Re: US considers Airbus A380 as Air Force One
- From: Rob Arndt <teuton263@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2007 03:14:15 -0700
On Oct 20, 12:00?am, Herbert Viola <bga...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
In article <ff6g8q$2v...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, ffff <f...@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
EXCLUSIVE: US considers Airbus A380 as Air Force One and potentially a
C-5 replacement
By Stephen Trimble
The Airbus A380 has attracted interest from the US Air Force (USAF) as a
cargo freighter and as a large VIP transport in the Air Force One class,
says an industry source.
EADS last summer responded to two separate inquiries by the USAF s Air
Mobility Command (AMC) about the A380, which is a double-decker jet
delivered to Singapore Airlines on 15 October after a long delay.
AMC s first request asked EADS to submit data about the A380F Freighter
for potential use as a military airlifter, the source said, adding that
the company has submitted a reply and expects an invitation to make a
presentation in December to AMC officials.
The request may be linked to the USAF s ongoing review of a potentially
over-budget re-engining and reliability improvement programme for the
Lockheed Martin C-5 fleet. Lockheed insists the programme can be
accomplished within the current budget, but USAF estimates indicate a
50% to 100% cost growth.
USAF officials were not immediately available to comment.
Separately, AMC also requested data from EADS about three Airbus jets as
part of a market survey for VIP Large Aircraft Recapitalization , the
source said. The survey solicited data about the A380, A340-600 and
A330-200.
The USAF may soon need to recapitalize the VC-25 Air Force One and the
US Navy also may face similar pressure to replace the E-4 Looking Glass
airborne command post. Both aircraft are based on the Boeing 747-200 and
entered service in the early 1990s. Many commercial airliners are
retiring the 747-200 due to age and fuel inefficiency.
Boeing s Global Support Systems (GSS) division is aware that the USAF
may need to replace the VC-25 with a new model and intends to offer the
Boeing 747-8, which features new engines and wings and is scheduled to
enter service in 2009.
Retaining the company s historic monopoly on the Air Force One fleet is
the GSS division s top priority, Boeing officials say.
Recent acquisition contracts show that presidential aircraft fleets are
not immune from transatlantic competition. In 2004, the US Navy selected
an Italian-British helicopter design the EH101 -- offered by Lockheed
for the next presidential helicopter.
The Lockheed product, which has since faced cost and technical problems,
beat a rival bid from incumbent Marine One supplier Sikorsky.
AMC s two separate requests for Airbus jets arrived as EADS prepared a
bid for the KC-X tanker contract based on the A330-200 converted
freighter. The US Special Operations Command, meanwhile, has previously
asked EADS for information about the A400M. Another EADS division,
Eurocopter, is supplying the EC145 to the US Army as a light utility
helicopter.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/10/17/218681/exclusive-us-c...
airbus-a380-as-air-force-one-and-potentially-a-c-5-replacement.html
<objective question>
Would not the rather strict airport limitations of the A380 rule it out
as a serious contender for Air Force One?
</objective question>- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -
Only on official foreign visits, but not during a wartime scenario-
the military locations for that plane to land should be able to handle
the big A380.
It's not like Air Force One is required to land on a freeway in an
emergency ;)
Rob
.
- References:
- US considers Airbus A380 as Air Force One
- From: ffff
- US considers Airbus A380 as Air Force One
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