[Plutarch]

According to this WSJ article , the camera plane was also an F-16, with a combat photographer on board. No IMAX or movie camera. Based on this, I think the Lucas theory doesn't hold. If it was film production it would have been probably a civilian Gulfstream or the like that regularly does such filming.

The only thing that needs be explained, is why the DC National Guard F-16 had a red tail? But there is no scandal in that.

The 747-200B aircraft, one of two used as Air Force One, was accompanied by two F-16 fighters from the D.C. Air National Guard, which operates out of Andrews.

"We've never been asked to do this before," said Capt. Byron Coward, a spokesman for the guard unit.

While the F-16s were flown by guard pilots, the photographs were taken by Master Sgt. Andrew N. Dunaway, a specially trained Air Force photographer based with a combat camera squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.

Only one of the F-16s was involved in the photo shoot; the other peeled off once the 747 reached New York, but both accompanied the plane back to Andrews. According to Vicki Stein, an Air Force spokeswoman, the cost for the fighters, both of which flew nearly two hours, was $28,000.

[Beckwith]

In time, it will all come out.

Dressing the F-16 as an Alabama Air Guard is puzzling.

I suppose it's possible that Lucas fitted the F-16 with an IMAX that was operated by by Master Sgt. Andrew N. Dunaway, a specially trained Air Force photographer.

That special training could have been on the operation of a wing-mounted IMAX camera?

It would be standard film-making practice to also shoot stills while the movie camera was rolling.

The only thing I know, is that we don't know the whole story.