I read the following on my favorite spot for news – Mail on-line, You know I must share this with every body. The new Air force 1 is going to be the nearest we can get to perfection. America, what a country? I LOVE it.
Six stories tall, with 4,000 square feet of space and the strength to withstand a nuclear blast, it has become a symbol of American power.
But even Air Force One has a use-by date.
In the coming weeks U.S. officials hope to confirm a manufacturing deal with Boeing to develop a new model to meet the requirements of a 21st century president.
The two 747-200B models Obama flies were first used by George HW Bush in 1991. The new 747-8 will build on its features, with the ability to refuel mid-flight and deflect heat-seeking missiles.
It comes with a longer fuselage, greater wing span, new engines and avionics, and will be heavily modified with all of the latest technological and security gear.
It also provides better fuel economy than the 747-200, which costs $180,000-an-hour to fly, and it will have fewer carbon emissions and a smaller noise footprint.
At 250 feet it is also the longest passenger jet in the world – almost 20 feet longer than a normal 747.
Of course, it won’t come cheap.
The upgrade is expected to cost the U.S. Air Force $102million between now and fall 2016, and another $3billion by 2020.
Officials announced the plan to switch to Boeing’s 747-8 air-frame in January. However, it has taken months to negotiate a strategy.
At 250 feet it is also the longest passenger jet in the world – almost 20 feet longer than a normal 747.
Of course, it won’t come cheap.
The upgrade is expected to cost the U.S. Air Force $102million between now and fall 2016, and another $3billion by 2020.
Officials announced the plan to switch to Boeing’s 747-8 air-frame in January. However, it has taken months to negotiate a strategy.
That was the last relatively major overhaul. Since, the two models have had little tweaks – either one is usually out of service as it has little updates added or new parts.
Since the 747-200B is no longer developed for commercial use, new parts are specially made for the presidential fleet.
Technically the term ‘Air Force One’ is the signal used to show the plane in question is carrying the president. If a runway is too short to accommodate the 747-200B, the president will hop on a smaller plane, and that becomes the Air Force One.