Onboard Airforce One

[ermen]

Was watching this interesting documentary on Airforce One.

didn't know the 747's used were 747-200 series?! even seems to have a place for the flight engineers! wonder will happen once Boeing retires the 747 line of aircraft...

https://youtu.be/gd-yjm6uTYc

 

[TomVexille]

Yeah -200 series. AFAIK Boeing are in discussions to provide a new airframe based on the 747-8

 

[Pushka]

So. How does an AFF'er get to be on Airforce 1. Its been a goal of mine for some time.

Princess Fiona is probably likely to get there.

 

[Hvr]

I'm sure we all know that it is only designated AF1 when POTUS is aboard.

 

[Denali]

My friend has access to this whenever it's in Sydney.

She even got me some of those Airforce One M&Ms a couple of times.

 

[Pushka]

I'm sure we all know that it is only designated AF1 when POTUS is aboard.

I could work with that.

 

[jb747]

It is quite possible, perhaps even likely, that the replacement AF1 and 2 will be the very last 747s produced.

 

[Himeno]

It is quite possible, perhaps even likely, that the replacement AF1 and 2 will be the very last 747s produced.

I thought they had already decided to replace the VC-25s with a model based on the 747-8.

 

[ermen]

Thought this was funny

At 24:37 George W Bush says "I suspect I'll never be on an airplane, travelling to a foreign land, where I am able to walk upfront, and stretch out in a nice bed"

Lol.. this was pre the Etihad F apartments. But hey, I'm sure you could've done that on SQ Suites at the time.

 

[Boca68]

Thought this was funny

At 24:37 George W Bush says "I suspect I'll never be on an airplane, travelling to a foreign land, where I am able to walk upfront, and stretch out in a nice bed"

Lol.. this was pre the Etihad F apartments. But hey, I'm sure you could've done that on SQ Suites at the time.

Don't think it would be a good look for G.W. to be flying Etihad

Just saying.

 

[andmiz]

didn't know the 747's used were 747-200 series?! even seems to have a place for the flight engineers! wonder will happen once Boeing retires the 747 line of aircraft...
https://youtu.be/gd-yjm6uTYc

They were -200's but continuously upgraded with various engines and avionics. Last I spoke to the Boeing Chief Pilot for the 747, he mentioned that it'd be likely the last passenger 747 models to roll off the Boeing line will be for the USAF, whether that's 2 or 3 airframes I can't recall. The -8 is a great aircraft so I bet they'll serve POTUS very well.

My line training on the 747 was conducted by an ex Air Force One pilot and it was fascinating hearing about their operations such as in-flight refuelling, some of the differences to an airlines 747, and what life was like flying arguably the worlds most well known aircraft.

 

[lathiat]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_One#Future_replacement
The VC-25As are expected to be replaced, as they have become less cost-effective to operate. The USAF Air Mobility Command has been charged with looking into possible replacements, including the new Boeing 747-8 and the Airbus A380.[SUP][38][/SUP] On 7 January 2009, the Air Force Materiel Command, as part of its Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization Program (PAR), posted a notice to survey and identify potential suppliers of the next generation of Presidential airplane to begin service in 2017.[SUP][39][/SUP] By 28 January 2009, the deadline for responding to the survey notice, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) announced that it would not participate in the program leaving Boeing the sole possible provider with either its Boeing 747-8 or Boeing 787 Dreamliner being proposed.[SUP][40][/SUP][SUP][41][/SUP] On 28 January 2015, the Air Force announced that the Boeing 747-8 will serve as the next presidential aircraft.[SUP][42][/SUP][SUP][43][/SUP]

Also Here Comes the Next Air Force One - The Atlantic
Boeing: Air Force One

 

[Franky]

In a former life in the Navy, I was posted to our embassy in DC. There was a small group of foreign NCOs who were able to visit various US Defence facilities from time to time, and one of the places we visited was AAFB. This was at the height of the Cold War, and though AF1 was very securely surrounded by a massive chain link fence, and guarded by US Marines, we were able to board AF2, which in those days was a B707. Still have a pic of me and the rest of the group on the stairs dis-embarking. We were told that if the balloon ever went up, the Pres would be immediatley choppered to AAFB and would take to the air for the duration of the threat. As someone has stated above, AF1 was fitted with inflight refueling, and once airborne, a massively long antenna would be cranked out to enable comms to all and every one of their Defence units, including submarines, anywhere in the world. The plan was that AF1 would be constantly refuelled until either the war was won, or the engines siezed up, whichever came first. From memory, we were told that the AF2 we visited had been AF1 in it's former life.

 

[Altair]

In times of national security emergencies the USCoC are supposed to fly the E4B airborne command posts not the VC25A transports.
I think the USAF are considering how many 747-8 they will get because of logistics and the fact that they need a large aircraft with multiple powerplants to operate all electronic gear in the command posts. The current 4 E4Bs have about 10 years left in them before aircraft parts sustainment start impacting their availability and another 10 years before they are timed out.

 

[PaulST]

In a former life in the Navy, I was posted to our embassy in DC. There was a small group of foreign NCOs who were able to visit various US Defence facilities from time to time, and one of the places we visited was AAFB. This was at the height of the Cold War, and though AF1 was very securely surrounded by a massive chain link fence, and guarded by US Marines, we were able to board AF2, which in those days was a B707. Still have a pic of me and the rest of the group on the stairs dis-embarking. We were told that if the balloon ever went up, the Pres would be immediatley choppered to AAFB and would take to the air for the duration of the threat. As someone has stated above, AF1 was fitted with inflight refueling, and once airborne, a massively long antenna would be cranked out to enable comms to all and every one of their Defence units, including submarines, anywhere in the world. The plan was that AF1 would be constantly refuelled until either the war was won, or the engines siezed up, whichever came first. From memory, we were told that the AF2 we visited had been AF1 in it's former life.

Is that the B707 that's now in Seattle's Museum of Flight?

I suppose being AF1 would be a fitting send-off for the 748. At least you'll know it'll be well looked after and then go into a museum. Beats being flown by an airline for 20 years, then sold to a developing-world airline and finally a scrap heap.

 

[Franky]

Not sure about that, but I guess with its' history, it may well be. My time there was 77-79. There may be a place to search for that info, but I have no idea where to look.