Obama to Australia

[mickk]

Press has announced BO for Indonesia March 20-22.

[Jim W]

Press has announced BO for Indonesia March 20-22.

Yep and then to OZ

[mickk]

Then I assume hes going guam, indo, oz.

Be a hard one to work out. Usual custom is for Prez to leave as soon as the last do is over. He doesnt need to sleep in a hotel and catch a morning flight. Id guess they will plan for

I cant find the agenda as yet for the indo meetings. Whats the flight time from jakarta to canberra? I assume it wont refuel en route. I think its about 10 hours jak, per, syd, can, but how much shorter in a straight line? Then theres the time change, too hard for me to work out. Id guess after a dinner leave indo 10-11pm local time and get in to canberra for brekky?

Gotta try and work this out asap so I can book a flight!

[mickk]

double post

[Richard G]

Funny that I read somewhere Australia first (Canberrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrra & Syd only for 2 days) then off to Indon but you can never trust the press!

[Jim W]

I believe, due CBR on the night of 22nd

[mickk]

Night of the 22nd, geeze darkenss is no good, but that would mean the transports would get in during the afternoon, if they leave one copy in indo and send the advance party.....in advance? I think they have two of everything from memory.

[Chris Thurtell]

Night of the 22nd, geeze darkenss is no good, but that would mean the transports would get in during the afternoon, if they leave one copy in indo and send the advance party.....in advance? I think they have two of everything from memory.

Transports will be coming and going the week before his arrival

[Richard G]

Well with the first of our Rhino's supposed to depart the States on or about the 19th March and "Barry" rocking into our region at about the same time, it wasn't too far fetched to stretch the imagination that perhaps our first Super Hornets would escort Airforce One TRANSPAC.

Shaping up to be ONE historical visit for aviation enthusiasts is what I will say...if press reports are accurate...

Jim W you were on the money with the Rhino's !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From The Australian http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/ra ... 5837132059

RAAF's Super Hornets locked in for escort duty for Obama visit

Mark Dodd From: The Australian March 05, 2010 12:00AM

FOUR of the RAAF's new Super Hornet fighters, just off the assembly line at the Boeing factory in St Louis, will escort Air Force One on the flight from the US to Canberra when Barack Obama visits this month.

The US President will arrive in Canberra on March 23 on his first official visit to Australia. He will address a joint sitting of federal parliament, which will be recalled for a special two-day session.

On March 22, both the House of Representatives and the Senate will sit to deal with government business, including question time.

The F/A-18F Super Hornets will be the latest additions to the air force's jet fleet and will replace the ageing F-111 strike aircraft that are scheduled for retirement by the end of the year.

The multi-role jets have been going through work-up trials, including air-to-air refuelling in California in preparation for the inaugural trans-Pacific flight. It is not known if they will be armed for their VIP escort mission.

Details of Mr Obama's visit came as Leader of the House Anthony Albanese confirmed yesterday that Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would arrive in Canberra next Wednesday.

Government business will be suspended at noon for an official luncheon in the Great Hall of parliament before Dr Yudhoyono delivers an address in the House of Representatives with both lower and upper house members present. It will be the second visit to Australia by the leader of the world's most populous Muslim country and the first since his re-election last year.

Dr Yudhoyono's talks with Kevin Rudd are expected to centre on climate change, terrorism, world and regional economic issues and people-smuggling.

The fate of the Australian drug smugglers on death row in Indonesia is also likely to be raised.

-----------------------------------------------------------

SMH raises possibility of a delayed trip http://www.smh.com.au/world/president-s ... -plt0.html:

Mr Obama, with his family, is expected to arrive in Australia on March 22 for a three-day tour after visiting Guam and Indonesia. But some fellow Democrats have expressed concern that the President's absence will come during the critical final act of his revamp of the healthcare system, which is expected to extend health insurance coverage to an extra 30 million Americans.

[mickk]

Looks like the cheapest option around from melb is 200 bucks to get in to canberra around 8.30pm 22/3 and leave 6.30 am the next day. Cant see much daylight there.

Above this is around 5 or 6 hunge to basically do what you like when you like.

Whats your thoughts? Will there be enough to see if you fluke departure to justify the cost? or just wait for TV. I would expect arrival and departure to be live on TV.

[Richard G]

Well now, media are reporting RAAF Rhino's won't be escorting AF1 across the Pac - looks like the earlier media reports were bull...

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-wo ... -pn6i.html

At an unveiling of the RAAF-branded F/A-18F Super Hornets at the US Naval Air Station in Lemoore, central California, senior RAAF personnel rejected reports that Australian-piloted Super Hornets would escort Mr Obama across the Pacific for his first visit to Australia.

"No, there's no plans," RAAF Group Captain Steve "Zed" Roberton told reporters on Thursday.

....

The plan is to fly the first four or five Super Hornets to Australia in late March, with stops in Hawaii and Auckland.

NZ Spotters won't mind the stop in Auckland if that eventuates.

[Jim W]

Still expected in CBR though

[mickk]

Now press is hinting visit may be delayed. Prolly a ruse to keep spotters at home! I think my best bet is pay on the day.

[Mick.B]

There is no way the Rhinos will escort Obama. Media Bull****.

[Chris Thurtell]

Obama to delay departure for Asia trip

http://www.theage.com.au/world/obama-to ... -q4k5.html

US President Barack Obama will delay his departure on a trip to Indonesia and Australia by three days until Sunday, March 21, as he battles for health care reform.

Well... that does make things interesting for the CBR open day now.