Monday, March 14 –In at 8:30, significant fog all around the airport. The day was charged with the anticipation of Candidate Clinton’s arrival at the Horizon Aviation ramp. MANY advance people were obvious. I was asked to unlock all the locked AKM rooms upstairs so a bomb-sniffing dog could inspect each one, and I did promptly and gladly. Left them unlocked and wide open for the rest of the day. Closed and re-locked them shortly before heading home. Produced Part 4 of the Gallery of Flight series about President Obama’s February 10 visit. Processed and sorted photos all day; did not leave my office until the candidate’s plane, a Gulfstream G.V, was due, about 2:30. Walked to the far end of the rent-a-car parking lot and phot’d the media aircraft, a Dornier 328Jet as it arrived. Candidate’s G.V arrived a 15 minutes later. Phot’d it from behind the fence as well. There were no problems at all. People were nice. While the candidate was in Springfield, some Secret Service people, the flight crew of the 328Jet and pilot of the G.V visited the Welcome Room at different times and we had terrific conversations. The 328 crew invited me out to their bird and showed it to me inside and out. Great visit. Also took some distant pics fo the G.V, but the angle, parked as it was, was sub-nominal. NOT a big deal. I knew I’d have a better angle and good sun when it departed the ramp, and I did. It was all over by 5:15 or so and I was generally satisfied with the encounters, especially with the security and flight crews. Processed pictures the rest of the day, departed for grocer and home at 9:00, hungry and tired, but okay. Day rating: A.
As I post this Tuesday morning I have only two pictures to share and many more to process which I will share in an AKM Gallery of Flight blog and here in the days ahead.
Have a great day!
Abe Lincoln's Air Force 