The first RAF wedgetail will be a 10 year old ex Chinese airliner.
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The first RAF wedgetail will be a 10 year old ex Chinese airliner.
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I doubt there is much of the original electronics and wiring left untouched during the Wedgetail conversion (even the original aircraft avionics need to be hardened for the HIRF environment).
They will not fly that much later on compared to airliners so taking any young and low hour BBJ second hand as a base airframe for conversion creates no problem. Chinese or not.
Even the next AF1 is some converted commercial airframe however zero hours. Both aircraft.
Even the next AF1 is some converted commercial airframe however zero hours. Both aircraft.
Off topic but....
New AF1 are a pair of 747-8s that were never delivered and have been in storage in the California desert for some time. I hope President Biden orders them to be painted in the existing Kennedy-era colour scheme, rather than the scheme that he-who-must-not-be-named chose, looking almost the same as his B757! I have always thought the US Presidential scheme to be hugely iconic, and unlike any run of the mill airline scheme (apologies to all run of the mill airlines).
New AF1 are a pair of 747-8s that were never delivered and have been in storage in the California desert for some time. I hope President Biden orders them to be painted in the existing Kennedy-era colour scheme, rather than the scheme that he-who-must-not-be-named chose, looking almost the same as his B757! I have always thought the US Presidential scheme to be hugely iconic, and unlike any run of the mill airline scheme (apologies to all run of the mill airlines).
AF 1's current livery was designed by Raymond Loewy and should be kept as it is.
Will the RAF's Wedgetail be in fact light grey or white as on the graphic?
Will the RAF's Wedgetail be in fact light grey or white as on the graphic?
Isn't the replacement Air Force 1 an ex Russian order.?
Isn't the replacement Air Force 1 an ex Russian order.?
One was used as a backdrop during Boeing's 100th anniversary back in 2016 - before being stored in the desert.
I believe at least one has been moved from the desert to San Antonio, Texas for the AF1 conversion (dual APUs, airstairs, aerial refueling, and a bunch of other stuff I can't talk about).
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Nowt wrong with that, the RAF uniform material also was.
The first two U.K. P8’s are second hand hulls to speed up production and the final three are new hulls. It seems an odd decision to not use the latest still in production variants, I wonder what advantages the model selected has over the -800... or erm the Max.
With the RAF now looking at operating these with the infrastructure being put in place, wouldn’t it make sense to aquire a secondhand pax / freight version or two that the could operate instead of the aging BAe 146 etc as you would have a lot of commonality spares wise.
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Last edited by NutLoose; 9th Jan 2021 at 22:37.
Our first BBJ was photographed arriving at Birmingham in the week with a bare fuselage, but with fin/rudder, wings, engine nacelles, nose and tail cones already painted in gloss pale grey.
Last edited by roger4; 10th Jan 2021 at 15:25.
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And this shows it stored
https://www.jetphotos.com/info/737-38633 and the current location as BHX Birmingham.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInq...umberTxt=946BC
and
https://www.flightglobal.com/defence...141909.article
https://www.jetphotos.com/info/737-38633 and the current location as BHX Birmingham.
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInq...umberTxt=946BC
and
https://www.flightglobal.com/defence...141909.article