Wednesday afternoon, I drove over to Love Field to see the President's plane and motorcade. This would be my fourth for President Obama's arrival. The difference between this visit and the three previous was actually three-fold in differences.
For one, the previous trips the President has made were in early afternoons. This trip was late afternoon with the President's plane touching down almost on the dot of 5P.M. Sunset was a bit shy of 5:30, so the late afternoon sun was already casting long deep shadows.
Second, a strong cold front had passed during the early part of mid morning and the winds were coming out of the northwest. What that means to regional airports is that the airports are "flipped". When an airport is flipped by ATC (Air Traffic Control) it changes the approach and departure patterns. So normal landings at Love Field on 13L and 13R become 31R and 31L. The previous times, the President's plane has made that long graceful approach from the approach dogleg out over 635 into the runway that runs behind the Frontier of Flight Museum and the fork of Lemmon Avenue known as 13L. But, because of the wind direction on Wednesday, Air Force One made its approach over downtown in between Cedar Springs and Denton/Maple Avenue or 31L.
Finally, the one thing that really stood out on this trip more than any other trips in the past that I have attended was an enterprising young man selling a full pole of cotton candy! Now, who says that the President hasn't created free enterprise and job creation?
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| A gentleman buys one for his lovely wife. |
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| A little self indulgence is needed after a busy day |
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| Landing on Runway 31L at Love Field. |
