Pelosi flies disputed military jet home [nonstop!]

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Feb 10, 2007

[John Jorsett]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the subject of Republican criticism for her mode of air travel, flew home nonstop Thursday night aboard a 12-seat military aircraft set aside for use by lawmakers.

Republican House members, aided by friendly radio and television talk show hosts, created a political tempest this week, claiming Pelosi was pressuring the Pentagon for the use of an "Air Force Three" and a "flying Lincoln Bedroom." Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, however, the administration has required the speaker -- then Republican Dennis Hastert of Illinois -- to travel home and on official business using military planes for security reasons.

House Sergeant at Arms Bill Livingood said he had asked the Pentagon to provide a plane large enough to fly Pelosi nonstop to San Francisco, citing the security concerns.

Even the White House defended the Democratic speaker. The president's spokesman, Tony Snow, on Thursday called the criticism "unfair" and the flap "a silly story."

Pelosi flew nonstop from the nation's capital to San Francisco to attend the funeral services of the late Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy aboard a C-37A, the military's version of a Gulfstream V that can travel 6,300 miles. It is one of the planes used regularly by Hastert, Pelosi's office and the Pentagon said.

[B4Ranch]

$5000 an hour plus crew costs

[jocko12]

And the govt. wants me to pay taxes for crap like this.

[bonehead4freedom]

The bigger plane was all about more seats to allow access,ie the donor express.I'm sure there were several coffees planned.

[AmericanMade1776]

The 89th Airlift Wing’s 99th Airlift Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Md., operates four C-37A's. The 6th Air Mobility Wing’s 310th Airlift Squadron, MacDill AFB, Fla., operates three C-37A's. Both the 15th Airlift Wing, 65th Airlift Squadron at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, and the 86th Airlift Wing, 309th Airlift Squadron, at Chievres Air Base, Belgium, have one C-37A.

General Characteristics

Primary Function: Special air missions

Builder: Gulfstream Aerospace Corp.

Power Plant: Two BMW/Rolls Royce BR710A1-10 high bypass

ratio turbofan engines Thrust: 14,750 pounds each engine Length: 96 feet, 5 inches (29.38 meters) Height: 25 feet, 11 inches (7.9 meters) Wingspan: 93 feet, 6 inches (28.5 meters) Speed: 600 mph (.885 Mach) maximum Maximum Altitude: 51,000 feet (15,545 meters) Maximum Takeoff Weight: 90,500 pounds (41,050 kilograms) Range: 6,300 miles (5,500 nautical miles) normal cruise Load: 12 passengers Unit Cost: $36 million (1998 constant dollars) Crew: Five Date Deployed: 1998 Inventory: Active force, 9; Air National Guard, 0; Reserve, 0

[JRios1968]

I think of this story and I always come up with this image:

[CindyDawg]

I think we ought to lock the place up and only let them meet 1 week a year. Greyhound (round trip) tickets should be issued at no cost. Jasons could cater "lunch boxes" Motel 6 could provide sleeping arrangements. 2 to a room. No pets.

[True Republican Patriot]

The G-5 can fly from D.C. to San Fran, make a 180 turn and return to D.C. NonStop. Pelosi and her cadre always knew that! They wanted a plane equivalent to the Vice Presidents as a symbol of power(eg. actually decadence).

[LurkingSince1943]

So the smaller plane can make it non-stop?

This gives new meaning to her nickname "Stretch."

[True Republican Patriot]

Teresa Heinz has a Gulfstream 3 by comparison and it will make the same DC to SF run with over a 1000 nm still in reserve. This story that she needed a nonstop plane and hence the 757 was and is a pile of crap! The Gulfstream just was too small for her perceived new status and those of her Entourage.

[CyberAnt]

I agree and understand the need for security .. since the speaker is the next person in line to the Presidency - if something should happen to the Pres and the VP.

However, I really felt the 42 seater was a bit much .. AND TOTALLY UNNECESSARY. The 12 seater could easily make the non-stop trip.

And .. while the dims are whining so much about the deficit .. it was a bit irritating for her to insist on spending hundreds of thousands of dollars WEEKLY for a trip home.

Besides .. landing to refuel (if necessary) at a military base could have easily been accommodated.

[operation clinton cleanup]

Which leaves a bigger carbon footprint?

[jwparkerjr]

She doesn't need a military plane for her trips to home and back. Let her fly commercial like the rest of us have to. If she doesn't have to put up with the pains of what airline travel has become these days then she won't have an interest in seeing it improved.

Haskert shouldn't have had it either. I would have said the same thing for him, and for every other Congress-critter. It's a time to put a stop to the imperial elected class, at every level. I don't pay taxes so these people to live a life of royalty.

It is so depressing to realize what government has become in this country in the 21st century. Sigh.

[mountn man]

The earlier reports about the jet not being able to make it were based on the C-20D and C-20G,(Gulfstreams III and IV) which aren't rated to make the 4100 mile flight with FTO and reserves.

Hastert used these planes, and maybe the C-37 (Gulfstream G500/550 formerly V) also. Most of the time Hastert would not have needed a C-37 to go from Illinois to DC. Unless he was traveling with a few more people, or somewhere other than the midwest.

The C-37 is more than capable of coast to coast at FTO + reserves.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Beck on CNN said 300 grand for the larger aircraft she requested.. That will teach me not to watch CNN : )

[mountn man]

Besides .. landing to refuel (if necessary) at a military base could have easily been accommodated.

More than likely, that is EXACTLY where it would have gone.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Never a ground to air missile handy when you need one. ;)

[Freee-dame]

"Tony Snow, on Thursday called the criticism "unfair" and the flap "a silly story."

Until this mocking of his own party, we haen't been hearing anything about Tony. I guess he is no longer being reviled like his predecessor. The DBM sure has had a field day with this one, however,

Tony, take a lesson from it. Defend your own side or stay quiet.

[Freee-dame]

Twelve seats vs. 42. Same non-stop capability.

This is a very inaccurate description. The 42 seat configuration meant that the larger plane had a stateroom, meeting room, crew of 16, etc. It actually would hold almost 200 seats without all the special spaces.

[freekitty]

I thought this was the plane she wanted.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Tony is a nice guy, and I believe a FReeper. But he seems too conserned with being liked for my taste.