President Bush to Land on Aircraft Carrier
Posted: Thu May 01, 2003 10:02 amThe President of the United States will be landing on The USS Abraham Lincoln where he will address the nation tonight. Can you imagine being this Navy Pilot!! That is some serious "precious" cargo to carry.
President Bush was being ferried to the ship, still hundreds of miles off the California coast, by a tiny Navy plane. The S-3B "Viking" - to be called Navy One because of its presidential passenger - has room only for Bush, riding in the front seat next to the pilot, and two or three more passengers.
The president was to be treated with an exciting - though, according to administration officials, not considered risky - landing. As the plane lands on the Lincoln, cables stretched across the deck are to catch it and wrench it to a stop in less than 300 feet.
"Never can tell what's going to kick in," the president, a former pilot, joked to reporters before an Oval Office meeting Wednesday with the president of Colombia. "Let me just say, stay clear of the landing pattern."
Rear Adm. John Kelly, commander of the Lincoln battle group, said Thursday on CBS'"The Early Show" that the pilot slated to land Bush on the carrier "has flown through extraordinary pressure in support of combat operations for months now. I am very confident that he'll do a great job."
White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett said Thursday on NBC's "Today" that flying the jet to the carrier "is actually safer that a helicopter because you have the ability to eject. In a helicopter, if something goes wrong, you're stuck."
Should be interseting!!
Dave
President Bush was being ferried to the ship, still hundreds of miles off the California coast, by a tiny Navy plane. The S-3B "Viking" - to be called Navy One because of its presidential passenger - has room only for Bush, riding in the front seat next to the pilot, and two or three more passengers.
The president was to be treated with an exciting - though, according to administration officials, not considered risky - landing. As the plane lands on the Lincoln, cables stretched across the deck are to catch it and wrench it to a stop in less than 300 feet.
"Never can tell what's going to kick in," the president, a former pilot, joked to reporters before an Oval Office meeting Wednesday with the president of Colombia. "Let me just say, stay clear of the landing pattern."
Rear Adm. John Kelly, commander of the Lincoln battle group, said Thursday on CBS'"The Early Show" that the pilot slated to land Bush on the carrier "has flown through extraordinary pressure in support of combat operations for months now. I am very confident that he'll do a great job."
White House Communications Director Dan Bartlett said Thursday on NBC's "Today" that flying the jet to the carrier "is actually safer that a helicopter because you have the ability to eject. In a helicopter, if something goes wrong, you're stuck."
Should be interseting!!
Dave
... 
...!
...!
...!
