Bank of England governor has great anecdote
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Well it was mooted in Blair's time ('Blair Force One'), but a quick trawl of the Pprune archives will show that the good denizens of this website weren't overly enthusiastic about the idea! I suspect that they were more focused on the man rather than the official role he was filling at the time!
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In November 2015, it was announced that an RAF A330 MRTT would be refitted to carry government ministers and members of the Royal Family on official visits.
The refit would cost £10m but would save around £775,000 annually compared to the current practice of chartering flights. The aircraft, nicknamed "Cam Force One" by some in the media, will be fitted with 158 seats.
The aircraft entered service on 6 May 2016, with the then Prime Minister David Cameron making his first flight on it to visit the 2016 Warsaw summit.
The refit would cost £10m but would save around £775,000 annually compared to the current practice of chartering flights. The aircraft, nicknamed "Cam Force One" by some in the media, will be fitted with 158 seats.
The aircraft entered service on 6 May 2016, with the then Prime Minister David Cameron making his first flight on it to visit the 2016 Warsaw summit.
Remember the time Cameron went on a trip to Indonesia, tried to sell them Airbuses, Typhoons, and R-R engines? And showed up in a 742 chartered from somewhere terrifying in Africa?
Good job you saved that fiver, you can buy me a pint!
Good job you saved that fiver, you can buy me a pint!
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I didn't realise there was such a thing as an RAF A330 MRTT. I thought they all belonged to Air Tanker and are rented out variously to the RAF and Thomas Cook. Seriously, I have seen them go into the paint shop at Manchester as RAF and depart as Thomas Cook. On the other hand, I watched one depart Manchester as an RAF plane, painted only in primer.
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Well, to all various eccentricities of the posh and pompous, flying in machines of various quality...
Hillary Clinton fires up her midsize jet for a 20 mile journey to a fund raising " (pre meeting)", no doubt doing another bit of humanitarian work for the Clinton Foundation.
Evidently the rigors of an executive helo ride to much to stomach.
The insulated political nobility are truly sickening.
But not to worry, just pay them carbon tax for every breath we take, and they will protect us.
My morning rant folks...
Hillary Clinton fires up her midsize jet for a 20 mile journey to a fund raising " (pre meeting)", no doubt doing another bit of humanitarian work for the Clinton Foundation.
Evidently the rigors of an executive helo ride to much to stomach.
The insulated political nobility are truly sickening.
But not to worry, just pay them carbon tax for every breath we take, and they will protect us.
My morning rant folks...
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Easy enough to knock "insulated political nobility" but when we can't come up with just one suitable aeroplane to take our leaders to top-level meetings it makes our nation look inept; pointless as allies, ineffective to enemies and certainly not people worth doing business with. Melvyn Kings tale was amusing but the Namibian 747 on a "buy British" tour was a shambles and disgrace.
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Easy enough to knock "insulated political nobility" but when we can't come up with just one suitable aeroplane to take our leaders to top-level meetings it makes our nation look inept; pointless as allies, ineffective to enemies and certainly not people worth doing business with. Melvyn Kings tale was amusing but the Namibian 747 on a "buy British" tour was a shambles and disgrace.
Whenever, on any pretext of drumming up business to flog nothing but hot air, go our Union Jack waving noble ambassadors of goodwill, politicians, et al, they must do so in some style befitting their status. But what do they preach to our down at heel business folk, video conferencing, fancy web sites and never to spend a penny even going to the loo, but to remain firmly planted in their converted garden sheds to do the biz and mind the kids at the same time.
Just leave the flight deck, have a quick peek in the cabin and see who is sitting there. I bet not a pin striped suit, bowler hat to be seen anywhere.
Flying to a top secret meeting? Surely the French and Spanish flag-displaying Jumbos were a give-away. The Tyrolean aircraft and dress possibly saved the press from figuring out what was happening.☺
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Every top 20 self-respecting golfer has his own or shared biz-jet. Jack, Arnie, Greg & Gary, all top dog world trotting golf course designers have their own business tool. Sir Nick as well no doubt. Seems our leaders are playing the wrong game. Surely a few freebies are worth a knighthood or two?
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Strange story, . Surely a Netjet membership card would save a lot of problems. not only expenses but for the image too.
Note than now, after Brexit, the Country image is probably not that important anymore to attend an EU meeting
Note than now, after Brexit, the Country image is probably not that important anymore to attend an EU meeting
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Note than now, after Brexit, the Country image is probably not that important anymore to attend an EU meeting
You mean a Union Jack T-shirt & jeans + trainers?? It's a fashion nose snub.
You mean a Union Jack T-shirt & jeans + trainers?? It's a fashion nose snub.
Poorer, third world countries generally have nice aircraft for the dictator, sorry Head of State. Gold taps and leather interior essential for doing the rounds begging for aid money. Also useful if needing to flee at short notice in the event of a coup.
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RAT 5 :
I was more thinking of Boris Johnson, hair undone, in a too tight suit with his hands in his jacket pockets actually...
You mean a Union Jack T-shirt & jeans + trainers?? It's a fashion nose snub.
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Poorer, third world countries generally have nice aircraft for the dictator, sorry Head of State.
Paid for by foreign aid from the countries who can't afford the same toy for their own heads of government. Go figure, and justify to tax payers. I'd rather my own boss had a big boy's toy than some dictator muppet who is supported in office for god knows what reason.
Paid for by foreign aid from the countries who can't afford the same toy for their own heads of government. Go figure, and justify to tax payers. I'd rather my own boss had a big boy's toy than some dictator muppet who is supported in office for god knows what reason.
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In NZ a couple of years ago... boarding a domestic flight from Auckland down to Wellington.
Noticed there were a couple of cops vaguely hanging around the gate for some reason.
I turn around for some reason and notice the next bloke behind me in the queue is the prime minister - with a couple of his aides. Impressed by that; PM queuing up like a mensch for a scheduled flight with no fuss or fanfare.
Noticed there were a couple of cops vaguely hanging around the gate for some reason.
I turn around for some reason and notice the next bloke behind me in the queue is the prime minister - with a couple of his aides. Impressed by that; PM queuing up like a mensch for a scheduled flight with no fuss or fanfare.
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I flew from Bergen, Norway, to Amsterdam on KLM earlier this year. I heard several cabin crew references to welcoming "your majesty" during announcements. As I left the plane, I asked the flight attendant who had been aboard, and it seems that the Queen of Norway was seated three rows ahead of me!
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can't really understand why we haven't picked up a couple of 2nd hand A-340s, cheap as chips and do we really care about the fuel? Common type rating with the mtrr a330s so same pilots could fly them. Four engines so that can do the one engine out and on we still go thing. Plus in the spirit of Brexit they are european.
Caught a PIA flight from Manila to Vancouver a few years back and worked out that the red carpet and honour guard was probably NOT for my wife and I.
The boarding president took the time to walk the full length of cattle class (both aisles of the 747) to say hello to econ-passengers.
A very nice touch on her part, I thought, and I doubt that any passenger that day could tell you whether departure was delayed or not.
The boarding president took the time to walk the full length of cattle class (both aisles of the 747) to say hello to econ-passengers.
A very nice touch on her part, I thought, and I doubt that any passenger that day could tell you whether departure was delayed or not.
