I don’t know if this is in the right forum mods. So if you feel the need to move it please do.
But I just thought i’ll tell you PM Tony blair has been given the go a head to order 2 blair force 1 aircraft today acording to the bbc news 24.
heres the bbc news report http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5098126.stm
PM to get two ‘Blair Force Ones’
Mr Blair currently uses charter planes and the Queen’s Flight
Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Queen are to get two dedicated planes to use on official trips, the BBC has learned.One is likely to be a long-haul plane with 70 seats, while a 15-seater jet will be ordered for shorter flights, BBC correspondent James Hardy says.
Since 1944 US presidents have had their own plane for presidential travel.
Although the Queen will have first call on the aircraft, they are already being dubbed “Blair Force Ones”. The Lib Dems and Tories have criticised the plan.
The decision to order the two aircraft follows a study into the costs of ministerial travel by businessman and government spending advsier Sir Peter Gershon.
The planes will not be bought outright, but taken on a long lease and are unlikely to come into service until late 2007 at the earliest – by which time some think Mr Blair may have stepped down as PM.
VIP area
They are expected to cost around £12.3m a year – about £2.7m more than the current arrangement.
The flights are likely to be paid for by those who use them, like Number 10, the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Family – a similar arrangement to chartering and not just fuel and staffing costs.
The long-haul plane, which is likely to be wide-bodied, with a separate VIP area and kitted out for modern communications, will be used in place of the British Airways 777 currently chartered by Downing Street.
US presidents have had their own planes since 1944 when Franklin Roosevelt started using the “Sacred Cow”.
In 1962, the first jet aircraft, a Boeing 707, was purchased for use and President Bush now uses two specifically-configured Boeing 747-200B planes.
They are commonly known as “Air Force One” because that is the call sign used when he is on board either plane, or any other Air Force aircraft.
By: philgatwick05 - 23rd June 2006 at 17:02
so it is a bae 146 and a 747
No mate – the BAe146 is what the Royal flight already have, and the 747-200 is Air Force One, the American Presidential plane.
By: LBARULES - 23rd June 2006 at 17:02
If you actually looked at that, you would see the 747 was ‘Air Force One’, which is American…
By: gatwickjosh - 23rd June 2006 at 17:00
so it is a bae 146 and a 747
By: cloud_9 - 23rd June 2006 at 16:45
I found this image from The Times newspaper, on their website…might be of use!
By: gatwickjosh - 23rd June 2006 at 16:21
could be possible. what about the longer ranged aircraft. could that be an a310
By: lukeylad - 23rd June 2006 at 16:15
im thinking a second hand 737-800/NG with allot of modifications.
By: gatwickjosh - 23rd June 2006 at 15:57
so what aircraft is it
By: ALBERT ROSS - 23rd June 2006 at 08:29
So guys what Types of aircraft do you recon they’ll go for
Long Haul 70 seater Options: Airbus A300, A310, A319LR, A330 or Boeing 737BBJ, B757BBJ, B777 or even a nice MD11 or the new Embrear.
Short Haul 16 seater options: Embrear Legecy, Dassult Falcon, Learjet, or something else in simller size.
Miles-Chichester Leopard of course – the Sinclair C5 exec jet! :p
By: tommyinyork - 21st June 2006 at 12:05
A 767-200 would suit just fine.
By: lbaspotter - 21st June 2006 at 11:31
Hi
Heres a few reports from the national broad sheet papers. Both the Times and Independent suggests a Boeing 737 is the choice for the 85 seater.
THE TIMES
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article…235534,00.html
THE INDEPENDENT
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/pol…cle1093525.ece
THE TELEGRAPH
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main…blairforce.xml
By: murph - 21st June 2006 at 11:19
http://www.avcollect2.co.uk/buccaneer/aircraft/vc10/VC10_01.jpg
Bring back that livery for it…niiiiice!
By: lbaspotter - 20th June 2006 at 20:42
hi tenthije
1x Global Express for commonality with the ASTOR surveillance plane
For some reason I seem to recall that RAF did test fly one off these Global Express aircraft for a couple of weeks last year. This would also most likely be able to be based at RAF Northholt with the Royal Fleet of 146’s and like you mention it would also have type commonality with the new ASTOR surveillance aircraft.
1x A330 for commonality with the MRTT tankers
The Airbus A330 would seem to be the best options for crew type commonality between the flight crews of the new RAF A330 MRTT tankers. Where would this be based though? Surly they would have problems operating out of RAF Northholt. So would it live at RAF Brize Norton with the new MRTT tankers?
By: fightingirish - 20th June 2006 at 20:33
I presume then, that both planes won’t have Camo paint.
By: tenthije - 20th June 2006 at 20:13
My guess are for:
1x A330 for commonality with the MRTT tankers
1x Global Express for commonality with the ASTOR surveillance plane
By: strawsonh - 20th June 2006 at 18:56
The new A330 refueling planes are going to be fitted with a full passenger cabin. Why cant one of these be re-configured to suit the governments needs for transportation. Im sure there will be at least one free at any time.
By: Dantheman77 - 20th June 2006 at 17:52
Air Canada are flogging off there A340-500’s…Roller powered, Long range (probably longer with exec fit-out) and what about some of Northwest A320/319s in storage awaiting D-checks i believe (cant do it cos there skint) Fleet comonality. a few pilots can fly each with the Airbus conversion course….
Or they could go to both Boeing and Airbus…state the requirments and have a bidding war…Airbus would probably crawl naked over broken glass to get the order at any price!
By: Skymonster - 20th June 2006 at 16:41
Are you sure that shouldn’t say “SleasyJet” 🙂
Andy
By: Jamie-Southend - 20th June 2006 at 16:26
Should use the budgets like the rest of us !
By: Skymonster - 20th June 2006 at 16:14
Well accordig to SKY News its looking like they are going for 2 second hand passenger aircraft.
Ah well, I guess in that case we’ll end up with a TriStar to maintain commonality with the existing tanker fleet – plenty of clapped out old L10s in the desert, and at least they have British engines! :rolleyes:
And why do we always do everything cheap and nasty in this country – a second hand a/c will be an odd-ball. Be a bit more dilligent with kicking illegals out and we’d soon save the money needed for a new A330 or suchlike.
Seriously, poor move – very difficult to find a used RR powered A330, we don’t need something as big as a 747, MD-11s is an odd-ball… Maybe HMG will buy one of BA’s old Roller powered 767s? I guess that the most straightforward choice would be an A340, which would allow for a common type rating with the proposed A330 tankers. Maybe Sir Dicky has one he’s nearly worn out that he wants to be rid of? :rolleyes:
Anyway, I still think buying second hand is a mistake – if they do that, the government are something that rhymes with tankers! :diablo:
Andy
By: murph - 20th June 2006 at 15:31
Silly us for considering it.
Using the 330 MRTT was too good an idea 😉
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June 20, 2006 at 12:09 pm