The First Casualty

59

“Colonel,” the blonde flight engineer said, “time to switch tanks.”

At cruise, the 747 burned a gallon of fuel every second. With six separate tanks in the wings, one in the body of the aircraft and an auxiliary in the tail’s horizontal stabilizer, allowing a disparity in the amount of jet fuel in any one tank would cause an imbalance of weight, hence the necessity of periodically alternating between the corresponding numbered tanks in left and right wings. The fuselage tank was used mainly for takeoffs and landings, the one in the tail should an additional 350 miles need to be added to the trip to reach an alternate.

Colonel Hasty touched the transmit button on the intra-cockpit communication system. “OK, Captain, switch to both number twos. Major, we’re coming up on Hamid. Give Gibraltar a call.”

Unlike most military aircraft, Air Force One was equipped with both VHF and UHF radios, using the former for communications with civilian installations and the latter, more precise and reliable, for military. Since the president’s personal aircraft used almost exclusively civilian airports once outside the United Sates, the seemingly redundant equipment was necessary. Major Patterson’s voice filled Hasty’s headset. “Good morning, Gibraltar Center, U.S. Air Force One with you at flight level four-two-oh.”

The Irish accent was thick enough to be spread with a butter knife. “Top ’o the morning to you, too, Air Force One. We have you radar contact two-eight northwest of Hamid at flight level four-two-oh. Squawk two-zero-one-zero.”

“Two-zero-one-zero,” Patterson repeated, confirming the new transponder code as he entered it into the beacon-like device.

Hasty stretched in his seat. “I make a little more than 2,500 nautical.”

“Confirm that,” piped the flight engineer. “2,657 to be exact. If there are no changes in the winds aloft, we need to move the ETA up about forty minutes.”

Arriving before the host country had the normal bands, military ranks, and welcoming committee arrayed on the tarmac would create an international incident. More than once, Hasty had had to fly a holding pattern upon an early arrival. The waste of fuel appalled him.

“Major,” Hasty said to Patterson, “text our people in Cairo of the new ETA.”

“Yes, sir!”

“And make sure they acknowledge.”

Hasty hoped the premature ETA would be the biggest glitch the flight had to offer. He enjoyed excitement as much as the next person, just not on the job.