http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/1054808/
Username: Bruce
Posted 2003-03-27 04:24:59 and read 3226 times.
As I watched the news today and they showed Tony Blair getting off the BA 777 to meet President Bush I wondered......does the British Prime Minister have a special plane for his travels like our President has? He was getting off what looked like a regular passenger 777 of British Airways - do they charter a jet each time he has to travel? How do they keep him safe when travelling on a BA 777?
bruce
Username: Gigneil
Posted 2003-03-27 04:26:50 and read 3201 times.
He does not.
And there's a big existing thread on this...
N
Username: 777d
Posted 2003-03-27 04:30:38 and read 3188 times.
The PM should ask Boeing for a BBJ.
Perhaps a 757?
Username: AA61hvy
Posted 2003-03-27 04:36:20 and read 3169 times.
I'd go in style, BA 777 with RR engines, or the concorde!
Username: GDB
Posted 2003-03-27 10:07:56 and read 2966 times.
Some of the usual 'Blair Force Ones'
Photo © Steve Hall
Photo © Florian Kondziela
Photo © Steve Dreier
Photo © Ben Albrow
Username: DC-10 Levo
Posted 2003-03-27 11:53:43 and read 2895 times.
Yesterday, Blair was travelling on the B777. Just before landing it got stuck by lightning!
DC-10
Username: NZ767
Posted 2003-03-27 12:21:25 and read 2855 times.
Whereabouts on the airplane did the lightning get stuck?
Hope they managed to scrape it off! 
Username: OPNLguy
Posted 2003-03-27 12:36:57 and read 2828 times.
News just said Blair is heading up to NYC thoday to see UN folks. Don't know what airport, but maybe some photo ops for the New York folks...
Username: Delboy
Posted 2003-03-27 15:11:01 and read 2668 times.
Read something yesterday that said one of the Queens Flight 146's had been given a UK civil registration and an ownership change.
Might just be to do with some maintenance??
Username: DC-10 Levo
Posted 2003-03-27 15:57:57 and read 2602 times.
Ha ha NZ767. I meant to say it got STRUCK by lightning. 
DC-10
Username: Bruce
Posted 2003-03-27 18:26:48 and read 2431 times.
So when BA gives up one of its big jets for the Prime Minister, do they have to re-configure the cabin? I mean, a plane with a capacity of 300 or so is overkill for Blair & his entourage.
Also, these trips lately are on short notice with the war. Does that wreak havoc with BA's scheduling, having to suddenly lose a big capacity jet for a few days?
I think he really needs a private jet. Maybe a Boeing BBJ.
bruce
Username: Arsenal@LHR
Posted 2003-03-27 18:55:41 and read 2395 times.
The BA 777's stays as it is for Blair's trips overseas, he always uses the first class seats. And he doesn't travel alone, you have the media gang, his press secretary, various aids and security personnel with him at all times. Maybe Blair does need a some sort of Prime Ministerial jet, he's flown to over 40 countries in the last 2 years!
Username: AAMD11
Posted 2003-03-27 21:59:04 and read 2243 times.
It doesnt cause too much trouble at BA i shouldnt imagine.
As you can probably imagine, they aren't using ALL of their aircraft at any given time, (some more route cuts of late helped see to that).
and i am sure BA are given plenty of noticed.
If time is an issue, and security too, he might use a VC-10 of the RAF, provided they aren't all in use elsewhere.
A^A MD-11
Username: Zrb2
Posted 2003-03-27 22:20:08 and read 2214 times.
Blair's plane is supposed to depart Andrews AFB any minute and head up to JFK.
Username: Leezyjet
Posted 2003-03-28 01:47:59 and read 2070 times.
We do need something in the UK for thr Prime Minister to fly around in, but after the Labour governments huge waste of money on that big white circus tent, I don't think they want to risk upsetting the voters again by saying they are going to purchase a private jet for the P.M. Although I as a taxpayer wish they would as it's quite embarrasing that he has to charter a normal passenger BA 777 for his travels.
Personally I think a 2nd hand A342 or A332 would be ok for his needs and would go down better with the tax payer than buying a brand new a/c. I think a BBJ would be a bit too small for his needs though.
He has been known to travel with Bmi on scheduled passenger flights too (I know as I met a flight that he came off with Cherie and the kids when I worked there).
Username: GKirk
Posted 2003-03-28 02:10:06 and read 2036 times.
A perfect Blair Force One would be an A340-200 or A340-500 
Username: AAMD11
Posted 2003-03-28 02:23:53 and read 2016 times.
A second hand A332 maybe..
A 763 would be reasonably able (RR engines of course)
Re-Engined VC-10... 
a 777 for PM would be overkill i think..... ditto 744.
And an A345 is wishful thinking 
A^A MD-11
Username: Leezyjet
Posted 2003-03-28 02:30:40 and read 2004 times.
I think that it would more likely be an Airbus product rather than a Boeing product, although if recent events are anything to go by, he's closer to the US than Europe at the moment
Username: RayChuang
Posted 2003-03-28 06:46:50 and read 1888 times.
I'd wish the British government converted an ex-airline A340-200 for use as a VIP transport.
The plane will then have bedrooms, conference rooms, larger food galley area and an area for reporters to operate from. And it will probably have enough range to fly from the UK to almost anywhere in the world non-stop with the exception of Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific islands.
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