Obama in Long Beach

Not Afraid · 03-19-2009, 08:22 PM

So, thus evening I'm driving about LB/Lakewood going from house to house as if I was Santa on Christmas, when I end up by the airport. There was some sort of hubbub going on and I figured that people were gathering to see AF1 take off. I continue on my merry way, turning up Cherry from Spring when I happen to see AF1 posing for pictures on the tarmac. So, knowing the backroads of LB like I do, I took a turn onto Wardlow where it deadends at Boeing and the Airport and, Waa Laa!, AF1 was RIGHT in front of me. I pulled out my camera, opened my sunroof and did some random shooting-while driving-with-many-of-cops-around just as the bease started moving faster and faster. It took off in the "wrong" direction (going South/East). Then I went on about my merry way again.

A few minutes later I was at a client house when LOOK! UP THERE! IN THE SKY! IT'S AF1 CIRCLING BACK.

It was cool.

Moonliner · 03-20-2009, 03:35 AM

It's funny, even living here I have never seen air force one. Marine One flies over all the time, but I really do need to catch sight of Air Force One one of these days...

lindyhop · 03-20-2009, 11:21 AM

I live about two miles north of LB airport and was going to be home so I drove down the street just after 5:00 in hopes of seeing Air Force One take off. I wasn't going to go to any great effort to get close to the airport but I thought the parking lots of either Walmart or Kohls (about half a mile from the runway) should be a good vantage point if the plane used the usual flight pattern. I parked near Kohls and then watched other cars pulling in and people jumping out of their cars and heading down the street. Two big helicopters flew just a little to the west of where I was standing and I could see all the dust flying up when they landed. Then a huge helicopter flew over from the north, directly above me and quite low. A fourth one flew in a few minutes later. I've decided Marine One was the one that buzzed me just because it was enormous and because I like believing that.

The helicopters obviously got everyone's attention because cars really started coming in but the street was blocked just a little way ahead. I waited ready to take a picture of the plane taking off but there was nothing and then everyone started coming back so I knew the plane had gone the other direction. Oh well, seeing the helicopters was fun.

It was incredible how many people came walking back from close to the airport. I like that kind of spontaneous mass event.

03-19-2009, 08:22 PM	#1
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	So, thus evening I'm driving about LB/Lakewood going from house to house as if I was Santa on Christmas, when I end up by the airport. There was some sort of hubbub going on and I figured that people were gathering to see AF1 take off. I continue on my merry way, turning up Cherry from Spring when I happen to see AF1 posing for pictures on the tarmac. So, knowing the backroads of LB like I do, I took a turn onto Wardlow where it deadends at Boeing and the Airport and, Waa Laa!, AF1 was RIGHT in front of me. I pulled out my camera, opened my sunroof and did some random shooting-while driving-with-many-of-cops-around just as the bease started moving faster and faster. It took off in the "wrong" direction (going South/East). Then I went on about my merry way again. A few minutes later I was at a client house when LOOK! UP THERE! IN THE SKY! IT'S AF1 CIRCLING BACK. It was cool.
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03-20-2009, 03:35 AM	#2
Moonliner 8/30/14 - Disneyland -10k or Bust. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 9,022	It's funny, even living here I have never seen air force one. Marine One flies over all the time, but I really do need to catch sight of Air Force One one of these days... __________________ - Taking it one step at a time.
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03-20-2009, 11:21 AM	#3
lindyhop Swing Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 997	I live about two miles north of LB airport and was going to be home so I drove down the street just after 5:00 in hopes of seeing Air Force One take off. I wasn't going to go to any great effort to get close to the airport but I thought the parking lots of either Walmart or Kohls (about half a mile from the runway) should be a good vantage point if the plane used the usual flight pattern. I parked near Kohls and then watched other cars pulling in and people jumping out of their cars and heading down the street. Two big helicopters flew just a little to the west of where I was standing and I could see all the dust flying up when they landed. Then a huge helicopter flew over from the north, directly above me and quite low. A fourth one flew in a few minutes later. I've decided Marine One was the one that buzzed me just because it was enormous and because I like believing that. The helicopters obviously got everyone's attention because cars really started coming in but the street was blocked just a little way ahead. I waited ready to take a picture of the plane taking off but there was nothing and then everyone started coming back so I knew the plane had gone the other direction. Oh well, seeing the helicopters was fun. It was incredible how many people came walking back from close to the airport. I like that kind of spontaneous mass event. __________________ Hyperbole is the best thing ever!
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