Originally Posted by
Davef68
There were rumours earlier in the year about replacement aircraft - Airbus A220 was mentioned.
Yes; after its appearance at Farnborough 2018, I was told by 'a person in the know' about plans to replace the '146s with A220s and posted it here but no-one else had heard.
Before this and before I retired from Farnborugh in 2008, the rumour was that 'Blair Force One' (using A320s) would at least operate in/out of Farnborough if not be based there (Farnborough's runway having longer approach lighting and declared distances plus Cat 1 ILS and IRVR on both ends) with the addition that in the new hangar complex then being built (now complete), one third had been reserved for an 'undisclosed' customer.
G550s are an alternative but a 15 year old design; could they operate from Northolt's shiny new runway though, especially if as rumoured, the LDA will be reduced? That 'soft' arrestor bed might get a bit more use anyway.