Barbara was at her station when Air Force 29000 crossed her airspace. At flight level 31 the Boeing was on a S.S.W heading at 550 knots.
She knew the president was not aboard or it would be showing the call sign Air Force One and be trailed by a pair of 1st Fighter Wing F15 Eagles protecting its 6 o'clock.
She knew Major Tom McLean would be sitting in the left seat guiding the big bird on its mission.
"Air Force 2900, I have you on my screen and you are cleared on your present heading until you enter Florida air traffic control's area. Have a nice day Sir," Barbara notified the Presidential transport.
"Roger that! You have a great day too Mam!" Tom acknowledged.
F.A.A. regs forbid personal communication on u.h.f. radio traffic but Barb pictured the young Major at the controls with a big smile on his face.
Barb and Major McLean had first met three months ago at a Washington D.C. Air Traffic Controllers' Seminar. The seminars were held at intervals to familiarize controllers and pilots with each other's perspective of operations.
Barb had attended unaccompanied by her husband and Tom McLean, Air Force One's lead captain also attended without his pretty wife Danielle.
The meetings were being held at the Washington Fairmount Hotel where Barb was sharing a room with a coworker, June Caldwell also from Herndon A.T.C.
The F.A.A. had a hospitality suite set up on the third floor for the attendees to unwind after the day's meetings. Barbara decided to mingle for a while in the hospitality suite before turning in for the night.
She saw Tom McLean when she entered. She recognized him as the Air Force One's captain even though he was in civilian clothes. McLean was exchanging tales with a handful of fellow pilots.
Barb went to the bar and requested gin and Wink, her favorite drink. With her drink in her hand she made her way through the dozen or so drinkers present.
Eventually McLean approached Barbara and introduced himself. After exchanging niceties they began giving their personal information to each other.
McLean was a career U.S.A.F. officer attached to the 89th airlift wing at Andrews Air Force Base and assigned to flying Air Force One out of Ronald Regan Memorial Field. McLean had jockeyed the Presidential Boeing around the world delivering the President and his entourage to several state visits and international functions. He boasted to Barbara that during his last two years he had logged over 1000 flying hours at the controls of the large Boeing jetliner.
Barbara's career was quite mundane compared to McLean's. Graduating college in her hometown Chicago she had been accepted for training at the Air Traffic Training facility in Herndon Virginia and been assigned the Herndon A.T.C. center upon graduating. She had met her husband there, who was her crew chief, and they had been married soon after a whirlwind courtship. They had one two-year-old daughter who was being cared for by her husband's mother during Barbara's absence.
Barbara was not a particularly attractive woman; she had lovely blonde hair and an ample bust that attracted men's eyes. It was mostly he friendly outgoing personality that drew people to become her friends. She was honest and considerate and tried not to hurt anyone's feelings if she could help it, always had a cheerful "hello" and a listening ear.
