Cameron's latest jaunt
 

Just out of interest whose aircraft flew Cameron to India? Sky showed him running down the steps at BOM and there was a shot of what looked like an A320.

I believe he flew out on a Virgin A340-600 to Mumbai. No idea who they chose to use internally.

Yes, it looks like it was VIR9951 on G-VEIL. There is no sign of this aircraft having left so perhaps it will be used for any planned internal flights.

SFS

I know it's controversial, but when Merkel, Hollande, Putin, Obama, Gillard and just about every other Prime Minister or Head of State travel they use a "State" aircraft whether it be a 747, A310, IL96 or whatever else.

Surely it's about time the UK had a similar government transport to carry our elected leader, and our head of state.

Chartering a commercial aircraft just doesn't send the right message - in my opinion.

How about a VC10 - after all it is British!!

It was a Virgin A340-600 - ITV news showed him running down the stairs but the angle of the camera was different.

I guess if there was an official government aircraft to ferry our leader around the world there would be so much negative press against it. Then what would happen to it when it wasn't flying?

He seems to be dashing about out there quite alot has he got "Delhi belly".

After the comments about Blairforce one I presume he dare not buy an aircraft.

Our head of state is the Queen. She's got a whole squadron:ok:

ROYAL FLIGHT
 

Her Maj might have a whole Squadren but uses Civilian Aircraft on most
overseas Flights and Family members use a lot of smaller Biz Types
London Execs aircraft a lot of the time.
The whole idea of UK HM Queen 1 was dropped because of cost same as
Royal boat.

Tony
farnborough local (non nimby)

State aircraft!!! You can pay - I'm opting out!!!

I think a lovely VC10 would be great.:rolleyes:

The OP refers to Cameron's latest jaunt. I think the trip is to sell products to India, there are a lot of business men accompanying him. If he manages to sell Typhoons to India he will have done a very good job IMO.:D

Merkel and all other political figures including the opposition have quite a few aircraft at their disposal. The fleet consists of two A340-300 (ex Lufthansa), two brand new A319 ACJ, four brand new Global 5000 and three Cougar AS-532. Additionally six A310 are used, however mainly as MRTT, flying intensive care unit, personel and cargo transportation. There was quite a bit of a discussion when that fleet was renewed last time, however it was of no question that military transportation needs to be there at a moments notice for VIP transport of the countries political leaders. Quite often there will be a delegation of press and business persons accompanying merkel on her travels and the A340 has enough space to take them along. Besides of course having a bed room, private office and so on.

To be honest all that costs money, quite a bit actually. But compared to the whole budget its negligible and the aircraft are military registered providing the possibility to protective measures that are not possible on line aircraft.

cost of #DAVE Jolly
 

sky reporter said this morning that he was at the Airport Waiting to fly home
So All you #DAVE Lovers can go to EGLL and Wait for him and Wave.
While your at it get him to say how much this Jolly has cost you the Taxpayer

Tony:mad:

It is quite likely that the cost to you the tax payer is zero. The costs are often fully covered by the accompanying business people and journalists who have to pay..

There's a few Concordes knocking around not doing much these days.
They would make a good impression arriving on foreign soil.

We should just dust off a Comet to remind all everywhere who started this jet airiner malarky.:)

Key issue is we've lost sight of what taxpayers need to pay for. Want decent hard working MPs? Pay market rate for smart talented clever people then.
Want to be taken seriously internationally? Have the basics to get your people from A to B in safety and a little style. It should not be beyond the wit of man to have 1-2 A332s or A319s avaialble from a finded RAF VIP pool. Used as medevac or troops transports as and when required.

Instead we get Cameron flying the logo of one of the companies involved in the West Coast main line fiasco. Force projection and diplomacy ought not to have a commercial sponsor. The state is already enormous, we just don't get the basics right.

I remember Mrs Thatcher going on foreign trips on a VC10 and later on a Concorde and a fine sight they were (the planes that is). Sadly the Concorde has gone and the VC10s are very old and would not create a good impression if you wanted to impress foreign customers.
In hardened times it would be rather extravagant to buy a large jet just for politicians to use. I think it is much better to charter, as happens now. The Virgin A340-600 has Rolls Royce engines, so is a good choice to try to sell Airbus or RR.
Somehow I do not think Virgin were the naughty ones in the West coast rail fiasco, they seem to be doing a good job.

For the Queen? The PM and the press? HM Foreign Secretary? This idea it's only for politicians is a new one, fed by the bollocks from the media. Now I think the pond life are a big old waste of space half the time but we're up against the Chinese for God's sake, one needs to try.

Is it so hard to have a special tasked mini fleet of RAF A319s in amongst the A330s? Short term good headlines gave us the nonsense of PFI, which put off the VC10 replacement for decades and made the A330 deal a poor one. Just *buy* some A319s. Of course we might have to cut foreign aid or something. ok:

If it's worth doing then fund it, if not, stop doing it. No *magic* Blairite "third way".

I can remember when the Queen travelled on an Andover of the Queen's Flight.
Is this the sort of thing you want?

No, a modern fit for purpose aircraft like an A319 or a B737 BBJ. Somewhere sensible between a Palatial willy waving A380 or B747-400 and chartering from Branson or Astraeus or whoever had something free and available.

It works for the Germans, French, Belgians, South Africans, Australians etc etc. Tony Blair once got left behind as PM as his chartererd DC8 went tech. What does that say about UK plc? It's not difficult and other countries seem to manage with a small fleet.