Bank of England governor has great anecdote

[413X3]

alldaysushi, The Clinton's do not have a private jet, you are thinking of the Orange Menace. And you have a problem with charity work done by foundations, is that because your guy only lies about donating to charity?

[Herod]

At AMS one evening, about to go to Manchester, when KLM VIP section ring. "Your Prime Minister will be down in five minutes". Great, no notice of this, and we all know said PM always liked a bit of fuss. Turns out it was the Deputy PM. We were a one-class aircraft, so kudos for travelling with the great unwashed. On arrival MAN, a limo met the aircraft, presumably to take said VIP home. What puzzled me was that the gentleman concerned lived in Hull, and we had a schedule to Humberside which would have been much more convenient. OK, you can't expect ministers to know everything, but at the time he was Minister for Transport!

[G-CPTN]

Originally Posted by VictorWatcher

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.

It seems that the suits insist on a VIP interior.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...oyager-427048/

AirTanker Flies First VIP Mission | ShowNews content from Aviation Week

Inside RAF's new 'Cam Force One' VIP jet for ministers and Royals

[lapp]

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?

That's what the Italians have done, leased from EY.

[ATC Watcher]

And the French , as they did with a second hand A330 from Air Carraibes. ( Sarko one) Discussion at the time was security, speed of availability /dispatch and more important communications. The aircraft , a bit like AF1 , has serious secure comms gear embedded.
The Tanker conversion option was set aside using the argument that in times of tensions or war, the tanker will be used operationally rather than ferrying a head of state around.
But what made the difference of course in the end was the huge ego of Sarkosy at the time. Of course a Falcon 50 or X would do the same at half the cost, but you cannot take than many journalists with you on a Falcon... ( of Which France Government also has a few in addition to the A330)

[KelvinD]

Speaking of RAF tankers, it seems Theresa May could be going to China on one today. Voyager ZZ336 is due in to LHR this morning at 10:30 and due to depart at 13:10. This is the aircraft that had a £10Million refit to take away the 290 standard trooping seats, replacing them with 56 rather smart business/first class type seats.

[VictorWatcher]

And that's why I can't see why they didn't get a couple of 2nd hand 340's, using an air tanker means taking it away from the tanking role and you can be sure if their's a conflict on they won't convert it back soon enough to be useful. A pair of 340's and no-one else will ever want them so they can use refitted for VIPs and used indefinitely. Common type rating with the tankers yada yada - such a good idea that'll it'll never be considered.

[lapp]

That's what the Italians have done, leased from EY.

In the end the Italian PM came to China with the old 319. There has been some criticism about the 340 also because no national Air Force pilot is currently type rated on it.

[Rwy in Sight]

no national Air Force pilot is currently type rated on it.

How long has been since the a/c was received? And how come the Air Force did not include on the lease agreement the training of a couple of crews?