UTA_flyinghigh From Tunisia, joined Oct 2001, 6495 posts, RR: 52 Posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1803 times:
I just watched the news on my lunch break, and noticed that the British PM is flying a "normal" BA 777 instead of "Blair Force One" ; is the Nimrod still used and for what flights/operations ?
Fly to live, live to fly - Air France/KLM Flying Blue Platinum, BMI Diamond Club Gold, Emirates Skywards
Luxair66 From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2002, 74 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 1758 times:
Nimrod's are used by the RAF for maritime patrol (MR.2P) and reconnaissance (R1). Some are being rebuilt to MRA4 standard. They have never been used for VIP transport (maybe some Comet's were in the 60's).
The VC10 has been used for long range VIP transport in the past (when Thatcher was PM) and more recently the Tristar, but commercial aircraft are usually used these days, even for Royal tours. I think the VC10's are starting to run out of hours
Jacques60 From France, joined Jul 2003, 120 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 1718 times:
Can I ask if this PM 777 has a specific interior arrangement of if the PM is happy with the "normal" F class of BA ??
N.B : in our good old 707 days here, our CdG had a so called presidential version up front of the acft !
LGW From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 5 hours ago) and read 1602 times:
I hear the aircraft is full of mirrors so he can practise his poses and smiles throughout his flights, and also lots of pictures of Mr Blair so he can continue to love himself and also plenty of spin doctors on board to pull his strings and tell him what to say, how to say it and when to say it.
Also it is understood that he needs a lot of room for his Pinocchio style nose for all the lies hes been telling us about tax rises and his public services reforms
Cherie travles in the hold I am told
Apart from that it's a normal Speedbird triple-seven...
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12713 posts, RR: 80 Reply 6, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 1551 times:
VC-10s are tasked with air to air refueling now, as well as troop transport, (the original 10 sqn ones built new for the RAF that is, the converted airliners of 101 sqn have always been pure tanker/transports, but the 10 sqn birds were also fitted for AAR in the early 90's.).
If security is a real issue, a 10 sqn VC-10 might still be used, as they have IRCM countermeasures and military crews. The last time was in 2001 when Blair went to Pakistan just after the Taliban fell.
Currently the VC-10s are to stay until 2007-09.
Usually on a BA aircraft, Blair will go in 1st, journalists down the back.
VIP kits on BA aircraft have been used for Royal flights, not when carrying the PM AFAIK.
Bmacleod From Canada, joined Aug 2001, 2082 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1355 times:
I remember 12 years ago Queen Elizabeth flew on the Concorde to Canada. Back in the early 1980s she flew here on AirCanada for what reason I have no idea.
The engine is the heart of an airplane, but the pilot is its soul.
GoAround From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2003, 616 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1343 times:
There had been talking of Blair getting his own jet (a BBJ I believe - perhaps he could have flown in it to open the new Airbus factory?) but it appears nothing has materialised. We'll see...
Luxair66 From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2002, 74 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (9 years 10 months 1 week 4 days ago) and read 1231 times:
I understand Blair uses a 777 because of the amount of people (including invited journalists) that he wants to take with him on these jollies. Can't see him cramming that lot inside a BBJ.
The VC10's (and L1011) will be replaced by either ex BA 767's or new build A330's (when the government finally makes up its mind what it will buy).
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; is the Nimrod still used and for what flights/operations ?
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