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| Science & Technology |
| Pentagon Envisions New Air Force One |
| 2012-08-13 |
| The president of the United States may get a new Air Force One jetliner -- that is, whomeverÂ’s president after the 2020 elections. The Pentagon started a program yesterday to develop and buy replacement presidential aircraft for use a decade from now. Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition Frank Kendall authorized the Air Force to establish an office for the replacement program, which includes new Marine One helicopters available for use no earlier than 2020. The first of two current VC-25A Boeing 747-200B aircraft that serve as Air Force One entered service transporting presidential parties in September 1990. The aircraft are expected to have 30-year service lives, the Air Force said. The Pentagon has budgeted $757 million through 2017 for the first phase of the Air Force One replacement and $1.84 billion for the helicopter replacement through 2017 and most of the money would be spent after fiscal 2015, the official said. The initial new Air Force One wouldnÂ’t be delivered for modification with specialized technology until 2019, according to the PentagonÂ’s latest 30-year aviation plan. A new presidential helicopter to replace the 35-year-old models now in service wouldnÂ’t be declared operational until 2020, followed by the new Air Force One aircraft in 2023, the official said, citing a formal schedule. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #10 If Bambi has any say you can bet it will be an Airbus. |
| Posted by: USN, ret. 2012-08-13 23:34 |
| #9 DAILY TIMES.PK > 4,500 MPH WIDIN SECONDS. US TO TEST RADICAL NEW HYPERSONIC AIRCRAFT, i.e. the X-51A WaveRider. [Sub]WARP DRIVE HERE WE COME??? Reminds me of post-SPIN TEST, FUNNY-FACED DAN ACKYROYD + BILL MURRAY from 1980's "SPIES LIKE US", where now in 2012 they ponder "Ya know, maybe being an Office-n-Chair-n-JoyStick based Drone Driver wasn't such a bad or boring job after all". Again, as OWG-NWO = SPACE GOVT-ORDER, AIR FORCE ONE = renamed GLOBAL/TERRA ONE, although in all likelihood future OWG + post-OWG Space = "Star" Prezs may need a unique LUNA- or ARIES, ETC. ONE??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2012-08-13 22:54 |
| #8 With a pilot who wears the only parachute on board? |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2012-08-13 19:34 |
| #7 I'm sure there's a Cessna someone could spare. Maybe one salvaged from the Alaskan bush? |
| Posted by: Rob Crawford 2012-08-13 19:02 |
| #6 BH6 wins snark 'o the day! |
| Posted by: GORT 2012-08-13 14:49 |
| #5 I would think that a hot air balloon would be more appropo... |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2012-08-13 14:34 |
| #4 Low cost solution, contract it out to Evergreen Aviation. He can sit on a 463L pallet and mine nose nuggets. We'll help the local NW economy, save lots of money, and he can stay busy. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-08-13 06:32 |
| #3 ...The 747 will still be in production for several more years, and I suspect the 'new' AF1 will be another VC-25 - it's the only beast, current or projected, that can carry everything and has four engines. Unless they do a C-17 variant - probably practical, but doesn't quite have that awe-inspiring appearance. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2012-08-13 05:56 |
| #2 As OWG-NWO = SPACE GOVT-ORDER, the new Bird should be Hip + [not-Kevin]"SPACY". D *** NG IT, I DEMAND A GIANT "TRANSFORMER" ROBOT PLANE ALA FUTURAMA'S MIGHTY WORLD PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON'S-HEAD! |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2012-08-13 00:39 |
| #1 Since you is not important to the one... perhaps UAVs would work? |
| Posted by: Water Modem 2012-08-13 00:38 |