USAF Looks to Replace Air Force One With Possible Airbus

Foxnews ^ | 01/12/08

[Abathar]

The U.S. Air Force is looking to replace the president's air force fleet -- possibly with an Airbus, FlightGlobal.com reports.

The USAF has reportedly posted a request for information seeking market sources who can provide three "widebody" aircraft to replace the Boeing VC-25 Air Force One.

The Airbus 380 has been named as a possible alternative, according to FlightGlobal.com.

A 2007 analysis of aircraft options found that it would be more cost-effective to replace the VC-25 rather than attempt to modernize it.

[Lx]

Yep, they can sell him on by telling him how quiet it is...

[wastedyears]

This is what he can have.

[dalereed]

Eliminate Air Force One.

There’s nothing in todays world that the President can’t do that is part of his responsibility that can’t be done from the White House.

[dalereed]

“Thoughts from a pilot?”

How about a Piper Cub, your turboprop is too expensive!

[Abathar]

We still have one of the old Valkyries sitting around somewhere, put them in that and fly them in tight formation with a fighter escort.

[PfromHoGro]

An A-380 sounds just right. It can only go to New York & L.A. That fits perfectly with avoiding us bitter gun clingers in fly-over-coutry just fine.

[beethovenfan]

I seem to recall that A380’s tend to crash a lot.

[Dixie Yooper]

It’s not that old, hell make him fly on a DC3

The DC3 has too proud of a history to maintain without having a belmish like a AF1 for Obama on it's list...

[1066AD]

I thought the current AF1 came into service during Clinton’s time ?

[ArrogantBustard]

He might hurt someone on the ground when he crashes it.

At least the TO requires a professional pilot.

[Logic n' Reason]

Instead of replacing AF 1 with an airbus...let's just relace it with a regular bus!

That would fit obammer much better....he could even sit up front if he wanted to!

Then, when obammer needed to go overseas, obammer could fly commercial coach class.

[TalonDJ]

We still have one of the old Valkyries sitting around somewhere

Dayton, the Airforce museum. Last I was there it was down for refurbishment though. Plus that is ship 1 which was not rated for the full Mach 3. I say dust off the blue prints and make a new one out of modern materials and newer engines.

[Cicero]

Why doesn't he just stick with this?

[ANGGAPO]

How about just going Commercial?

[SkyDancer]

Any plane he flies in becomes Air Force One ... from a small Cessna 150 up to big jets and anything in between. The idea though of buying a new plane though is crazy esp. if it’s an Airbus -

[A.A. Cunningham]

Wasn’t Reagan’s only flight on the new 747 AF1 his flight home after Bush won?

Reagan's first flight on a VC-25 occurred when his body was flown from Point Mugu to Washington DC to lie in state. The VC-25 was delivered to the Air Force in August of 1990.

[A.A. Cunningham]

You have a defective memory.

[saganite]

There aren’t that many in service yet and none have crashed.

[Dilbert56]

The replacement for the current AF1 won’t be on line until long after 0bama is gone.

[wastedyears]

Maybe we can pay a pilot to do this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ546BEps-M