Blairforce 1 Ready for take-off
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5098126.stm
Prime Minister Tony Blair is set to get the go-ahead later this month for two "Blair Force One" planes to fly him on official trips, the BBC has learned.
One is likely to be a long-haul plane with 70 seats, while a 15-seater jet will be ordered for shorter flights, BBC correspondent James Hardy says.
Since 1944 US presidents have had their own plane, known as Air Force One.
Until now the PM has chartered planes or used the ageing Queen's Flight to take him on official business.
The planes will not be bought outright, but taken on a long lease.
Queen's Flight
The Royal Family will also have use of the new aircraft. Like government departments, they will pay the full cost of travel - a similar arrangement to chartering and not just fuel and staffing costs.
The long-haul plane, which is likely to be wide-bodied, with a separate VIP area and kitted out for modern communications, will be used in place of the British Airways 777 currently chartered by Downing Street.
US presidents have had their own planes since 1944 when Franklin Roosevelt started using the "Sacred Cow".
The "Air Force One" call sign was used in the 1950s for the presidential plane but it was President Kennedy's aircraft which first made the name popular. President Bush uses two Boeing 747-200B planes with the "Air Force One" tag.
Prime Minister Tony Blair is set to get the go-ahead later this month for two "Blair Force One" planes to fly him on official trips, the BBC has learned.
One is likely to be a long-haul plane with 70 seats, while a 15-seater jet will be ordered for shorter flights, BBC correspondent James Hardy says.
Since 1944 US presidents have had their own plane, known as Air Force One.
Until now the PM has chartered planes or used the ageing Queen's Flight to take him on official business.
The planes will not be bought outright, but taken on a long lease.
Queen's Flight
The Royal Family will also have use of the new aircraft. Like government departments, they will pay the full cost of travel - a similar arrangement to chartering and not just fuel and staffing costs.
The long-haul plane, which is likely to be wide-bodied, with a separate VIP area and kitted out for modern communications, will be used in place of the British Airways 777 currently chartered by Downing Street.
US presidents have had their own planes since 1944 when Franklin Roosevelt started using the "Sacred Cow".
The "Air Force One" call sign was used in the 1950s for the presidential plane but it was President Kennedy's aircraft which first made the name popular. President Bush uses two Boeing 747-200B planes with the "Air Force One" tag.
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Great idea for a 777, lets have another type on squadron service, see if we can make things more complicated and expensive than they already are.
The obvious choice is to 'rent' of of the MRTT's that should be fitted out for RAF service anyway, and are apparently going to be rented out to holiday makers anyway, then maybe we can have 10 pemament MRTT's on hand instead of the 9 planned.
The obvious choice is to 'rent' of of the MRTT's that should be fitted out for RAF service anyway, and are apparently going to be rented out to holiday makers anyway, then maybe we can have 10 pemament MRTT's on hand instead of the 9 planned.
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Give him a Tornado, fit out the back seat to have a reclining bang seat and cocktail cabinet with a connection for his laptop. At least he would turn up to conferences with style a la James Bond. And also that Pig Cherie wouldnt be able to go and ruin the photo calls.
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Currently they are just talking about purchasing these, a long time before you will be able to photograph them (but probably a damn site sooner than aircraft we actually need (MRTT anyone?) come into service).
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we would need a E-777B to take all the defence staff around too don't forget 
ITV are currently reporting that the so called wide body replacement is now the BBJ not so wide body replacement.
Bet Bush had something to do with it....This is so when Blair gets parked up beside him in the VC-25 he can still look down instead of on par...
IMO...I reckon a B777 and Global Express in the colours of the current Tristar fleet would look superb.
ITV are currently reporting that the so called wide body replacement is now the BBJ not so wide body replacement.
Bet Bush had something to do with it....This is so when Blair gets parked up beside him in the VC-25 he can still look down instead of on par...
IMO...I reckon a B777 and Global Express in the colours of the current Tristar fleet would look superb.
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I must admit to preferring the "add one to the fsta" contract option. At least that way something might actually get done and all the services could benefit from the money.
The only question I have is what defence suite is it going to have.
As an aside, I can't blame Blair for not wanting to travel around the world in any of our current fleets. Reliability is awful because the aircraft are so old and there just aren't the spares available.
The only question I have is what defence suite is it going to have.
As an aside, I can't blame Blair for not wanting to travel around the world in any of our current fleets. Reliability is awful because the aircraft are so old and there just aren't the spares available.
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Razor
Not so sure it's a Jumbo, but it is wide bodied - this allows Prescott and all the other lardy's to sit in comfort with their bulging allowance packages
Bet they don't double up in the portacabins when they get there - eeerrm - or perhaps they do!
Not so sure it's a Jumbo, but it is wide bodied - this allows Prescott and all the other lardy's to sit in comfort with their bulging allowance packages
Bet they don't double up in the portacabins when they get there - eeerrm - or perhaps they do!
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Having owned a (teeny tiny) aeroplane before I have to say I learned two things:
(1) The thre Fs - If it flies floats or F
s, it's cheaper to rent it
(2) The two happiest days in the life of an airplane owner are the day you by it, and the day you sell it
(1) The thre Fs - If it flies floats or F
s, it's cheaper to rent it(2) The two happiest days in the life of an airplane owner are the day you by it, and the day you sell it
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So which budget is the money for this coming from? If it's the RAF pot, then why not put it towards a VIP fit? But in these days of scrimp and save, why have that service for anyone other than the top royals. If it's from the MPs expenses fund, then surely hiring 2 jets indefinitely is far more expensive than "Crab Air", or even 1st class on a scheduled airline every trip.
I'm just getting the feeling that Blair knows he's on the way out, and is just making the most of his power before he goes. Which sucks, cos Labour were always the alternative to well paid, high brow conservatives who always did exactly what "New" Labour are doing now. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely......
Get rid, and put in someone who realises that you can't get something for nothing where the Armed Forces are concerned.
I'm just getting the feeling that Blair knows he's on the way out, and is just making the most of his power before he goes. Which sucks, cos Labour were always the alternative to well paid, high brow conservatives who always did exactly what "New" Labour are doing now. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely......
Get rid, and put in someone who realises that you can't get something for nothing where the Armed Forces are concerned.
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No one has mentioned that the 319 and 330 can be flown by the same crew using the airbus common cockpit qualification(CCQ).That is probably far too logical for any civil servant!