T
Story and Photos by Scott Jankowski
My hometown of Milwaukee Wisconsin hosted the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC) held on July 15th, 2024, thru July 18th, 2024, and naturally it brought an influx of unique airlines and aircraft with it. A convention of the scope and importance like this one, with several thousand delegates and VIP’s from all across the country needing some form of transportation to get here, the majority used transportation via Air. The majority of these delegates and VIP’s used General Mitchell International Airport as their final destination which is a short 8 miles away from the Fiserv Forum, the convention’s location. Security was a top priority at such a high-profile event such as this, all of Law Enforcement Agencies that provided support also used General Mitchell International Airport as its airport of choice if air transportation was needed. In this article we will take a closer look at some of the unique and more common visitors to Milwaukee up to, during, and after this convention.
General Mitchell International Airport was ready for the major influx of passengers and aircraft movements by creating a master plan that included close coordination with the three Fixed Base Operators (FBO’s), the 128TH Air Refueling Wing (ARW), as well as local and federal government agencies. This plan included turning runways 13/31 and 7 Left/25 Right into aircraft parking, as well as established taxi routes with one way in and one way out of the Avflight and Signature Flight Support ramps. The Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 128th Air Refueling Wing in coordination with Volk Air National Guard Base moved some of their Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers and personnel up to Volk in order to provide ramp space and support to for larger commercial airliners.
The 128th Air Refueling Wing which is located on the east side of the airport, adjacent to Runway 25 Left/7 Right handled many unique aircraft during the week of the convention. These included a 2007 built Boeing 777-2V8ER, registered N846AX, operated by Omni Air International Airlines.
The 128th Air Refueling Wing (ARW) handled two of the most high-profile VIP aircraft of the entire week as they offered the security that the Republican nominee for President and Vice President needed. The Vice-Presidential nominee J.D. Vance will be using a 2002 built Boeing 737-86J, registered N917XA, and operated by Eastern Air Express. This aircraft was fresh out of the paint shop when it arrived on Thursday afternoon July 18th on Runway 7 Right. This 737 carriers dual Trump Vance titles and their campaign slogan of “Make America Great Again” along with an American Flag on the tail.
Probably the highest profile VIP was the Republican Nominee for President, the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. His beautifully painted 1991 vintage Boeing 757-254, registered N757AF landed at Milwaukee on the Sunday before the convention began and remained parked at the 128th Air Refueling Wing the entire week. This has been President Trump’s personal aircraft since 2010, and carries the Trump name along with a large American Flag on the tail.
The three FBO’s (Fixed Base Operator’s) at Mitchell Avflight, Jet out, and Signature handled all high-profile VIP’s arriving via business jet and prop aircraft, they also accommodated some commercial airliner size traffic before, during and after the convention. Each of the three FBO’s handled numerous Beechcraft, Cessna, Falcon Jet, Gulfstream, Hawker, Honda Jet, and Pilatus type aircraft.
The Signature FBO had several notable visitors that included the 1991 built Boeing 767-336ER, registered N705KW and flown by Eastern Airlines which is seen departing for Kansas City. Signature also hosted a 2013 built Embraer EMB-145XR, registered N286FM, and operated by Key Lime Air. This aircraft still wears the livery of its original owner and operator the Intel Corporation which used this aircraft as a corporate shuttle. Signature also handled first time visitor to Milwaukee a 1993 built Boeing 767-3P6ER, registered N804MS, which is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Sands.
The most unique visitor to the Signature FBO was a 1989 manufactured Boeing 757-223, registered N874TW, and currently operated by the United States Department of Justice and using the callsign “Jena”. This 757 is seen on the day after the convention ended departing for Richmond Virginia.
Another notable set of charter aircraft included several locally based, Freight Runners/ Air Charter Express Saab-2000’s including 1993 built N508FR, 1995 built N521FR, and 1996 built N542FR. All three departed on the day after the convention ended for Washington Dulles International Airport.
National Airlines provided a 2009 built Airbus A330-200, registered N819CA. This A330 arrived on the Friday after the convention ended from Lawton Oklahoma and departed to Washington Dulles International Airport. This charter flight actually used the International Arrivals Building along with its lone jetway.
Other notable charter flights included Allegiant Airlines with a mix of Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft, Avelo Airlines with Boeing 737-800’s, Breeze Airlines with Embraer E-190’s, and Eastern Air Express with Boeing 737-700’s. These charters used both the services of Avflight and also used the services of the 128th Air Refueling Wing.
**Please note the Avelo 737-800 is a file image **
Commercial airlines also added additional flights, temporarily added new cities and upgraded aircraft size during the convention. American Airlines added service to New York La Guardia with Boeing 737-800’s, along with upgrading flights from Washington Reagan National Airport from Mitsubishi CRJ-700’s to Boeing 737-800’s as well. United Airlines offered the biggest amount of service upgrades during the convention. United and its regional airlines SkyWest and Mesa added new service to both Washington Dulles International and Washington Reagan National Airports. Additional flights were added to Chicago O’Hare, Denver, and Newark airports with a mix of Mainline and Regional Jets. United also upgraded the equipment on many existing flights from Embraer 170 and 175 aircraft to a mix of Boeing 737 and Airbus types specifically to and from Chicago O’Hare and Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport. One very welcome visitor was the 23-year-old Airbus A320-232, registered N475UA, and flown by United Airlines. This A320-232 wears United’s Stars and Bars livery and is seen arriving from Houston at gate C-10.
The U.S. Military also played a vital role maintaining security during the convention, with United States Coast Guard providing personal on the water and in the air. The Coast Guard used a newly delivered Lockheed HC-130J Hercules, nose number 2015, and based at Elizabeth City North Carolina to ferry personnel into Milwaukee. United States Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City Michigan provided air support over the convention site and surrounding areas using the Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter. A TFR or Temporary Flight Restriction was put in place in the airspace surrounding the city during the convention, this advised pilots that airspace restrictions are in place for certain time periods during the convention. This TFR was enforced by Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II’s flown by the United States Air Force and supported by Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers. These F-35’s flew a CAP (Combat Air Patrol) over the city during the convention in order to keep unauthorized aircraft out of the TFR area. These F-35’s would be called on three times to escort private aircraft out of the TFR during the convention week.
** Please note that these are file images of F-35 and KC-135R aircraft**
General Mitchell International Airport handled the influx of passengers and traffic with skill and precision, with the busiest day being the Friday after the convention ended. On this day on top of the regular Friday traffic, increased volume due to convention traffic, several airlines having multiple system issues due a flawed Microsoft update, the airport also had to deal with an inflight emergency with a P-51 Mustang heading to EAA AirVenture with engine issues. Despite all of these challenges everything ran as smoothly as possible due to the coordination of the airport and all of the pertinent parties that had a hand in helping to ensure convention traffic flowed properly. Until next time, “Blue Skies to All!”
