The first RAF wedgetail will be a 10 year old ex Chinese airliner.
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Looks like i had a long loud one in post 14... though my original post referred to the wedgie.
better slope off for a shreddie change.
better slope off for a shreddie change.
Boeing still has a low-rate line producing 737s for P-8/E-7 conversions - based on the 737 NG. So new build aircraft are still available.
Yes, as roger4 notes, the AF1 747-8 Intercontinentals were built for the Russian airline Transaero - which declared bankruptcy shortly before they were to be delivered.
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).
Yes, as roger4 notes, the AF1 747-8 Intercontinentals were built for the Russian airline Transaero - which declared bankruptcy shortly before they were to be delivered.
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).
It hopefully might have slipped in again. You'd need to know before you install the cabin. It doesn't make sense to not make it inflight refuelable.
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Or at least fit all the relevant plumbing.
A refit later on will be some pita.
All the existing Wedgetails (Australian, Korean and Turkish) and gloss pale grey, i.e. the same as the P-8s.
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.
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.
The RAAF E-7's are a slightly lighter shade of gloss grey than the P-8's....