US Vice President Mike Pence
 

Countdown To Mike Pence

Two USAF C-17A Globemaster IIIs arrived in Sydney around midday today, an advance party for the visit by US Vice President Mike Pence on the weekend.
The aircraft were 02-1107 and 03-3127, and the cargo was around 50 personnel, and several vehicles including an black SUV, black State Limousine, and a truck.

Both aircraft departed quite quickly after unloading, 03-3127 off Runway 34R to Brisbane, and 02-1107 of Runway 34L to Richmond. being empty, they both rotated very quickly.

The sun only popped out a few times when they arrived, and all except the first two images are taken through the new security fence.

02-1107 Departure to Richmond

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170420-044.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170420-047.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170420-086.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170420-098.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170420-126.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170420-182.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170420-194.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170420-211.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170420-226.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170420-239.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170420-244.jpg

Any idea on arrival time?

Nothing at the moment Darren.

Expected to be in town 4 days

Roads/bridge shutdown for motorcade access.

Arriving tonight.

Thanks Guys

Aircraft is a B747 Air Force 2.

I expect that the press won't be advised of ETA until close to arrival for Security.

(ie: Crew on standby to race out to airport to get shots)

The word is about 21:30

It's not an E4 or VC25, is a C32, 80002 is the bird.

Cleared to land 34L SAM014

Who is the second aircraft about 10 miles out currently?

SAM078 was right on its tail so probably that one. They were both in the circuit at the same time.

US Vice President Mike Pence arrived in Sydney tonight on board USAF VC-32A 98-0002, with VC-32A 99-0004 following closely behind. The aircraft parked on DOM 6.

USAF VC-32A 99-0004
http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170421-154.jpg

USAF VC-32A 99-0004
http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170421-163.jpg

USAF VC-32A 99-0004
http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170421-170.jpg

USAF VC-32A 99-0004
http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170421-172.jpg

USAF VC-32A 99-0004
http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170421-174.jpg

USAF VC-32A 98-0002 was refueled very quickly, and the number two engine had the cowls open for inspection.
http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170421-176.jpg

USAF VC-32A 98-0002
http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170421-180.jpg

The second a/c is the backup a/c.

If the first goes u/s they switch to the backup a/c.

AF2 is a designation that travels with the VP not the a/c.

Whichever a/c the VP is on is AF2

Where did you get 747 from? AF1 is a 747 AF2 is a 757.

my mistake

In the light of day ...

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170422-010.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170422-013.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170422-016.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170422-018.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170422-020.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170422-112.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170422-015.jpg

http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...170422-108.jpg

Landing lights?
 

Does that 757 have supplementary lighting attached to the front landing gear?

And is that the still-propless Saab 340 sitting right next to 80002?

I think that's the standard B757 nose wheel lighting Philip (see comparison images below). And yes, that is the Rex Saab (VH-NRX), now with no propellers.

RNZAF B757 NZ7572
http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...-03-18_175.jpg

High Level Travel B757 G-ZAPX
http://www.16right.com/Aircraft-Imag...161121-032.jpg

B757 lighting
 

Yes - it seems to be the case, Grahame.

Also came across this while checking: http://craigmiddleton.co.uk/757/Bigg.../lighting.html

Actually, AF1 is whatever the President is on and AF2 is whatever the Vice President is on. Either one can be any type of aircraft including, I believe, a civilian aircraft. Both are simply callsigns which can clearly be used by anything with a radio, just like QF1.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

Any idea on departure time tomorrow?

Marine One on USMC aircraft
Navy One on USN aircraft
Army One on Army aircraft
Coast Guard One on USCG aircraft
Executive One on private/commercial should it ever happen

And even Ground Force One on this thing:
http://blog.nationalbus.com/wp-conte.../Obama-Bus.jpg

Oh ok, thanks for that.
I didn't actually know that

It will be interesting to see if the VP departs on the same aircraft that he arrived in Sydney.

Don't be surprised if they switch a/c for the next leg.

He has been using the same bird whole trip, they are not duplicate aircraft when it comes to capabilities.

Military escorts for AF2?
 

Thought I spotted a couple of RAAF escorts tailing 980002 up the coast around 0830 - can anyone confirm that?