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The 747, or VC-25 as the Defense Department calls it, is a backup plane to Air Force One, and was scheduled for the flyover so that Air Force photographers could take pictures. The missing piece was that somehow the proper communications had not been made and many officials were unaware of the photo-op.
On Friday, President Barack Obama accepted the resignation of Louis Caldera, director of the White House Military Office. Also on Friday, in a letter to Sen. John McCain, Defense Secretary Robert Gates provided requested details of the incident.
The cost of using the VC-25 was estimated to be between $300,658 and $328,835, while the cost of the two accompanying F-16 fighters was $28,177 for a total of $357,012, Gates said.
He added that the entire mission had been coordinated with officials from the FAA and air traffic control representatives in the New York area.
"I am concerned that this highly public and visible mission did not include an appropriate public affairs plan nor adequate review and approval by senior Air Force and DOD (Department of Defense) officials."
John McCain, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the incident an "Air Farce One photo op."
Posted May 8th, 2009 by Michael Santo
