[MilCom] AWACS President Support * Low Power WT Range with Airborne Units?

[Ken]

AWACS crews watch over president
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?storyID=123012883

Interesting story, I would imagine that flying at 30K feet they also would 
have been maintaining
communications with the President Bush's security detail, although the story 
doesn't specifically
state this.

Wondering if you had a 5 watt portable VHF/UHF unit on the ground, would it 
be feasible to
talk with the AWACS @30K?  Also what kind of range would you get normally 
(100 mile?)?

Ken