In one respect, America's aeronautical myth has to wheedle its way around a flagrant contradiction: Air Force One carries the commander-in-chief, but he is not in command of the plane.
Such a system could be used in an emergency to take command of the plane and steer it safely to the ground, he said.
The "Scooter" or "Bantam Bomber," as the A-4 was nicknamed, was equipped with analog controls that left the pilot in command of the attack plane's every twitch as he guided it down for what remains probably the toughest trick in flying: landing a jet airplane on the tiny deck of an aircraft carrier bobbing about in the ocean, scores of miles from land.
Whatever caused the co-pilot to begin his heavy use of the rudder, the cockpit voice recorder shows no sign that the captain who was in command, but not in control of the plane, objected.
Re "As Athletic Directors Compete, Big Money Flows to All Sports," Sept. 3: The University of Florida athletic director has a $1.2 million contract, a budget of almost $95 million and "command of three private planes"; the softball coach makes $250,000.
The Americans had said the planes were under the command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which has a history of more aggressive behavior than the conventional air force and navy.
The two planes were under the command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, whose activities are routinely more aggressive than those of the conventional Iranian Air Force.
GAINESVILLE, Fla .— He has a budget of almost $95 million, growing fast, and command of three private planes.
Vasey had been killed in a plane crash just off the coast of Cairns, while en route to assume command of the 6th Division in New Guinea.
