“can DBQ Regional handle AF1”
Good question - I thought the same thing.
I’ve watched AF1 (B747) take off, from a distance(my office), at Dane County Regional(Madison) a couple of times.
I swear AF1 needed every inch of runway at Dane County in the 747.
Long at Dane County = 9006 feet
Long at Dubuque = 6502
That said, whatever plane the prez is in is designated AF1 -whether it is a 747, G5 or cessna :D
Maybe he’s flying in a smaller plane? I have no idea what AF1 747 weighs fully loaded with presidential stuff - but 6500 feet doesn’t sound like enough to me - I’m no expert tho.
Not so sure
AF1 is whatever USAF plane the President happens to be flying on, regardless of whether it’s one of the VC-25s (747) or a Gulfstream bizjet.
The VC-25s aren’t automatically identified as AF1. When the President isn’t aboard they go by their tail numbers: 28000 and 29000.
It’ll be interesting to see what Obamas face looks like when he deplanes, assuming he looks out the window on approach and sees with his own eyes the size of the Romney event crowd.