> >Latest radio news here is that the 4th plane was intended to target
> >Airforce 1.
> >Whether this is true or can ever be proved is another matter.

> At a rough estimate, the time and distance to intercept AF-1 sounds about
> right if GWB had returned directly from Florida to Andrews (as he was
> probably expected to do).
>
> By that time, however, I would hope that AF-1 would have had fighter
escort.


I'm told, but don't know if true, that AF1 always has a fighter escort when
in "serious mode" and that it is equipped with chaff and flares and also its
own missiles. (The latter, if present,  are certainly not visible but it
would not be hard to do this if desired).  Given that it has just on
supersonic capability it would be a hard target to catch with any other
airliner - even before you got to its friends and its teeth. It didn't SEEM
to have fighters when it turned up here but our boys could have been lurking
nearby and the threat here would be extremely minimal.

I'm glad that we never found out the true target of the 4th plane but sad
for the folks who died making it so. I hope you will all give them some
special form of recognition in due course. Won't help them of course but
will make their families and their countrymen stand a little taller.



                Russell McMahon

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