Air Force One question
 

On Inauguration Day the VC-25 usually known as AF1 flew Mr. Bush to Midland TX as SAM 28000. The media reported the unit Col would retire after that flight. Was this his normal rotation/retire date? I've been told Mr. Bush has been fond of the AF1 and Marine 1 crews. Is there a story behind the story?

No politics please just the mil side.

SC

They might of meant that Col Tilman would be making his last flight in charge of Air Force One because everytime a new president gets elected, he gets a new crew to fly his plane.

Mark Tillman is an old friend and classmate of mine. He retires at 30 years as of this May and the Senate did not take up his promotion to BG. I read that he has taken a job in Scottsdale in the corporate flight department of Discount Tire.

Wasn't that Tillman on the AF1 NatGeo special? Great job.

Why did the Senate not confirm him? After flying AF1 the next has a lot to live up to!!

Why didn't he get promoted? Simple - because flying airplanes is hazardous to your air force career!

I would have sworn that I heard him say on that documentary that he would be moving to the right seat and the first officer would be moving to the left seat after bush left office. Maybe he meant until May when he retires. Or maybe I just heard him incorrectly.

I think that is just for the flight back to Andrews after he flew Bush Back to Texas for the last time.

Ain't it the truth......

Did he not get selected, or not get confirmed...big difference.

Yep.......after your first 10 years it becomes the "US DESK FORCE". The AIR has nothing to do with it at that point. Want to ruin your career? Stay in the air! :o