USAF Seeks Air Force One Replacement 640
Tyketto writes "The United States Air Force has taken the first public step in the search for a replacement of the Boeing VC-25, also known as Air Force One, saying it is no longer cost effective to operate and modernize the two 19-year-old VC-25s, which are converted Boeing 747-200s. Airbus has already submitted data for the A380, and while Boeing has had the Air Force One contract for nearly 50 years, delays with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 747-8, as well as the KC-X Tanker competition, may see the USAF looking to Europe for its next presidential aircraft."
Change (Score:3, Funny)
Re:I have to ask (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Buy European? No chance. (Score:5, Funny)
Is an A380 big enough? (Score:5, Funny)
Presidents tend to have pretty big egos, so maybe the space is needed.
On the other hand, the Senate scolded the American Big Three for their corporate jets. Maybe the Air Force should be a better role model, and go for something smaller.
I was thinking of something like this: http://www.jamesbondmm.co.uk/vehicles/little-nellie?id=002 [jamesbondmm.co.uk]
The President could have some real fun with that, and it would add teeth to his domestic and foreign policy.
Re:I have to ask (Score:3, Funny)
Hey, it's illegal to make threats against the president of the USA...
Or did they finally fix the V22 ?
Re:First Post! (Score:3, Funny)
So long as there are message boards, there will be "First Post!!!" messages in second and third position on them.
I'm sure there's a name for this law, "Law of first moron" seems appropriate.
Re:Air Force One replacement (Score:1, Funny)
Comment removed (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Thought... (Score:3, Funny)
Oh you dumbass, you are talking logic and rational thinking in a GOVERNMENT project!
The government, especially the military doesn't work like that. Here, let me guide you:
1) First of all some lame clerk comes up with a simple cheap way to build a new AF1.
2) His superior, afraid of budget cuts, pads it up by 300% to include laser-guided TV remotes.
3) The senate committee adds more pork by adding a military base and hands it for signature
4) The military invites closed bids for the same and awards it to the HIGHEST bidder.
5) The contractor burns through the money in 3 weeks and comes back to military with a 2-feet model.
6) Military approves it and goes back to congress for more money stating security.
7) Congress grants it and adds more pork to it.
8) The military deducts 10% from the amount and gives remaining to contractor.
9) Years pass and a new president comes in.
10) The new president is delivered a plane that has half the functionality at thrice the cost
11) President enthusiastically declares the project was completed in 4 months (his time as prez).
12) Contractor given more projects!
Obligatory (Score:5, Funny)
I've had it with these --ing Presidents on this --ing plane!
I have to ask-more than meets the eye. (Score:5, Funny)
You left out it's also a transformer.
Re:Air Force One replacement (Score:1, Funny)
? nt jst drp th vwls?
Re:I have to ask (Score:2, Funny)
A Redundant Array of Inexpensive Jets?
If only we'd elected Ron Paul... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Buy European? No chance. (Score:4, Funny)
American plane, European plane; all parts made in Taiwan!
Re:Air Force One replacement (Score:5, Funny)
it is quite appropriate for the dot
"I was in the 'Dot, man! You don't know what it was like! You weren't there!"
Re:I have to ask (Score:5, Funny)
Please. I know from extended studies of Dr Who that the British don't even notice when their prime minister is abducted by blubbery, farting aliens.
How about if we get Pres. Obama (Score:4, Funny)
an F-22 Raptor?
That would one bad-ass mo-fo ride.
I would NOT want to mess with him in that.
Re:Air Force One replacement (Score:1, Funny)
How do you know what capability Air Force One has? From what I've heard they have mini-nuclear reactors, alien technology, and Apollo command modules (for an emergency Presidential escape module or perhaps a brief lunar trip).
Re:Air Force One replacement (Score:1, Funny)
You forgot the bit where someone points out that while the US invented the underlying networking, the web was invented by a Brit working in Switzerland.
And then someone mentions that stupid Al Gore thing, and we argue about what he really said for a while, and then the whole thread goes off on a tangent about global warming.
Re:Air Force One replacement (Score:3, Funny)
"I had it again Doc. That dream. It started with Natalie Portman and a plate of hot grits. Then were in Russia and our base belonged to someone else. And then... And then..."
"Goatse Caverns?"
"Yeah. My screams woke my wife again."
Re:Air Force One replacement (Score:3, Funny)