The Eagle has Landed. President Obama in Canberra.

The President of the United States, or POTUS as it's shortened to, arrived in Canberra today.  Air Force One was supposed to touch down at Fairbairn at 3.25pm, but he arrived early, with his distinctive blue and white plane appearing over the hills of Canberra at 3.06pm.  I watched the plane land from Mount Ainslie.  I expected a fair few people to turn up, but admit to being surprised by the numbers, and the fact that the plane arrived 20 mins early that scheduled meant that there could well have been still more.  The photographs of the plane itself aren't brilliant, because we were a long way away on a hazy and cloudy day.  Many of the roads were blocked off, but in hindsight I could have gotten a better image from a closer vantage point, because there were people much much closer than I thought they would have allowed, so there is the chance of something better tomorrow.  

It was all very exciting then at Parliament House.  I was back with many of the other media, as only a select group were allowed up, and so again, the images of the President himself are still from a decent distance away, but I liked all the images of the crowd, and the expectation.  It's clearly evident what a big deal this was, and I was pleased to be out and about in it.

A woman and her young baby arrive at Mt Ainslie to see Air Force One land.


Military training.  They weren't there to hunt us off the mountain!

Spectators

3.05pm, as a spectator checks his iPhone


Air Force One appears in the distance


The Eagle Has Landed..  President Obama touches down on Australian Soil in Air Force One at Canberra Airport.




Motorcade crossing Commonwealth Avenue and the signature fountain.
The Beast.  President Obama's vehicle.  Alas he's on the other side!




21 Gun Salute for the President


President Barack Obama.


A spectator.  There were lots of cameras!







The Australian Federal Police.  Out in force.


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