I was just reading about how in 2007, the Air Force inquired about the specs on the A380 as a replacement for C5 Galaxies and possibly Air Force One. I think the 747-200s are getting a bit dated and fuel and maintenance costs must be astronomical.

First of all I don't think the POTUS would ever be flying around in an Airbus jet so I don't know why the Air Force even asked. I guess they'd need to wait for the 747-8.

Secondly, do you think a president might suffer bad public relations for spending money on new presidential planes? I don't think so and I think its the Air Force that decides anyway.

Interesting discussion:

Air Force One Replacement? — Military Forum | Airliners.net

A foreign built Air Force One?
What then, A Mercedes for the presidential limousine?

Maybe, if a guy as politically tone deaf as Pat Buchanan gets elected.
During his campaign for president he told a group of autoworkers that he used to drive a Cadillac, but now he drives a Mercedes, because American cars were "junk".
And to think he was just 48% of the vote away from the White House.

__________________
“The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine.”

Senator Thad Cochran, Mississippi (R)
on McCain

“I decided I didn’t want this guy anywhere near a trigger.”
Senator Pete Domenici, New Mexico (R)
on McCain

“My anger did not help my campaign ... People don’t like angry candidates very much.”

McCain on McCain

Apparently, the Air Force had their interest piqued by maintenance costs and fuel efficiency.

The A380 has only recently started flying, though, so I think it's a little premature to be talking about it replacing the current choice of the 747...

__________________
Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":

I think the Air Force will wait until the development of our anti-munition chemical laser turret is complete before replacing Air Force One.

Photos: Airborne laser enlists for missile defense | CNET News.com

__________________
"The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it."
- George Orwell

I mean I know a million reasons why the Airbus won't replace the Boing, too, but looking at your last sentence I have to ask: Why is that?

__________________
"I think that gay marriage should be allowed."
- John McCain on an episode of Hardball, 2006, before the commercial break

"I do not believe that gay marriage should be legal."
- John McCain on the same episode of Hardball, after the commercial break

"John McCain does not speak for the John McCain campaign."
- Tucker Bounds, Spokesman of the John McCain presidential campaign.

The straight talk express. You gotta love it.

Well, the Boeing 747 had its' first flight back in '69, but didn't take its' place as Air Force One until the early 90's. Given that, I think it would be premature to start talking about the A380 replacing the 747...

__________________
Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":

A couple of points.

1. The Air Force is under control of the Executive, they do not have any independent power to "decide", they have the power to decide delegated, and the President may be as hands on or off as he chooses to be in the final decision.

2. It requires congressional appropriations, so there is that for political cover

3. In almost every case that I can recall where there has been an new upgraded class of plane for AF1, it was approved under a prior president and was not delivered well after they had left office (not be design, merely by the reality of the appropriations, production, and customization timelines of such capital purchases).

__________________
"It's a good feeling to shoot a bad guy. Something you democrats would never understand. Americans are homesteaders, we want a safe home, keep the money we make, and shoot bad guys!"

----Denny Crane

AF1 definitely needs an upgrade. For starters, they need to paint over the big "Baby on Board" sign.

__________________
Life only becomes meaningful at its extremes

-- S

Where is that sign? I've never seen it in all the pictures. Could you be so kind as to point it out?

__________________
In case you were wondering, yes, there really ARE more idiots these days....technology has made natural selection obsolete.