FR EXCLUSIVE: INTERVIEW WITH HIGH LEVEL NAVY COMMANDER REGARDING PRESIDENT BUSH'S TAILHOOK LANDING

a Navy commander | May 9., 2003 | dfu

[doug from upland]

After listening to the rantings and ravings of the DemocRATS who are both jealous and livid after seeing a beloved commander in chief do a tailhook landing on the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, I wanted to get the real story.

After about 5 calls and transfers and return calls, I just spoke with a Navy commander who deals with public relations. He is very high level, but because this issue is so sensitive, I agreed that I would not use his name.

When asked whether the visit of the president delayed the arrival of the Lincoln, the answer was a resounding "Absolutely not!" The Lincoln arrived when it was scheduled to arrive. Ships slow down and speed up all the time.

The Navy does not have its ships land early. No. It is just not done. It is a logistical nightmare. Tugs and other port services have to be arranged. In 1991, the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT arrived 20 hours early off the coast of Virginia. It sat out there looking at land for 20 hours. And they never come to port at night.

There were 20-25,000 families and friends expecting to watch the return of the ship and greet their loved ones.

"Psychologically," said the commander, "it would have been a nightmare. People made plane reservations, hotel reservations, long trips by car. Imagine what it would have been like for them to arrive to meet there loved ones, but it turned out that they came a day late for the event. We would have had 20-25,000 people really angry with the U.S. Navy."

The commander gave me his worst scenario for a public relations nightmare. It would be a grandma who drove all the way from Des Moines to see her grandson arrive, only to be told that she didn't make it in time; that they decided to come to port early. What do they say to her?

The commander is amazed at this flap, which has been totally invented by the media. This should be a non-issue with them. Some in the media were sworn to silence, and they were given the May 2 date about 3-4 weeks ago. They knew it would be coming to port at that time. At the appropriate time, the crew and families were notified. You just do not change the date.

As to the landing on a Viking rather than Marine One. The costs are roughly the same. Fuel and other costs for that Viking were already allocated and spent. If the President was not aboard that plane, it would have made a landing on the ship anyway. It would have done so sooner or later because it was in the budget to do it.

What has been lost in all of this, according to the commander, is that it was the Navy's idea for the President to come aboard and make a tailhook landing. They opted for an F-18. Because of security, however, the White House opted for the Viking, a 4-seater which could accommodate Secret Service.

"We would do this again," said the commander. "Ever since President Franklin Roosevelt, every president has landed aboard a Navy ship."

We finished with a laugh at the media. Members of congress and journalists are flown in and not charged. And these are the people creating an issue where none should exist.

[Valin]

They opted for an F-18. Because of security, however, the White House opted for the Viking, a 4-seater which could accommodate Secret Service.

I would have LOVED to have been a fly on the wall when this was first broached to the SS. You want too WHAT!! Or for that matter to the first lady.

What's the use of being president if you can't do stuff like this? Makes up for all the rubber chicken he has to eat.

[Valin]

The real issue is whether wire #4 is the first or last cable you come to upon landing. A poster said it is the first, and several jumped on that saying it is the last. Don't know if the question was ever officially FResolved.

The fate of western civilization hang in the balance!

[doug from upland]

I think it was resolved that No. 4 is the last one. Thank goodness they didn't go swimming. The Secret Service and Laura would not have found that cute.

[supercat]

I think it was resolved that No. 4 is the last one. Thank goodness they didn't go swimming. The Secret Service and Laura would not have found that cute.

If #4 misses, would the plane have enough speed to take off again and circle around? I know that there are times when there is no clearance past the #4 wire and a plane that misses it will hit either another aircraft or a barrier set up to protect other aircraft, but for this mission was the deck cleared to allow a fly-by if wire #4 was missed?

If so, hitting wire #4 would not necessarily be bad, since it would be better to err on the side of missing the landing than clobbering the deck.

[Valin]

Well I for one am glad that has been straightened out, I not going to kid I've lost a lot of sleep over this "controversy".

I wonder if George got "THE LOOK" when he told Laura the plan? Or possibly FFLF (Female Fun Limitation Factor) -
When a woman asks "Do you really think you should be doing that?"

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

As soon as the main gear touches the deck the throttle(s) are firewalled in case none of the cables are snagged. That is called a bolter. No aircraft are parked on the angled deck landing area during recovery ops and the barrier is only erected during emergency landings.

[JustPiper]

It would be nice to get press passes, wouldn't it?

I'd love to be right in the thick of our 5 day bio-terror exercise! Talk about a photo-op ;) I've been calling everyone I know here, to see who they know and although I know someone with City Hall pull, I am a registered Republican, so in Daley town that gets you nowhere ;)

[weegee]

BUMP!

Thanks for your report.

[bobsatwork]

"..which has been totally invented by the media"
Nice post. The phony issues were totally invented by the DNC, which started making mad-cat noises even before the landing took place. The media is just running with it.

[abclily]

The liberal media knew all of this already. Elite liberals lie and count on the common person not to know the difference. We know the difference. We have stopped listening to them. Apparently they are not aware of their small audience.

[Wolverine]

Democrats are pissed THAT THIS WON'T HAPPEN IN 2004

 

[Lockbox]

The following is a letter from CWO Jim Wright, who lives in Huntington, WV to his Senator. Jim doesn't pull any punches and his letter reflects the way many of us feel.

OUCH

[Libertina]

Thanks for the work and the ping, you two... the left knows NO shame. And if people would take a second to reason this out themselves they would have also known it was a 'non-issue!"

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Life is filled with all these nagging little questions. One mystery down, 9 gazillion to go. Thanks.

Not a problem, I've got a gazillion answers, and will supply one even when I have no idea what I'm talking about! ;-)

[SevenofNine]

Hey Doug this is pilot that carry Dubya on that fighter jet ALRIGHT Rack the pilot actually I was wonder why dude didn't go on Fox news really lay smack chat on Demos and other critiging

First of all Dubya was IN TEXAS National Guard he has basic of being fighter pilot HELLO

That something to start with

Least Dubya has some flying expereince

Unlike Clinton who jealous not flying MIG plane in Russia

[AgThorn]

[M Kehoe]

#206

Great shot.

5.56mm

[Arpege92]

Laura is a lucky lady!

[GretchenEE]

thx for the diligent good work

[summer]

Thanks for this interesting report, Doug.

It seemed to me the media was protesting way too much over this. After all, GW is the president -- as well as our nation's Commander in Chief!

PS BTW, I always enjoy reading FR Exclusives! :)