Al can correct me if I am wrong but you file a flight plan where you mention the aircraft type. The tail number or the flight number of the aircraft is in the flight plan also. FAA also assigns a "squawk code" to the flight number. It doesn't take to take to be a brain scientist to tie all this 3 information together. So, the flight plan for the AF1 that took Bush to Baghdad could have had Gulfstream V as an aircraft type. If you also file it is N99XX. That goes into the computer also. If your Gulfstream can perform like B747 , then there is nothing stoping you from filing a flight plan as GV and flyinga 747. But, despite all of these, I wouldn't be surprised if there was no flight plan at all.. BAHA Fan of finaly making home -----Original Message----- From: The Airline List [mailto:AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of RWM Sent: Friday, December 05, 2003 4:39 PM To: AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: Radar The aircraft "is" whatever is listed in the ATC flight data tag, which is based on the flight plan information. There MAY BE a separation question raised by this reported incident, if true, in that the traffic separation behind "heavy" jets is procedurally maintained longer than for light jets, including a G-V, due to the potential for upset due to wake turbulence/vortex. So, if the data tag was inaccurate, there MAY HAVE BEEN a separation issue. - Bob Mann mgreenwood@xxxxxxxxx wrote: > 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 -- R.W. Mann & Company, Inc. >> Airline Industry Analysis Port Washington, NY 11050 >> tel 516-944-0900, fax -7280 mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxx >> URL http://www.RWMann.com/ This e-mail is for the designated recipient only and may contain privileged or confidential information. If you have received it in error, please notify the above sender immediately then delete the original e-mail. Any other use of this e-mail is prohibited.