Air Force One coming to KPHX

[Matt Ottosen]

August 7, 2009
Obamas to Visit Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon
By Jeff Zeleny

Two weeks before the Obamas leave for a weeklong vacation on Martha's Vineyard, the first family is heading West for a weekend stop at two of the nation's most famous national parks.

The White House announced that President Obama and his family will visit Montana next Friday before taking a side trip to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon next weekend. (No, aides said, they will not be camping.)

Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said the trip was designed to draw attention – and lure tourists – to the national park system. It takes place during a weekend when the parks are waiving fees for visitors.

The Montana stop, which is scheduled for the city of Bozeman, also is intended to rally support for the administration's health care effort. The state is home to Senator Max Baucus, chairman of the Finance Committee, who is overseeing a large piece of the health care legislation on Capitol Hill.

Mr. Obama will also visit Grand Junction, Colo., and Phoenix. His stop in the Arizona capital will include a speech at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention that is holding its meeting there.

It is the first time that the Obamas – particularly the first daughters, Malia and Sasha – have visited Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Canyon. It's been more than 30 years since Mr. Obama saw his first glimpse of the majestic landmarks. On his first trip to the continental United States, at age 11, Mr. Obama, his mother, grandmother and sister traveled from Hawaii on a tour of Western states by Greyhound bus, train and the occasional rental car.

This time, he will arrive on Air Force One.


Here is a list of the President's travel itinerary (provided by ABC15):

Friday, August 14 – Bozeman, MT
Saturday, August 15 – Yellowstone National Park, WY, and Grand Junction, CO
Sunday, August 16 – Grand Canyon and Phoenix, AZ
Monday, August 17 – First Family returns to Washington, D.C.

[Jay Beckman]

That makes my decision easier on which day to visit the GC while I'm in Flag next weekend.  Glad you posted this.

[Joe Copalman]

I wonder what access will be like at/near the airport up there, if that's where AF1 is landing.

[Matt Ottosen]

I wonder what access will be like at/near the airport up there, if that's where AF1 is landing.

I don't know that GCN can handle a 747.

[Dave S.]

I'm guessing AF1 will stop in PHX, because he's addressing the VFW convention.  I wonder if he'll arrive (in PHX) on Saturday night or Sunday morning?

Jay - IF you're flying up, keep an eye out for TFR's near the GC and/or FLG.  Not the best way to get an air-to-air photo shoot, even if it happened to be a cool subject like F-16's, .

Dave

[Matt Ottosen]

Not the best way to get an air-to-air photo shoot, even if it happened to be a cool subject like F-16's.

I don't know, there's a chance you could even get them shooting [at you], could be the air-to-air photo op of a lifetime!


... or the last photo op of your lifetime.   

[Dave S.]

Just did some quick checking.  GCN & FLG are nearly identical, from a runway perspective.  Both are 150 wide and nearly 9000 ft long (8999 & 8800, respectively).  747's outboard engines are 150 feet wide, JFK runways are 150 wide and operate 747's w/o a problem.  GCN is slightly lower in elevation, 6600 ft. vs. 7000 ft. - but that seems almost inconsequential.

So, who knows which one they'll use.  Will probably be dictated by other factors, such as outside and/or perimeter security considerations.

Will just have to wait and see.

[Jay Beckman]

WAG:  AF1 at Luke .. Helos around AZ with AH64D escorts from FFZ or ANG from Marana.

Like I said, just a WAG.

[Joe Copalman]

I was thinking Nellis + helo support for the Grand Canyon trip, PHX for the VFW speech.  Another WAG, but it makes sense. 

[Jay Beckman]

I was thinking Nellis + helo support for the Grand Canyon trip, PHX for the VFW speech.  Another WAG, but it makes sense. 

That makes sense.  There's probably more Government-owned land between Nellis and the GC than between the GC and LUF...

[Rob Silliman]

Or they will just use one of the smaller aircraft between PHX and GCN.

[Rob Silliman]

No details on the VFW speech yet on the VFW schedule;

http://www.vfw.org/convention110/Events%20Schedule%202009.pdf

[Matt Ottosen]

Everything I'm seeing online and hearing on the news is saying they will stop at the Grand Canyon and then come to Phoenix.

[Dave S.]

Here's a minor update.  Looks like he'll be arriving into town either Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/08/13/20090813obama-grandcanyon13-ON.html

Dave

[Joe Copalman]

Dang.  Wonder what kind of cargo traffic they've been getting up there.  Wonder if Dave Budd has made a trip out there yet.