Yesterday’s Air Force: The president’s pilot Published Sept. 7, 2016 By Air Force TV FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) – During the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the president was hundreds of miles away from the nation’s capital. The pilot and crew of Air Force One made sure the president stayed safe and got where he needed to be to lead the country. Yesterday's Air Force is a history and heritage featurette series profiling significant people and missions from the Air Force's past.