Blair Force One
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Blair Force One
The BBC home page quotes that military chiefs support the idea of a 'BLAIR FORCE ONE' concept. Any ideas? The BBC say that it will be a converted tanker. Have we still got Victors?
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The b#stard only gets in my C150 if I get a big iron bar and he has been bound, gagged, put in a large sack and shot full of tranquiliser. Oh, and the d-rings have already been removed from the door so I don't actually have to land to drop him off.
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More than one way to skin a cat.....
Ah so instead of the RAF having to aquire him a a340 out of it's budget he swipes a tanker instead!!
So I wonder will El Presidente prefer to chaufered in a ex B.A. 767 or a brand new shinney a330?
will this come out of the proposed number's availible for tanking (after all it's not like were short of them!) or the section of the fleet being leased to the civvy market?
Some how i can't see Blair force one shuttling punters to Benidorm (or being availible as a tanker/transport in a crisis!)
So I wonder will El Presidente prefer to chaufered in a ex B.A. 767 or a brand new shinney a330?
will this come out of the proposed number's availible for tanking (after all it's not like were short of them!) or the section of the fleet being leased to the civvy market?
Some how i can't see Blair force one shuttling punters to Benidorm (or being availible as a tanker/transport in a crisis!)
Give Bliar and deputy PM Campbell the Concord fleet, and let whoever sweeps Paris' Charles de Gaul's runways have the COCO contract!
The long pointy nose would suit him down to the ground
(His ego could trail behind the Concord in a fleet of IL-76s, stuffed to the gills with spin)
The long pointy nose would suit him down to the ground
(His ego could trail behind the Concord in a fleet of IL-76s, stuffed to the gills with spin)
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This is not a new discussion on prune.
The UK is the fourth largest economy in the world. It has highly effective armed forces and is a nuclear power.
The Prime Minister, of whatever party, should have access to an up to date aircraft with proper comms kit, and decent passive defences.
This is not a Blair issue, or a party issue, it is a question of what is appropriate for the elected leader of a major military and industrial power. I would take exactly the same view for a PM of any elected party.
Why does everyone have to be so small-minded?
The UK is the fourth largest economy in the world. It has highly effective armed forces and is a nuclear power.
The Prime Minister, of whatever party, should have access to an up to date aircraft with proper comms kit, and decent passive defences.
This is not a Blair issue, or a party issue, it is a question of what is appropriate for the elected leader of a major military and industrial power. I would take exactly the same view for a PM of any elected party.
Why does everyone have to be so small-minded?
There are no limits
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So why doesn't he make a good business decision and take fractional ownership of a Boeing Business Jet?
I could do him a good deal if he could take the time to contact me!
I could do him a good deal if he could take the time to contact me!
Avoid imitations
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It's perfectly OK by me.
As long as he keeps a record of business and private miles flown and declares it all to Gordon and his Inland Revenue hitmen.
As long as he keeps a record of business and private miles flown and declares it all to Gordon and his Inland Revenue hitmen.
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BF1
Ah! But the French don't count as they are..... um... French! (and they invented the Souffle, for which they shall never be forgiven) 
Give the guy a plane!
Its not like the budget is real money, just numbers to be 'balanced'.
Or even better, get rid of 2 Jags and with the money saved outfit a Timmy with decent kit. After all he only has the job to keep the old school in line, its not as if he is any good
Sorry, just felt like stirring this evening
Hip Hip
Give the guy a plane!
Its not like the budget is real money, just numbers to be 'balanced'.
Or even better, get rid of 2 Jags and with the money saved outfit a Timmy with decent kit. After all he only has the job to keep the old school in line, its not as if he is any good
Sorry, just felt like stirring this evening
Hip Hip
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Some years ago, Brize got a call from No 10 requesting the VIP VC-10 to take el-Supremo to some world summit or other. The Cpl on the other end said no, he can't have it. After several minutes of "do you know who is asking for it, etc." the Cpl said he can't have it because he axed it in the last round of cuts!!!
Needless to say, a jet was found and the RAF continued to provide the VIP service without any budget established for it. Bloody good economics for the Government!
Needless to say, a jet was found and the RAF continued to provide the VIP service without any budget established for it. Bloody good economics for the Government!
Since the advent of the creeping cancer of contractorisation in the military, no doubt el Gordo will find a cheaper way of moving Trust-me-Tone about than in an RAF jet?
Why not charter an Il-76 from one of those cheapo Eastern European outfits? If it's good enough for the Armed Forces, it'll do for El Presidente.
Why not charter an Il-76 from one of those cheapo Eastern European outfits? If it's good enough for the Armed Forces, it'll do for El Presidente.
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The Prime Minister, of whatever party, should have access to an up to date aircraft with proper comms kit, and decent passive defences.
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Actually we are now fifth......behind France.
ALot of Frances wealth is generated through the CAP subsidies, it will be interesting to see what happens when that ends.
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Vick Van Guard and TC27,
The French have recently overtaken us, but purely as a result of the increased value of the Euro, all other indicators taken into account. If the value of the Euro was to recede, then we would "leap" back into fourth place, unless China has a massive increase in fortune.
The expression - "world's largest economies" is largely irrelevant, and only prolonged for the "false pride" of the G7 members! If GDP/capita were used instead, then G7 would probably consist of Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, Bermuda, and United States!
The French have recently overtaken us, but purely as a result of the increased value of the Euro, all other indicators taken into account. If the value of the Euro was to recede, then we would "leap" back into fourth place, unless China has a massive increase in fortune.
The expression - "world's largest economies" is largely irrelevant, and only prolonged for the "false pride" of the G7 members! If GDP/capita were used instead, then G7 would probably consist of Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, Bermuda, and United States!
Prince of Darkness
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How about Blairy takes delivery of a couple of used Concordes? Keeps the flag flying and cuts down on overnight stops with attendant security costs
Ozzy
Ozzy
Dear Unwell_Raptor old boy,
I take your point and agree with it, however I really think that the principle ought to be extended.
If the Prime Minister lives in an technologically advanced and rich country then so do the rest of us. If he should have an up-to-date aircraft with the latest equipment and defences (and he should), then surely the GBP should have an Air Force and Navy with the same level of non-obscelescent equipment? Is this happening?
The Royal Navy has virtually no fixed wing fighters/interceptors now the Sea Harrier FRS2 is being withdrawn with from service with no replacement. So now we have AEW Seakings that can detect at long range and low-level... but nothing that can defend at long range and low-level... how novel! (if only)
Happily for the fleet this is OK because the Americans will provide air cover.. which takes us full circle..... Perhaps Tony B. can bum a ride on Air-Force One itself? there must be servants quarters or similiar? (his foriegn policy seems to be an exact duplicate of the President Bush's, so is there any need for him to go abroad at all?)
OK, I am being facetious. But seriously, if first class service is the issue, shouldn't the newest and best be provided for the combat aircraft and military infrastructure that defends the country, rather than for a basic transport role that could be (and is) provided by a domestic airline?
Yip! Yip! f-naar, f-naar, my old man's a deck-chair, etc, etc
I take your point and agree with it, however I really think that the principle ought to be extended.
If the Prime Minister lives in an technologically advanced and rich country then so do the rest of us. If he should have an up-to-date aircraft with the latest equipment and defences (and he should), then surely the GBP should have an Air Force and Navy with the same level of non-obscelescent equipment? Is this happening?
The Royal Navy has virtually no fixed wing fighters/interceptors now the Sea Harrier FRS2 is being withdrawn with from service with no replacement. So now we have AEW Seakings that can detect at long range and low-level... but nothing that can defend at long range and low-level... how novel! (if only)
Happily for the fleet this is OK because the Americans will provide air cover.. which takes us full circle..... Perhaps Tony B. can bum a ride on Air-Force One itself? there must be servants quarters or similiar? (his foriegn policy seems to be an exact duplicate of the President Bush's, so is there any need for him to go abroad at all?)
OK, I am being facetious. But seriously, if first class service is the issue, shouldn't the newest and best be provided for the combat aircraft and military infrastructure that defends the country, rather than for a basic transport role that could be (and is) provided by a domestic airline?
Yip! Yip! f-naar, f-naar, my old man's a deck-chair, etc, etc
Totally agree. If we can't afford to keep the Sea Harrier going until the F35 and the CVF come along, how come we can afford a jet for Mr Blah?
Indeed. So why does our Government think its not necessary for us to have organic air defence when France, Spain, Italy, India, Thailand all have it or want it? And on that note, India's been operating the SHAR for years, so why do our (not very) learned politicians insist that it can't cope with hot climates?
I still remember hearing Lewis Moonie MP stating last year on TV that the main threat to maritime forces was from air launched anti ship missiles, but that the Sea Harrier was no defence against this threat......
I fear that HM Forces are no longer seen as a tool of UK national policy but just as an extension of Washington or Brussels. If so this aircraft would be to try to impress people.
The UK is the fourth largest economy in the world. It has highly effective armed forces and is a nuclear power.
I still remember hearing Lewis Moonie MP stating last year on TV that the main threat to maritime forces was from air launched anti ship missiles, but that the Sea Harrier was no defence against this threat......
I fear that HM Forces are no longer seen as a tool of UK national policy but just as an extension of Washington or Brussels. If so this aircraft would be to try to impress people.