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OK over the top writing.

Factual problems: The S-3B "Viking" (Hoover) is not a "two place fighter jet" as the author wrote. It is a four place multi-purpose aircraft, it does ASW, tanking, some strike.

The author goes on to say 'Presidents travel with huge protective entourages. The Secret Service likes to enfold our chief of state as thickly as it can. It didn't get to do that, this time; Bush, was alone in that jet with only Navy pilot John "Skip" Lussier for company.'

Nice sentence, except the S-3B Viking had the pilot Commander (not LT as the author mistates) John "Skip" Lussier, the executive officer of the VS-35 "Blue Wolves". President Bush was in the co-pilot set up front. Who else was onboard the aircraft? In the back seat were Lt. Ryan Phillips, a Navy flight officer, and a Secret Service agent.

The author futher writes: "Of course, reporters wanted to know whether Lt. Lussier or President Bush had landed the plane. It was assumed that Lt. Lussier had done so. At least, no one said Dubya had landed the plane... but no one said he didn't."

Actually they did, as the New York Post On-line edition story "SKY CHIEF BUSH HITS THE DECK" said: "After Lussier landed the jet, Bush, who hadn't piloted a plane in 35 years and had never in his life landed on an aircraft carrier, climbed out and strutted like a proud Texas rooster."

See, facts are FUN.

dvwjr