[Scan-DC] slow plane at Andrews

[Dewey]

It's very interesting that this conversation is happening.  Several years
ago, a co-worker told me that he didn't care what anyone said, there was
technology that the gov't would not tell us because he PERSONALLY saw AF-1
standing still once in the Andrews area.  Being an aviation buff who has
also taken an intro flight, I just didn't see HOW this was at all possible,
and always thought him to be a little cook-coo when I would see him (he
still always remained a good friend).  Well, I haven't talked to him in
quite a while, but the conversation here has restored my confidence in him
:)

Dewey


-----Original Message-----
From: scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Joel Kahn
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2011 09:52
To: scan-dc at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] slow plane at Andrews

Rick & Cathy:

I, too, have had a similar experience when I used to drive on MD 450 near
Bowie. Looking West toward Andrews, you could see these HUGE planes just
hanging there!  I actually pulled onto the shoulder (when the turf farm was
there that is now a shopping center & houses!) and watched for several
minutes. What I realized was that the combination of plane size, direction
and atmospherics were all in play there.  The plane was coming in for a
landing, so air speed was reduced, but because it was so low to the horizon
and yet at a fairly large distance, the atmosphere magnified the size to
appear 3 or 4 times larger than the actual plane (usually a large cargo
plane coming from Germany/Europe) the direction was slightly away from
horizontal, so it appeared slower, again magnified by the position on the
horizon.  It seemed to take forever, so I timed it and within three minutes
it was gone, so it was not really unusually slow.  It is a really freaky
occurrence when you see it.

jk