Someone Important is in Town

It was indeed an high level American delegation, But they were actually here to meet AussieGirl83 in an attempt to get to the bottom of recent reports of outrageous queing practices at Academy nightclub.

Apprently it’s MICHAEL JACKSON

I knew nothing about the road closures/delays (or indeed, the arrival of these people) until we were backed up to Fyshwick, trying to make it to the airport in time for a 5.30 flight out. I daresay there were a lot of empty seats on quite a few outgoing flights as a result…

Are you saying the US Sec of Defense is into gerbilling to while away the hours on those long trans-Pacific flights?

Air scoop…okay…yeah…not for electronic gizmos then…maybe it was to run the spa-bath…or extra air-cooling for the pet hamsters 😉

I’m pretty sure it’s an E-4B. Have a look at the wiki for “NEACP”. The Secretary of Defence is part of the national command authority, so he needs somewhere to help launch the nukes from.

The E-4B has a hump on top of the top floor which has is an antenna for communication with military satellites. It does looks like a scoop. The plane is pure command and control stuff.

It’s distinct from Airforce One, which has a designation of VC-25 and is fitted out for presidential comfort (as well as communications).

John,
It was an air scoop, not a blister. I could imagine the uses of a blister. This thing would ingest bulk air – hence my query.

The 747 sounds like an “E4B” which is a 747 airframe modified for use as a command-centre. Air Force One and all that. The ‘air scoop’ is actually housing for some sort of special communications equipment. Under the ‘blister’ are some antennaes for various radio frequencies not normally carried on aircraft…means they don’t need to rely on local infrastructure and can communicate directly back to home.

One for the aircraft experts.

WIN just showed footage of the 747 landing, I guess at Sydney.

Can anyone explain the huge additional air scoop above the top floor of the 747?

Ahh, that explains all the cops yesterday, thanks. Govvie emails went out saying there would be “traffic delays” but no detail.