to fill-up all those tanks.

Wonder if they had any fuel discount vouchers

Didn't see the footage, but if it's the servo at the airport they'd prob need to sign the country over to afford the petrol, that place ain't cheap...

 

[markis10]

Hillarious.

Or maybe they were using the president's Amex Centurion card.

Nah, PPO (Presidential Purchase Order) , instant account payable in typical 90 days for Government

 

[markis10]

Local ABC radio in Brisbane is reporting just after 3 for a landing, so 4PM CBR time perhaps?

 

[trooper]

Heading over there in 2 hours... will report on level of "zoo-ness"! :mrgreen:

Apparently ALL vehicles entering Fairbarn Park are being stopped for some form of examination....

Hope to get a glimpse of the VC-25A.... (pardon me, my geekness is showing...)

 

[UP4014]

Heading over there in 2 hours... will report on level of "zoo-ness"! :mrgreen:

Apparently ALL vehicles entering Fairbarn Park are being stopped for some form of examination....

Hope to get a glimpse of the VC-25A.... (pardon me, my geekness is showing...)

Get some shots (photos that is).

 

[jamesatfish]

The Snows must be so proud - after years of calling it 'Canberra International Airport' I just watched a Delta aircraft arrive at CBR...

There's already a decent crowd parked outside Toys-R-Us, most with massive telephoto lenses and tripods that make it embarrassing to stand by the fence with an iPhone and take photos.

 

[markis10]

The Snows must be so proud - after years of calling it 'Canberra International Airport' I just watched a Delta aircraft arrive at CBR...

There's already a decent crowd parked outside Toys-R-Us, most with massive telephoto lenses and tripods that make it embarrassing to stand by the fence with an iPhone and take photos.

The press corp get a Delta aircraft, lucky them!