http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=56048148-8192-4583-a4ab-cceb5df298db

I will miss the 'Marine 1' as the Sea King's are my favourite helicopter. The Marine 1 Sea King is like the Cadilac of the Sea King Fleet, nothing in the world like it.

I don't see any replacement for AF1 being anything other then a Boeing, most likely in the form of the 747-8. Possibly a 777, but I don't think they'll abandon the security of the extra 2 engines for the President. Marine One though could be a foreign design like the VH-71 (Cancelled) (Westland EH-101).

I can't even imagine the wailing and gnashing of teeth that would ensue if Airbus were to win a bid for the AF1, would make the fit over the tanker deal look like a kindergarten spat!

A lifetime of thirty years for the what is probably the best maintained aircraft of all time? If B-52's can last fifty years+, why not AF1? Given the current economy, I think they should invest in keeping the President's ride going a lot longer.

As to Marine 1, I was part of the standby crash-fire crew when the EH-101's were tested here in Colorado in 2002. It is one really nice helicopter and would have made a great Marine 1. Too bad the FSX version is'nt as good.

 

Bill

A lifetime of thirty years for the what is probably the best maintained aircraft of all time? If B-52's can last fifty years+, why not AF1? Given the current economy, I think they should invest in keeping the President's ride going a lot longer.

 

Mainly because the President doesn't ride B-52's!

Given the current economy, I think they should invest in keeping the President's ride going a lot longer.

 

When it's for a President or for a government, they always find money... In France, Nicolas Sarkozy replaced his A319 by the A330 "Air Sarko One" although the debt and deficits were higher than ever.

A lifetime of thirty years for the what is probably the best maintained aircraft of all time? If B-52's can last fifty years+, why not AF1? Given the current economy, I think they should invest in keeping the President's ride going a lot longer.

As to Marine 1, I was part of the standby crash-fire crew when the EH-101's were tested here in Colorado in 2002. It is one really nice helicopter and would have made a great Marine 1. Too bad the FSX version is'nt as good.

 

Bill

 

Maintenance will only get you so far. Certain parts of an aircraft are designed for a certain life (expressed either in years, flight hours or number of flights). Once you get to that number of hours you must replace them, even if they still look fine, because there are no guarantees they won't suddenly break (usually due to fatigue damage). If the part is so hard to replace you'd basically have to rebuild the aircraft completely anyway (the central wing box say) it's probably worth it to find out how much it would cost to buy a new plane. I'm also guessing a 747-8 (derivative) would be quite a bit cheaper to operate than the current VC-25, which is a modified 747-200. There are good reasons why you don't see many of those in passenger service any more.

Perhaps a more budget conscience USA would consider the 787 for a replacement. They were using the 707 before, so maybe it is not necessary to go with the 747-800.

 

In New Zealand our 2 757's work great and I actually think the 757 is the best aircraft Boeing has ever produced. They are the hotrods of the Boeing fleet and far more manouverable then a 747:

 

Does anyone besides me find it extremely ironic that the President who is so dead set and hostile against corporate bizjets seems to have no problems with flying in what is quite arguably the most expensive bizjet in the world? :Thinking:

Not to mention the ridiculous amount of support aircraft that goes with it. I don't care what political party the President is a part of AF1 being a 747 is stupid and wasteful. Could easily get by with a smaller and more efficient aircraft. National Ego seems to dictate we can't I guess.

Does anyone besides me find it extremely ironic that the President who is so dead set and hostile against corporate bizjets seems to have no problems with flying in what is quite arguably the most expensive bizjet in the world? :Thinking:

 

Not really, when you become president there are certain issues and responsibilities that you have to deal with. Flying commercial airliners would be totally unrealistic from the point of view of the SS, and they'd probably only agree to it if every single passenger seat is occupied by a SS agent, and the pilots are the best the air force has. At which point you have air force one in all but livery.

Not to mention the ridiculous amount of support aircraft that goes with it. I don't care what political party the President is a part of AF1 being a 747 is stupid and wasteful. Could easily get by with a smaller and more efficient aircraft. National Ego seems to dictate we can't I guess.

 

That is what needs to be looked at in my POV. The cost of traveling the US President from A to B is astronomical with all the resources required for this operation. it is not only Air Force 1 that has an expense as the amount of people and resources required are quite extensive.

 

Some American members on here with military backgrounds would have a better insight then I do on the total costs but it is quite surprising how expensive the operation is.

 

At least Bill Clinton isn't using Air Force 1 to fly into LAX for a haircut anymore.....

 

Cheers

Does anyone besides me find it extremely ironic that the President who is so dead set and hostile against corporate bizjets seems to have no problems with flying in what is quite arguably the most expensive bizjet in the world? :Thinking:

Is this a political statement? :Thinking:

 

Is this a political statement Father?

 

I think Father Bill has earned his right to make a statement like that...Be it political or not.

 

Cheers