Posted on 11/15/2009 9:10:15 AM PST by edcoil
Clinton took something like 12 747's on his Africa jaunt.
Anyone know what the air complement and number of government hacks are on this trip?
The more government hacks who leave the country the better. If only we can stop the flights back.
The costs of the trips -- borne by taxpayers -- are difficult to measure, but they're expensive. When he uses the familiar blue-and-white reconfigured 747 as Air Force One, it costs $100,219 an hour to operate, according to the Air Force. And that's just HIS plane.
There also are cargo planes, used to fly in armored limousines, helicopters, staff and other equipment, as well as the Secret Service. A single Air Force C-17 cargo jet, for example, costs $6,960 an hour, according to the Congressional Research Service.
A total of 77 other aircraft were used on one multi-country trip to Asia by former President Bill Clinton in 2000, according to the Air Force Times, including 14 C-17 Globemasters, 12 C-5 Galaxys, three C-141 Starlifters and two C-130 Hercules. ABC News at the time estimated the cost of that trip at $50 million.
http://tinyurl.com/yz8sjfj
12? I rather doubt that. The US AF only operates two VC-25's (747) (known as AF when CIC is aboard). The other 747 in the military fleet are configured for specialty missions, not passenger transport. The other passenger planes are all C-32's (757) and a C-40 (737), I believe.
When the President travels, in addition to the VC-25 and the trailing additional passenger aircraft, SS will also take at least one C-17, perhaps more than one depending on the mission requirements. I could see 6 planes perhaps, but not 12.
I appreciate two only for the president however on trips like this 100’s of staff go as well.
Obama will be traveling with a plane full of journalists, and at least 200 have applied to come on the trip, though only about 40 will be able to go. The big names will be along for the ride too: top newspaper reporters and network nightly news anchors Brian William, Charles Gibson and Katie Couric.
http://tinyurl.com/658bwc
I vaguely remember this trip. Was this the one where he didn't visit just one country, but several, and it came on the tail-end of his Presidency? If so, I could see a number of cargo planes being used to pre-position SS and their vehicles at the different destination points.
I thought you meant 12 747 passenger planes. Which could carry in excess of 2400 people, depending on their configuration. The President and a hundred staff could easily be accommodated by one VC-25 and one or two C-32 (the plane the VP usually uses).
Here's a breakdown of the packed schedules for members of his Cabinet:
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton: She started at the APEC ministerial meetings then flew to Manila Thursday for a two-day visit before going back to the APEC meetings. Clinton will also travel with Obama to China and South Korea.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner: He's already been to Japan and told Asian leaders in Singapore on Thursday that the Obama administration is committed to a strong dollar. He'll join Obama at the APEC meetings in Singapore.
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke: He'll join Clinton in Singapore for the APEC Conference's ministerial meetings. He, too, will travel to Beijing with Obama. Locke, the nation's first Chinese American governor (in Washington state), is a bit of a rock star in China and has close relations with several government and business leaders there.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu: He is visiting India to discuss clean energy efforts before joining Obama in China as part of the official White House delegation. Chu and Locke went to China last month to sort out some details before Obama's arrival.
U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk: Will attend the APEC meetings and speak at its CEO summit on Saturday in place of Obama. He also will travel with the president to China.
http://tinyurl.com/yk3wwjy
I seem to recall that particular adventure being described as consuming “one-third of the entire airlift capacity of the US Air Force”.
Don’t worry. I feel certain that on Al Gore’s advice, Obama has purchased sufficient carbon offset credits to ensure that his flotilla makes no net contribution to global warming...
That would be an admirable solution, to trade carbon credits for the air travel, if I were a stinkin’ lib, but the Precedent would simply have the Treasury print more currency to pay for it which would endanger thousands of Georgia pines and thousands of pounds of ragstock to make it happen.
President Clinton took 1,302 people on his African trip in 1998.
The DOD paid for 904 of those people. Ignoring the cargo planes needed for armored limousines, helicopters, and other equipment, tell me, how many planes would be required?
1,300/904 is ridiculous. I'm shocked. I was out of the country the year of that trip, which must be the reason I don't remember it.
Depending on configuration, as few as 5 or as perhaps as many as 8. The AF only operates four of the C-32 (757), which I believe seat less than 50 (they're very plush) each - but their civilian counterparts can seat as many as 250. I'm guessing that they chartered more passenger-capable aircraft, and probably wide-bodies, like a 767 that can be configured to seat in excess of 300.
Story says 71 cars in his group so I am guessing more then a couple of air planes.
http://www.politico.com/click/stories/0911/71_vehicles.html
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