Posted on 01/15/2009 9:33:48 AM PST by lewisglad
Airbus is preparing to offer incoming US president Barack Obama a special A380 superjumbo to replace the ageing Air Force One Boeing 747 jumbo jet, it emerged today.
Tom Enders, chief executive, said the US was already thinking about new aircraft for the presidential fleet and it was "not completely absurd" to consider the superjumbo as an alternative. It can carry as many as 840 passengers and is the European plane-maker's flagship, with one sold to a Gulf sheikh.
But Enders said it was "much too early to speculate" and Airbus was concentrating on winning the re-run $40bn (£27bn) Pentagon contract for 179 air-to-air refuelling (tanker) aircraft against Boeing.
Airbus won the contract last year after one of the fiercest lobbying battles ever witnessed on Capitol Hill, but the Pentagon later revised the tender under congressional pressure. Enders said Airbus had won that contest fairly and intended to win again – provided it was on a level playing field.
Under George Bush, the White House shocked US plane-makers by awarding the contract to renew the presidential fleet of helicopters to Anglo-Italian company AgustaWestland, part of Finmeccanica.
There are some fears within the European aviation industry that Obama, with his Chicago base, could favour Boeing, which has its headquarters in the "windy city" and carries enormous congressional influence.
But senior sources said this week that the new president, who is inaugurated on Tuesday, would be determined to be impartial. Airbus has won congressional friends, particularly in the south, by setting up plants in states such as Alabama and Mississippi.
The A380, which has won 198 orders from 16 customers, is the world's biggest plane, but Airbus claims it is at least 25% more fuel-efficient than the venerable 747 and emits far fewer greenhouse gases – a key Obama preoccupation.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Now he can have an airbus to through the folks under.
It doesn't require long runways. It's taxiways that are the problem. The A380 can land or take off anwhere a 747 can land or take off. The problem is that in some cases all other aircraft movements at an airport might have to be stopped in order for "the One" move around the airport.
The problem is that in some cases all other aircraft movements at an airport might have to be stopped in order for "the One" move around the airport.
Something quite like that is probably already in place for security reasons.
Wikipedia states that we have had the Air Force Ones since 1990. I don’t think they went into service until Clinton became president, but I may be wrong.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_One
At least one of them was retrofitted in October of 2007. They probably both were.
I see Airbus learns Chicago politics quick. Pay to play.
That should have read, the 747 Air Force Ones...
Wrong! both 28000 and 29000 were delivered in 1990 almost halfway into Bush 41's term.
Red states, blue president. Nuff said.
Post of the day. (so far)
This could be a blessing in disguise...
That sure seems strange. I know that’s what it says over on Wikipedia, but I could have sworn they weren’t used until Clinton took over. I guess my recollection is faulty.
I totally support the idea of Obama flying in any aircraft made by union labor in a socialist nation.
“It’s not up to him, it’s up to the Secret Service.”
Airbus could just give them the 380 free, and it would pay in spades.
I think Air Force 1 usually lands on a military base (long runways), plus it wouldn’t require jetways that it would otherwise need to embark/disembark.
Gee-wiz, I only opened up that stupid headline hoping to see some mouth-watering pictures of airborne bliss!
The press was hostile about the extravagance president Bush 41 and his use of the 747 Air Force One's even though they don't cost any more to operate than the old 707's. President Bush 41 used the built in air stairs in the cargo compartment to avoid having the whole 747 in the background of photos. Of course one BJ Clinton became president, the press loved the new Air Force One's.
Hey, was that a PC statement? LOL
Thanks for the reminder. I’m not sure why I am drawing a blank on that.
Well, considering how much the inauguration will cost, why should he economize? No one will complain, apparently.
Both VC-25’s went into service in 1989......shade under 20 years old but very low flight time and meticulously cared for.
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