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Flaps problem on Air Force One sends Bush to backup plane

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"(Oak Ridge, Tennessee-AP) -- A problem with the flaps aboard Air Force One has caused President Bush to use a back-up plane during a trip to Tennessee. The problem was discovered soon after the president's Boeing 747 landed at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base near Knoxville. Press Secretary Scott McClellan says one of the flaps had come off its track. But he says Bush and others on the plane were never in any danger. The president was in Tennessee to visit the Oak Ridge nuclear weapons lab -- and see nuclear equipment recently surrendered by Libya. A smaller Boeing 757 from the presidential fleet at Andrews Air Force Base was flown to Tennessee to take Bush back to Washington. "



This is yet another instance where the press is left to interpret an event with fuzzy information from press secretaries.



If it really was the 'flaps' - this is a crucial flight control piece that would ground any aircraft... and is not to be taken lightly at all. This was a dangerous situation and they downplayed it. If it was a simple fix - why did he have to take another plane?



OR - was this a big coverup so that the press troupe couldn't follow Bush on the rest of the trip... "Um... yeah, we have a problem with this plane... so - you guys will have to find a ride home - BYE!"



Makes you think... .



Matt
 
The notion of a conservative President providing transportation for a mostly liberal group of press reps constantly out to get him is sort of an interesting concept - sort of like an accused fella dragging his assigned firing squal and other executioners around with him... ;) :D
 
I dont know how dangerous I would call the situation as it would depend on so many variables. The flaps could have jammed as they were being lowered which would have been a pretty minimal problem. Even if the flaps were unable to be lowered they had 9000' to stop the a/c in, which would be doable with the thrust reversers and brakes.
 
the president has a schedule to keep. ANy flight control system failure will deman a thorough inspection... on ANY aircraft not just the presidents. I'm sure he just needed to get somewhere and wasn't going to wait on maintenance for his plane. Leave it to the press to stew about petty B. S. though.
 
Ya know things do break in flight, and since the flaps are used only on takeoff and landing, its possible the problem started when the flaps were lowered. Rapairing flap tracks can be a major repair. Its not like you just pop it back in track and fly off...
 
Here is some tidbits Any Aircraft that the President flies on is Air Force One hence Air Force One didn't have a problem. Any Helo that the President flies on is called Marine One. I just want the facts kept straight.

Steve
 
AS to the question of why not use the backup 747 - I would suppose they would wanna thoroughly check it out for a similar problem before sending it out - just as is done when problems are discovered in commercial aircraft...



'course, they COULD have filled it with journalists and other media reps, and let THEM test it... ;)
 
When something like that is repaired an inspection needs to be accomplished before flight again. Maybe the crew chiefs didn't have the tools to fix that problem so that's why the other plane came. I'm sure the president has a schedule to keep. i guess i'm just repeating what alot of other people have said though.
 
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