I agree with the statement that the type of aircraft can not be identified, Look at our stealth aircraft, some cross sections are not even picked up, by the same token, the cross section of a B-52 stands out like the Empire State Bldg, You still can not identify it. When I was stationed in Iceland, we tracked the Russian Bear, TU-95, F-4s from a base in the southern part of Iceland escorted it back where it came from. We saw it only as a blip on the screen. But then again, Radar systems have improved 100%. 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: damiross2@xxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:damiross2@xxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Friday, December 05, 2003 1:38 PM To: The Airline List; Fletcher, Robert Subject: Re: [AIRLINE] Radar 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