The question wasn't if the callsign was changed. The question was if the radar could determine the type of aircraft. I don't believe aircraft can be determined. David R > I am sure AF1 changes the name of the aircraft for security. Bob > > Bob Fletcher > Robert.Fletcher@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx > MILITARY DESIGN SECTION > 10th Floor SW, CUBE 134 > (916) 557-7235, > 1325 J Street, Sacramento, > CA. 95814-2922 > > > -----Original Message----- > From: mgreenwood@xxxxxxxxx [mailto:mgreenwood@xxxxxxxxx] > Sent: Friday, December 05, 2003 1:28 PM > To: AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: Radar > > > Does anyone on the list know if ATC can tell an aircraft type by the blip > that > shows up on the radar screen? When AF1 was travelling to Iraq, it was filed > as > a Gulfstream in the flight plan. Apparently a British pilot saw it over > British Airspace and asked British ATC if it was in fact Air Force One. ATC > gave the party line, and replies that it was a gulfstream. Would ATC have > known it was AF1 or would the White House have contacted all of the > countries > whose airspace AF1 would have travelled through and asked them to go along > with > the story? > > Mark