Althouse: The Air Force 1 flight over NYC can't possibly have been made for the purpose of taking that photograph.

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2009/05/air-force-1-flight-over-nyc-cant.html

But look at the picture. Why would people going to all this trouble and expense to get a photograph that looked so awful?

Right.  I don't think this snafu was about the picture -- that's just the cover (up) story.  It's much more likely that a group of community organizers were taking a joy ride as a reward for their political and financial support.  Sooner or later someone is going to let the real story slip out.  Who was really on that plane?