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Air Force 1 question

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As we all know, any aircraft above 256k lbs ATC appends the word "Heavy" to it's call sign during ATC communications. My question is does the same hold true for Air Force 1, or do they have some special exception, to just be referred as "Air Force 1" without the Heavy designation?

Thanks

Tom

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As we all know, any aircraft above 256k lbs ATC appends the word "Heavy" to it's call sign during ATC communications. My question is does the same hold true for Air Force 1, or do they have some special exception, to just be referred as "Air Force 1" without the Heavy designation?
I've heard it done both ways, but usually, at least in the US, it's omitted. Truth is, the "heavy" designator is used primarily for ATC to establish proper spacing for wake turbulence, and with A1 nobody's gonna be allowed to get anywhere near close enough to where wake turbulence would be an issue, so it's really a moot point.CheersBob ScottColonel, USAF (ret)ATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-VColorado Springs, CO

Bob Scott | President and CEO, AVSIM Inc
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Maybe when Pres. Clinton was on board... after all he did favour eating french fries... mmmm, french fries...Jeff ShylukSenior Staff ReviewerAVSIM

Maybe when Pres. Clinton was on board... after all he did favour eating french fries... mmmm, french fries...Jeff ShylukSenior Staff ReviewerAVSIM
:( I think Bill gave that up after his quadruple-bypass, though. I suspect that there's something about the aftereffects of a sternal saw that makes you see the light.CheersBob ScottColonel, USAF (ret)ATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-VColorado Springs, CO

Bob Scott | President and CEO, AVSIM Inc
ATP Gulfstream II-III-IV-V

Sys1 (MSFS20+24/XPlane12+11): AMD 9800X3D, water 2x240mm, MSI MPG X670E Carbon, 64GB GSkill 6000/30, nVidia RTX4090FE
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Fiber link to Yamaha RX-V467 Home Theater Receiver, Polk/Klipsch 6" bookshelf speakers, Polk 12" subwoofer, 12.9" iPad Pro
PFC yoke/throttle quad/pedals with custom Hall sensor retrofit, Thermaltake View 71 case, Stream Deck XL button box

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Just happened to watch a special on Air Force 1 on Hulu. A snipit of radio transmission said "Air Force 1 Heavy". Couldn't tell what country they were in, though.Bob

Bob

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Just happened to watch a special on Air Force 1 on Hulu. A snipit of radio transmission said "Air Force 1 Heavy". Couldn't tell what country they were in, though.Bob
Happened to be flying near Toledo ealier this year and heard Air Force 2 being vectored around. Never heard "heavy" but then maybe Bill and French Fries were not involved.

Geofa

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Is Air Force 2 the vice president's call sign? If so, that would likely be a 757 (whatever the military variant is - C-21, maybe? Google is so far away!) so it wouldn't get a 'heavy' appended to it.

Is Air Force 2 the vice president's call sign? If so, that would likely be a 757 (whatever the military variant is - C-21, maybe? Google is so far away!) so it wouldn't get a 'heavy' appended to it.
Ya, AF2 is Joe's callsign, Marine 2 is Joe's callsign for the chopper though.

Peter Clemenko III
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Per the .65, we are not supposed to refer to AF1 as "heavy" when the Pres is in the 747. Remember that Air Force (or Army, Marine, Navy, Guard, etc.) One can literally be ANY aircraft. When Bush landed on the Abraham Lincoln in a S3 Viking, it became "Navy One" (VV1).

I've heard it done both ways, but usually, at least in the US, it's omitted. Truth is, the "heavy" designator is used primarily for ATC to establish proper spacing for wake turbulence, and with A1 nobody's gonna be allowed to get anywhere near close enough to where wake turbulence would be an issue, so it's really a moot point.CheersBob ScottColonel, USAF (ret)ATP IMEL Gulfstream II-III-IV-VColorado Springs, CO
True....as any acrft the President is on (except Marine or Army One, helo's) becomes "AF1". The number one (1) I believe is the true designator that the Pres is onboard. Vincent

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