As far as I'm aware, any AF plane carrying POTUS can have the callsign AF1.
It's not restricted to any one plane.
One interesting point to note was that when uncle Joe flew to Delaware, that plane did not squawk as AF1.
Do you also not find it interesting that after many people pointed out the fact that he had not yet flown AF1, that they make a drama and a point of this?
For that short trip he could easily have flown in Marine 1, it would have been quicker than flying to Andrews first.
Correct, any plane (not rotary) carrying the current POTUS is automatically given call sign Air Force 1 or Air Force 2 carrying the VP. Even when it's just the family's of these have their own call sign. The fact that they didn't use that call sign is a tell, the squark would be assigned to them.
I think it would also be normal for there to be a back up aircraft with them, and possibly top cover in the form of fast air?
As far as I'm aware, any AF plane carrying POTUS can have the callsign AF1. It's not restricted to any one plane. One interesting point to note was that when uncle Joe flew to Delaware, that plane did not squawk as AF1. Do you also not find it interesting that after many people pointed out the fact that he had not yet flown AF1, that they make a drama and a point of this? For that short trip he could easily have flown in Marine 1, it would have been quicker than flying to Andrews first.
i think the main tell is the AF1 sign not so much the aircraft
if people say "any plane the president flies on is AF1"
then it shoulda been signed as AF1
the plane is irrelevant to some degree, especially for a short hop
why would you use a bloody great jumbo to move one man 200 miles, esp. when you are a New Green Deal ass circler....
but no call sign means the airforce doesn't give a damn....
Correct, any plane (not rotary) carrying the current POTUS is automatically given call sign Air Force 1 or Air Force 2 carrying the VP. Even when it's just the family's of these have their own call sign. The fact that they didn't use that call sign is a tell, the squark would be assigned to them.
I think it would also be normal for there to be a back up aircraft with them, and possibly top cover in the form of fast air?
Why does everyone say this? They even have a call sign when he is on a civilian plane. Executive One. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_One