The Next Air Force One

[Walter Powers]

What model of plane do you think should be the American President's next private jet? The current Boeing 747-200s are getting kind of old. For those of you who aren't aware, we'll actually be buying two planes as we currently have two Air Force Ones for security reasons.

I'm personally leaning towards the new Boeing 747-8 Dreamlifter, which retails for $350 Million, because it's American and has worked for us in the past. Another option is the Boeing 787, and although they aren't out yet, new versions are coming out that will be large enough to accommodate the President. Finally, there is the prospect of a double decker Airbus A380, which goes for just over $400 million.

[sam927]

What model of plane do you think should be the American President's next private jet? The current Boeing 747-200s are getting kind of old. For those of you who aren't aware, we'll actually be buying two planes as we currently have two Air Force Ones for security reasons.

I'm personally leaning towards the new Boeing 747-8 Dreamlifter, which retails for $350 Million, because it's American and has worked for us in the past. Another option is the Boeing 787, and although they aren't out yet, new versions are coming out that will be large enough to accommodate the President. Finally, there is the prospect of a double decker Airbus A380, which goes for just over $400 million.

I think that the president should fly on an American plane, most likely the new 747-8. It would, however, be the first time an American president doesn't fly on the biggest and the best.

The A380 has several problems - first, it's a European aircraft. Second, it requires long runways and many airports aren't capable of accommodating it. This is also a problem with the 747-8, however it is not as demanding on runway space as an A380.

EDIT: The 787 has been out for a while -- but its had its share of technical glitches. Maybe a 747-8 and a 787 combination would be the best.

[Walter Powers]

I think that the president should fly on an American plane, most likely the new 747-8. It would, however, be the first time an American president doesn't fly on the biggest and the best.

The A380 has several problems - first, it's a European aircraft. Second, it requires long runways and many airports aren't capable of accommodating it. This is also a problem with the 747-8, however it is not as demanding on runway space as an A380.

EDIT: The 787 has been out for a while -- but its had its share of technical glitches. Maybe a 747-8 and a 787 combination would be the best.

The 787 has been out for a while. What I meant was that they are coming out with a larger version of the 787, which would give the president more room, and, well, look more impressive.

Also, they both need to be the same exact model. Unless you think we need four airplanes? The point of having multiple airplanes is so the president can transfer from one to the other without anybody noticing. The planes have to be the same model to do that. I saw a documentary on the process of transporting President Bush Jr. over the Middle East once.

[sam927]

The 787 has been out for a while. What I meant was that they are coming out with a larger version of the 787, which would give the president more room, and, well, look more impressive.

Also, they both need to be the same exact model. Unless you think we need four airplanes? The point of having multiple airplanes is so the president can transfer from one to the other without anybody noticing. The planes have to be the same model to do that. I saw a documentary on the process of transporting President Bush Jr. over the Middle East once.

Ah, sorry I misread and accidentally skipped of the rest of the sentence.
What's the AF is considering are 3x B748s. The A380 has lots of space but it just lacks the elegance of the 747-- the A380 is fugly.
I guess a more cost effective way would be to have 2x 748s and 1 777/787. I don't think that they would get rid of the 748s because 4 engines is safer than 2.

[Walter Powers]

Ah, sorry I misread and accidentally skipped of the rest of the sentence.
What's the AF is considering are 3x B748s. The A380 has lots of space but it just lacks the elegance of the 747-- the A380 is fugly.
I guess a more cost effective way would be to have 2x 748s and 1 777/787. I don't think that they would get rid of the 748s because 4 engines is safer than 2.

I was looking this up and they're actually is a Vice President's plane, Air Force Two. It's a modified 757. That accomplishes the task of a smaller airplane.

It just gets me how they trust a helicopter (Marine 1) with the President's life. In a plane if the engines fail, it'll glide. In a helicopter, it'll fall.

[pyropilot1668]

What model of plane do you think should be the American President's next private jet? The current Boeing 747-200s are getting kind of old. For those of you who aren't aware, we'll actually be buying two planes as we currently have two Air Force Ones for security reasons.

I'm personally leaning towards the new Boeing 747-8 Dreamlifter, which retails for $350 Million, because it's American and has worked for us in the past. Another option is the Boeing 787, and although they aren't out yet, new versions are coming out that will be large enough to accommodate the President. Finally, there is the prospect of a double decker Airbus A380, which goes for just over $400 million.

Hew Walt :) the Boeing 747-800 is used for cargo. That plane isnt special enough for the President. The boing 787 is ideal. They ARE out now and would work fine. The problem is there is another air force one b757 and the b787-8 isnt so much different exept the updates in technology. The a380-8 is ideal and spacious but not american :) hoped this helped walt! :yes:

[pyropilot1668]

I didnt read any comments just seen the beginning and decided to post

[Walter Powers]

Hew Walt :) the Boeing 747-800 is used for cargo. That plane isnt special enough for the President. The boing 787 is ideal. They ARE out now and would work fine. The problem is there is another air force one b757 and the b787-8 isnt so much different exept the updates in technology. The a380-8 is ideal and spacious but not american :) hoped this helped walt! :yes:

Actually. The 747-8 is available in both passenger and freighter models. And regardless of the plane that is chosen, it would be heavily renovated to suit the Presidential needs, like the current Air Force Ones are.

[sam927]

Hew Walt :) the Boeing 747-800 is used for cargo. That plane isnt special enough for the President. The boing 787 is ideal. They ARE out now and would work fine. The problem is there is another air force one b757 and the b787-8 isnt so much different exept the updates in technology. The a380-8 is ideal and spacious but not american :) hoped this helped walt! :yes:

The issue with the 787 is that it has 2 engines - USAF wants a 4-engine plane for the AF1. The Air Force also wants a plane that has already been proven in service -- the 787 is relatively new and that completely rules out an A350.
If they wanted a jet smaller than the 747, they would take a 777 over a 787. The 777 has been out for longer, and the alloy of the 787 is much harder to modify than a 777, as the AF1 will be heavily modified.

[booboo22]

I personally don't think the USA should be spending any money buying a new jet. They have two that are impeccably maintained and should last many more years. The older one is only 23 years old. There are some commercial 747 that receive more flying time that are in their 30s.

And besides does he really need such a large plane? The queen of England flys on a six person jet or even on British Airways. The President wastes ALOT of money on traveling with that plane( not to mention the fighter jets an cargo planes that bring in precious limousine with him)(and the podium)

I suggest, either keep the current jets, or scrap them and fly simpler.

[Walter Powers]

I personally don't think the USA should be spending any money buying a new jet. They have two that are impeccably maintained and should last many more years. The older one is only 23 years old. There are some commercial 747 that receive more flying time that are in their 30s.

And besides does he really need such a large plane? The queen of England flys on a six person jet or even on British Airways. The President wastes ALOT of money on traveling with that plane( not to mention the fighter jets an cargo planes that bring in precious limousine with him)(and the podium)

I suggest, either keep the current jets, or scrap them and fly simpler.

You do realize it takes a long time to build a custom jet as big as this? It may very well be 8 years, by which time the aircraft will be 30.

Queen Elizabeth for a while was flying on a supersonic Concorde. Those aren't cheap. And she isn't even elected and isn't really her nations leader.

I don't agree with the president's spending, however I know that this is a matter of sending a message of power to our enemies when we conduct diplomacy. Also, the president need to be able to address the nation from the air, work from his plane, and have space for his extensive staff and rapidly get anywhere in the nation on a moments notice.

[sam927]

I personally don't think the USA should be spending any money buying a new jet. They have two that are impeccably maintained and should last many more years. The older one is only 23 years old. There are some commercial 747 that receive more flying time that are in their 30s.

And besides does he really need such a large plane? The queen of England flys on a six person jet or even on British Airways. The President wastes ALOT of money on traveling with that plane( not to mention the fighter jets an cargo planes that bring in precious limousine with him)(and the podium)

I suggest, either keep the current jets, or scrap them and fly simpler.

The AF1 and 2 jets are a very small part of the Air Force budget. The plane spends quite little time in the air, so fuel is also absolutely no issue.

We are talking about a fleet of jets that must be 100% ready and reliable. Some of the older 747s that you mention are not the most reliable of aircraft: Iran Air, the main user of these older 747s, are having a hard time keeping them from falling apart and are looking for replacements.

However, if we really want to save money, we could the president in a chartered commercial jet 747 like China occasionally does when the need arises.. but for the president of the US? The leader of the free world? I think he needs his own jets. Just imagine the president getting off of a falling-apart American Airlines 767 while the president of Japan gets off his nice 747-4. What message does that send?

[booboo22]

The AF1 and 2 jets are a very small part of the Air Force budget. The plane spends quite little time in the air, so fuel is also absolutely no issue.

We are talking about a fleet of jets that must be 100% ready and reliable. Some of the older 747s that you mention are not the most reliable of aircraft: Iran Air, the main user of these older 747s, are having a hard time keeping them from falling apart and are looking for replacements.

However, if we really want to save money, we could the president in a chartered commercial jet 747 like China occasionally does when the need arises.. but for the president of the US? The leader of the free world? I think he needs his own jets. Just imagine the president getting off of a falling-apart American Airlines 767 while the president of Japan gets off his nice 747-4. What message does that send?

I think it would send a message that the USA recognizes that the economic climate in the USA is not one that allows for the purchase of three multi million dollar aircrafts to replace ones that are not too old and purchasing aircraft when cheaper options are available, remember, no one criticizes the queen for flying BA.

[booboo22]

You do realize it takes a long time to build a custom jet as big as this? It may very well be 8 years, by which time the aircraft will be 30.

Queen Elizabeth for a while was flying on a supersonic Concorde. Those aren't cheap. And she isn't even elected and isn't really her nations leader.

I don't agree with the president's spending, however I know that this is a matter of sending a message of power to our enemies when we conduct diplomacy. Also, the president need to be able to address the nation from the air, work from his plane, and have space for his extensive staff and rapidly get anywhere in the nation on a moments notice.

What I am saying is that he really doesn't NEED these things. His staff is way larger than necessary and you definitely don't need to bring press reps on the plane with him. His spending is outrageous including his travel spending, which while small compared to the total budget, his huge considering no income is made on the plane and full meal service is provided for everyone onboard. He is supposed to pay for some of his travel but if he makes a stop at a school or military base it's written off as presidential travel which is free to him, but costs the taxpayers...

[Thedritterboy]

They have already announced that it will be a Boeing aircraft such as the 787 or the 747-8i

[Trizzle]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. In my opinion

[SammieRose]

I also agree the best candidate will be the 747-8 for range, room and maintenance in-home, in other words, most parts are from US companies, thought they are probably built abroad.

[Walter Powers]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.. In my opinion

So we should wait until it falls out of the sky and kills the President?

I mean, I'm by no means an Obama fan, but that would be tragic.

[Trizzle]

Not really, that plane is very well maintained

[Chris1993]

Yea the best mechanics in the Air Force work on Air Force One. I doubt it will have any mechanical problems anytime soon.