Quote: French Presidency has announced that it will order three planes: two Falcons 7x and one A330-200.
The purchase of these 3 planes has been revealed by La Dépêche du Midi on Wednesday and confirmed in the evening by the French presidency. According to this newspaper, the A330 will be refurbished and reequipped by Sabena Technics based in Merignac, near Bordeaux.
The two Falcon 7x [...] will replace two Falcons 900 and four Falcons 50 used by the Government. Some are 20 years old.
[...]
According Jean-Dominique Merchet, defense specialist of newspaper Libération, the second hand A330-200 would be purchased from Air Caraibes (registration F-OPTP).
[...]
The current presidential plane, an A319CJ bought in 2002, needed to do stopovers on long-haul flights.
[...] Sabena did not say much on what will be implemented on the plane, but we can guess that it will be equipped with secured means of communication, a bedroom, a bathroom (as it is the case on the A319) as well security systems like anti-missile devices.
[...]
The total amount has not been revealed, but some specialists say it would cost between 100 and 300 million euros, all paid by the Ministry of Defense
UAEflyer From United Arab Emirates, joined Nov 2006, 711 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 5233 times:
413X3 From United States of America, joined Jul 2008, 1116 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 5070 times:
I think Reagan at the end of his term was the first President to fly on it
Flighty From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 4812 posts, RR: 3 Reply 7, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 5002 times:
Quoting GrahamHill (Reply 4): No, but I think he should change his plane as well. How old is Air Force One?
In terms of hours, the 2 VC-25 are very young (10,000 hours or so?). There would be no need to replace them yet, given they are in perfect condition.
This seems like a nice compromise for the French. France is a great nation that deserves a good vehicle for their president. To buy used is an astute move on their part.
HSVflier From United States of America, joined Jan 2008, 70 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 4673 times:
The A340-200 is used as a troop transport i believe.
Flighty From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 4812 posts, RR: 3 Reply 12, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 4592 times:
Quoting GrahamHill (Reply 10): Indeed. I did not know she had so little hours of flight.
Oh that was strictly guesswork. Nobody probably knows, but its flight habits are fairly well understood. If it's 20 years old now, it probably flies 2-3 hours per day... 1,000 hrs per year... maybe more like 18,000 hours each. At any rate, they do not maintain airline-like rates, like UA or NW's 744s which fly 10 to 13 hours a day, making them 3 to 4 times more fatigued. Not to mention the "rougher" treatment of airline use.
So these VIP jets (under 24/7 security and strictly clean) have a virtually unlimited mechanical lifespan. Instead I believe the thing that wears out is the style and technology of the interior, which needs updates from time to time.
FRNT787 From United States of America, joined Sep 2007, 546 posts, RR: 14 Reply 13, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 4520 times:
Quoting 413X3 (Reply 5): I think Reagan at the end of his term was the first President to fly on it
George HW Bush "took the delievery" so to speak during the middle of his term.
2 years...couldn't ever get the Respected Users function to work...Now it does! So watch out! I just may respect you!
TheGreatChecko From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 1076 posts, RR: 17 Reply 15, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 4448 times:
Quoting UAEflyer (Reply 3): But still not as Mr. George W. Bush air force 1
Just want to point out the plane belongs to and says United States of America on the side.
It does not belong to any one president anymore than the French aircraft will belong to Nicholas Sarkozy.
Burnsie28 From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 6302 posts, RR: 16 Reply 16, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 4421 times:
Quoting UAEflyer (Reply 3): But still not as Mr. George W. Bush air force 1
Huh?
Quoting GrahamHill (Reply 4): No, but I think he should change his plane as well. How old is Air Force One?
As others have stated, and it doesn't have the same fuel burn as normal passenger 747-200's, it has the same engines as the 744 on it IIRC. Also the plane has special capabilities, such as inflight refueling and so forth.
"Some People Just Know How To Fly"- Best slogan ever, RIP NW 1926-2009
Ovrpowrd727 From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 96 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 3452 times:
Why didn't the ministry just buy the planes new?? they have spent on other items it seems like they may have had the funding to do so. now the French gov't must pay to have the airframe fitted to their specs instead of just getting it from the beginning
Ovrpowrd727 From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 96 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 3411 times:
sorry, im asking about the 330's, sorry about that
Columba From Germany, joined Dec 2004, 5638 posts, RR: 5 Reply 22, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 2916 times:
Quoting GrahamHill (Reply 4): No, but I think he should change his plane as well.
He will change it to smaller aircraft like Gulfstreams, Learjets etc....next January.
President Obama or President McCain will continue to fly the VC 25A for at least 4 years.
Quoting Irobertson (Reply 8): What do the French Air Force do with their A340-200?
It is a troop transport aircraft airline configuration no VIP aircraft.
What will happen with the A319ACJ which is currently the VIP aircraft will it be kept or sold ?
Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans - John Lennon
KELPkid From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 4409 posts, RR: 8 Reply 23, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 2751 times:
Hey, there was no fair competition to determine who should supply the frames.
Boeing should have had a fair shot at this
(And before I get by the humor challenged, this is all tongue in cheek and is intended as a joke!)
Congratulations to France. Will these aircraft be civil registered, or operated strictly as military aircraft?
Celebrating the birth of KELPkidJR on August 5, 2009 :-)
Lexy From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 2333 posts, RR: 8 Reply 24, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 2661 times:
Quoting GrahamHill (Reply 4): No, but I think he should change his plane as well. How old is Air Force One?
Bongodog1964 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2006, 1881 posts, RR: 0 Reply 26, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 2389 times:
Quoting GrahamHill (Thread starter): Sabena did not say much on what will be implemented on the plane, but we can guess that it will be equipped with secured means of communication, a bedroom, a bathroom
Any red blooded man accompanied by Madame Sarkozy would be emphasing the need for the bedroom
DfwRevolution From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 39 posts, RR: 54 Reply 27, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 2381 times:
Quoting Lexy (Reply 24): HUH?? Are you serious??? I really hope not.
The VC-135s (SAM 2700) was about 18 years old when the VC-25s took over in 1990. Wouldn't you know it, the VC-25s turn 18 years old this year. SAM 2700 served in a secondary role for another decade before finally retiring in 2001. I would expect a replacement for the current VC-25s to be ordered sometime towards the end of the next administration.
The USAF has stated that they are studying options to replace or extend the life of the current VC-25s although they have no formal RFP pending at this time.
Flighty From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 4812 posts, RR: 3 Reply 28, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 2368 times:
Quoting DfwRevolution (Reply 27): The USAF has stated that they are studying options to replace or extend the life of the current VC-25s although they have no formal RFP pending at this time.
Practically speaking I can't figure out any reason why a new 747 would be any better than the "new 747" already being flown. They already have 747s in perfect condition, so what does a 748 frame get you... some newer Aluminum and a little more floor space...
Currently, the E-4B aircraft are getting $500m interior and mechanical refits (per jet, $2B total). As of December 2007, Boeing announced they had completed 1 of 4 refurbishments. My sense is we have to assume the E4-B is now incredibly modern inside. It doesn't cost $500m to D-check a 747 so they must have done a great deal of work in there.
So maybe the same is in store for the VC-25. After a refurbishment, the VC-25 could be pretty much a new aircraft. The bones should still be good.
BrowntailWhale From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 213 posts, RR: 0 Reply 29, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 1996 times:
BladeLWS From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 300 posts, RR: 0 Reply 30, posted (1 year 4 months 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 1908 times:
The VC-25A's are THE best maintained aircraft in the world. After every trip they are inspected head to toe and anything showing even the slightest wear is replaced. IMHO they have at least another decade and maybe more before they need replacing.
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by the humor challenged, this is all tongue in cheek and is intended as a joke!)
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