© Gareth Burgess
Posted on 10/17/2007 4:51:16 PM PDT by Yo-Yo
The Airbus A380 has attracted interest from the US Air Force (USAF) as a cargo freighter and as a large VIP transport in the Air Force One class, says an industry source.
EADS last summer responded to two separate inquiries by the USAF’s Air Mobility Command (AMC) about the A380, which is a double-decker jet delivered to Singapore Airlines on 15 October after a long delay.
AMC’s first request asked EADS to submit data about the A380F Freighter for potential use as a military airlifter, the source said, adding that the company has submitted a reply and expects an invitation to make a presentation in December to AMC officials.
© Gareth Burgess
The request may be linked to the USAF’s ongoing review of a potentially over-budget re-engining and reliability improvement programme for the Lockheed Martin C-5 fleet. Lockheed insists the programme can be accomplished within the current budget, but USAF estimates indicate a 50% to 100% cost growth.
USAF officials were not immediately available to comment.
Separately, AMC also requested data from EADS about three Airbus jets as part of a market survey for “VIP Large Aircraft Recapitalization”, the source said. The survey solicited data about the A380, A340-600 and A330-200.
The USAF may soon need to recapitalize the VC-25 Air Force One and the US Navy also may face similar pressure to replace the E-4 Looking Glass airborne command post. Both aircraft are based on the Boeing 747-200 and entered service in the early 1990s. Many commercial airliners are retiring the 747-200 due to age and fuel inefficiency.
Boeing’s Global Support Systems (GSS) division is aware that the USAF may need to replace the VC-25 with a new model and intends to offer the Boeing 747-8, which features new engines and wings and is scheduled to enter service in 2009.
Retaining the company’s historic monopoly on the Air Force One fleet is the GSS division’s top priority, Boeing officials say.
Recent acquisition contracts show that presidential aircraft fleets are not immune from transatlantic competition. In 2004, the US Navy selected an Italian-British helicopter design – the EH101 -- offered by Lockheed for the next presidential helicopter.
The Lockheed product, which has since faced cost and technical problems, beat a rival bid from incumbent “Marine One” supplier Sikorsky.
AMC’s two separate requests for Airbus jets arrived as EADS prepared a bid for the KC-X tanker contract based on the A330-200 converted freighter. The US Special Operations Command, meanwhile, has previously asked EADS for information about the A400M. Another EADS division, Eurocopter, is supplying the EC145 to the US Army as a light utility helicopter.
When hell freezes over.........or Pelosi gets a brain.
You've got that right.
I find this difficult to believe. I had heard that, because of the way the A380 was constructed, it would be a poor choice for a heavy lifting platform...I cannot remember what the issue was...perhaps it was the way the two decks were laid out or something. Anyone remember this or know why this might be so?
They went to the C17 for extra maneuverability, lower cost of maintenance and the ability to land on a shorter runway, even though it won’t carry as much cargo as a C-5.
AMC’s motto: one Air Force, one airplane.
“US considers Airbus A380 as Air Force One..”
This is all about our globalization effort. National pride and sovereignty are to be done away with.
No... I’m sorry... I’m just not comfortable with the idea of the POTUS flying around in a plane designed by a committee of Frenchmen and Spaniards. This doesn’t work for me.
The Lockhead Super Constellation, the most beautiful airliner ever!
Sounds like the Air Force may be trying to put the squeeze on Lockheed and Boeing to lower/control costs.
Never! ever going to happen...NEVER
It's too wide for most runways, digs into many runways not rated for the weight
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_A380#Airport_compatibility
The A380 was designed to fit within an 80 × 80 m airport gate,[51] and can land or take off on any runway that can accommodate a Boeing 747. However, airports used by the A380 in commercial service may need infrastructure modifications.[52] Its large wingspan can require some taxiway and apron reconfigurations, to maintain safe separation margins when two of the aircraft pass each other. Taxiway shoulders may be required to be paved to reduce the likelihood of foreign object damage caused to (or by) the outboard engines, which overhang more than 25 m (80 ft) from the centre line of the aircraft. Any taxiway or runway bridge must be capable of supporting the A380’s maximum weight. The terminal gate must be sized such that the A380’s wings do not block adjacent gates, and may also provide multiple jetway bridges for simultaneous boarding on both decks.[53]
A380 connected by two separate jetways for each floor to Frankfurt Airport.Service vehicles with lifts capable of reaching the upper deck should be obtained,[54] as well as tractors capable of handling the A380’s maximum ramp weight.[55] The A380 test aircraft have participated in a campaign of airport compatibility testing to verify the modifications already made at several large airports, visiting a number of airports around the world.[56][57] The A380 has now also been approved for use on regular width runways (45m) by both the EASA and FAA.[58]
Me too, unless the POTUS is Hillary.
;)
Regards from good old Europe
A.B.
My understanding is that the A380 has a high interior volume to weight ratio -- that is, it can't be packed full of cattle car seats, because then it would be too heavy to fly. So a lot of the airlines' plans for the 380 involved thinks like a more luxurious and spacious business class and first class, and some airlines -- Virgin Atlantic, for example -- even floated ideas like an in-flight casino and duty-free shop.
The 380 would be a good candidate for UPS or FedEx, which tend to have a lot of high-volume, low-weight cargo. My typical order from Amazon is 75% lightweight packing material by volume. But unless I've misread things, it wouldn't be much of a candidate for a C-5 or C-130 heavy-lift replacement.
The A380F was attractive to FedEx and UPS because it could hold standard cargo containers on three levels, which is a lot more volume than a 747-8F can hold. However, the 747-8F can load almost as much tonnage, and can load much taller cargo than the A380F.
The A380F will find a market with high volume low density shippers for hub-to-hub routes.
The Constellation is a really beautiful airplane from outside.
From the interior, I’d rather have a jet that can fly above the weather and get me there in half the time, no matter whether it looks like a pregnant goony bird from the outside.
NOOOOOOOOOOO!
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