As the President travels to Maui, we are filled with emotion, with the arrival marking the sheer enormity of the Maui fire disaster.
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34 thoughts on “Historic Air Force One Visits Maui Next Week”
As the President travels to Maui, we are filled with emotion, with the arrival marking the sheer enormity of the Maui fire disaster.
Kahalui Airport’s RW 02/20 should present no problem for AF-1. The pilots are highly skilled and the airplane will be relatively “light” even tho’ we’re speaking of a B-747.
I would vote for the B-747 over a USMC helo for the 95+/- miles (82NM) trip across the water any day, anyway. I mean … if they go into HNL and swap birds — that translates into two stops, aircraft change, helo less comfortable, helo noisy ride, and where are all the staffers gonna’ sit on said USMC helo??
We used to regularly land at Saipan 07/25 (8700′) and while you had to “pay attention” (and when didn’t we?) it was no problem. And we’d regularly use HNL RW 04R/22L early morning after an all-night transpac for noise abatement and usually make the “early” turnoff.
Even using the “long” main landing runway at HNL — RW 08L/26R (12,000′ + a little) we’d land and make Yankee turnoff to the gates. That’s right around a rollout 7,000′ + a little if memory serves.
So IMO, it’s the B-747 all day long. It was God’s and Boeing’s gift to jet aviation. Obviously, I still miss the ol’ Girl … but retirement certainly is no slouch, either. (Aloha and smiles)
Hi DICKIE_D.
Thanks for that! We’ll look forward to seeing that on Monday and just wish it wasn’t coming for this reason.
Aloha.
Thanks, Mr. President and first Lady for visiting, aloha
Would be interesting to see from an aviation standpoint. I did find an article stating it could land and takeoff from a 7000 ft runway. Maui is just 2 ft. short of that. I’m betting though they will go to Oahu first and shuttle over. Keep your eyes out BOH.
Hi Greg.
Absolutely. You too.
Aloha.
Why do you assume the plane he will be on will be a 747-200? Any plane the president is on has the call sign Air Force One, including the 757’s, which are also in the presidential fleet. The 757 has the range from Joint Base Andrews to Maui, and can land on the OGG runway, but it will probably stop to refuel (and maybe make a political stop) in California. I’m betting on the 757. Any takers? Guess we will have to wait and see.
Hi Rob.
Thanks for that. We’ll bet on the 747, due to the comfort at least, but yes we’ll see and will be thinking of you when we know. Is that 757 specially modified in terms of distance? If not, then it would not be capable of flying to Hawaii.
Aloha.
Yes, the 757’s (designated C32A’s in the fleet) in the Presidential fleet are modified. They can fly 5,500 nautical miles (6,325 regular miles) without refueling. The distance from Washington DC (Joint Base Andrews, where the fleet is housed) to Maui is 4792 miles as the crow flies. Well within the range of the aircraft. But if the 757 is used, I still bet it will refuel in California, probably a non-publicized stop. Also, I bet C-17’s will fly to Maui ahead of time to transport Marine One helicopters, and probably the “Beast”, the Prez’s limo, and Secret Service vehicles. It’s a huge (and costly) operation.
Hi Rob.
Thanks for that aviation aficionado info. Very interesting. Now let’s see the plane.
Aloha.
Word in the news is that the President is vacationing a few days in Lake Tahoe before Maui so not quite. 10-hour trip after all
Correct, 757. 747 can’t land or take off or both on Maui’s very short runway, about 7000 ft. Reno has 11.000 ft and a 9,000 ft runways, so the 747 is there.
Hi Jeff and Rob (that’s a odd coincidence of names).
So 757 it was.
Aloha.
You left out a presidential Hawaii visit. In 2971 or 2972 President Nixon made a stopover on Oahu on his historic trip to China. He landed at Kaneohe MCAS and spent the night. He spoke briefly to a crowd about his trip. I was there. Just can’t remember specific year but early seventies as I left Hawaii in 1974.
Hi Samuelson L.
Thanks, you’re correct. It was 1972 when Nixon had a two‐day Hawaii stopover.
Aloha.