by Burns!
President Obama: Wheels Down At LAX
May 27, 2009 at 9:46 pm in LA, Politics, West Side
President Barack Obama disembarks Air Force One at LAX, 27 May 2009. Photo by Burns!
Air Force One touched down at LAX this afternoon at 12:55pm, bringing President Obama to southern California for an evening fund raiser in Beverly Hills for the Democratic National Committee. Although the President will spend the night in Los Angeles, he will make no public appearances and will depart early tomorrow morning.
I was somewhat disappointed that the President turned immediately toward the helicopter when he reached the bottom of the stairs. I had hoped that he would approach the press pool, even if only for a few questions. Sadly, not even a nod in our direction.
What it’s like to stand in the shadow of Air Force One and more (better) photos after the jump. All pics, including the one above, gain both size and awesomeness when you click them. Go!
We’ve all seen 747s, and they’re big no matter how you look at them. I can tell you, though, that as you stand on the tarmac and Air Force One towers above you, you truly get a sense of how big that plane is. Not just for its sheer mass, but for its primary passenger.
Huge planes land at and take off from LAX all day long, but none has quite the same activity around it. As one man walks down the forward stairs, about 50-60 spill out the back. Staff, military, traveling press; all have parts in what appears to be a seamlessly choreographed exercise.
In addition to Air Force One, other aircraft in use include Marine One (President’s helicopter) and its identical twin that takes off immediately after its predecessor; I’d imagine as a decoy. Those two are followed by three enormous Marine transport helicopters, which I believe contain the presidential limo and other support vehicles.
Quite a lot of organization goes into transporting one guy around the country. It is quite a spectacle to witness.
Although you won’t be able to get all that close, if you’d like to sit at the end of the runway and watch Air Force One depart tomorrow (Thursday) morning, wheels are up at 7:30am.
Air Force One taxis off the runway. Photo by Burns!
Arrival. Photo by the fabulous Angela Daves-Haley.
Saluting the airmen. Photo by the spectacular Angela Daves-Haley.
Straight onto Marine One for a quick getaway. Photo by Burns!
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