A remarkable plane with a very long life!
This was my favorite picture of a 747 back before it became a high end vacation camper for the President:
Posted on 12/28/2014 8:10:57 PM PST by ConservativeStatement
Boeing (NYSE: BA ) extended its sales lead over archrival Airbus (NASDAQOTH: EADSY ) in December.
In its latest update on airplane orders, released last week, Boeing confirmed that 2014 "gross" orders for commercial aircraft reached 1,423 by mid-December, versus 1,328 planes for Airbus (at last report). After cancellations -- 106 at Boeing, but nearly three times as many at Airbus -- the U.S. aircraft maker's lead over its European rival only got bigger.
This is good news for Boeing -- but, as we'll see in a moment, it might be bad news for one of Boeing's favorite customers: the U.S. president.
(Excerpt) Read more at fool.com ...
There have also been reliable stories recently indicating that the Airbus 380 is also in trouble as well.
WOW!
That's almost as much as Moochie spends on vacations!
A remarkable plane with a very long life!
This was my favorite picture of a 747 back before it became a high end vacation camper for the President:
Respectfully, I don’t see a problem with using a 777 for Air Force One, when the time comes.
I don’t know why this would be bad news for the President?
I presume the Air Force can order however many parts it needs in advance to keep Air Force One in the air until the end of days.
I also presume that they knew AF1 would eventually get grounded at some point permanently and have plans for a replacement.
One questions: what are the implications of setting up a 777 for use as AF1? For the use of the current WH resident,I should think an old DC-3 should fulfill his needs. He doesn’t need a 747 to go on vacation,which seems to be what it is primarily used for.
I remember seeing many bumper stickers over the years saying "If it ain't Boeing, I'm not going"
The 747 has been a commercial passenger workhorse for decades.
They will not use a 2 holer, imo.
Besides reliability and safety, “AF1” needs an enormous amount of electrical power capability.
They will likely go with 747-8 for the new version, imo.
The VC-137 was only retired in 2001. SAM 26000 is still in airworthy condition. We could also resurrect the VC-118.
I am not sure of the specifics but I seem to recall reading a recent article in which 777s will eventually be used as presidential planes in Japan.
The article makes it sounds like they will order a pair of 747s before the line goes out of production. It will be interesting to see what happens, years from now. Thanks for your reply.
She may not be seen in passenger carrying livery, but the 747 is an incredibly capable cargo ship as well. I doubt the freight version is going anywhere soon.
CC
If they are owned by AirAsia that seems pretty likely...
The 747 will be flying for decades to come so parts will be available.
I suspect that it boils down to prestige.We don't want the head henchman of China or the USSR showing up at a summit in an A380 and our President showing up in a 727.
The 747 project began as a cargo ship; it was Boeing’s bid for the C-5 contract. They re-purposed it for pax after the USAF chose Lockheed.
Say it ain’t so!
The plane the same age as I is a masterpiece, an icon like no other airliner. It’s been modified, obviously, but there is still something about it that no other has.
AirBus will never fill that. Not even the big fat 380. Impressive, but still not distinctive.
No other Boeing will, either.
The 747 will be flying for decades to come so parts will be available.
...
If so, it will be as freighters.
I think it has long been considered in the same class as a DC-3 or 707. Legendary, iconic, but much more distinctive.
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