If you've ever seen that documentary on Airforce 1 you see the ridiculous maintenance schedule the thing has. Plus vetted military crew etc. I'm curious now that Trump is President Elect and an extremely high security risk, did the military take over operation of his 757? Or is he just running it like he has the least year?
What I'd love to see? As Trump is travelling in his 757 towards DC on Inauguration Day, a two-ship of F-22s forms up, one off of each wing, and escorts the plane into Andrews. With a fly-over of DC first. Man, that would be so awesome.
Of course he will be required to do so. Don't they have anti aircraft measures etc on the presidential planes? Escape capsule etc plus all the electronics for comunication.
Yes to the anti-aircraft counter measures, but I think the escape pod is a myth. I wouldn't be shocked if there was a pod, but I don't think it's realistic. Mark
I had to google some photos, but that's Kaine's plane (rhyme not intended). Looks like they are peeling decals off.
The 757 was always my favorite airliner. Overpowered and very safe, even if the passenger mile cost could not compare to later 737s. From what I remember, the accidents the 757 had were mostly due to aircrew error. Great photo of the 737 having the decals removed. At least he still has his senate seat.
I watched Air Force One fly out of the New Century AirCenter here in Kansas. Runway length there is 7,339ft. It took off with room to spare.
Dave Sandler (the sales guru from the 1980s) claimed he sold Trump his airplanes. Does anyone know anything about that? Matt
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/us/politics/donald-trumps-aging-air-fleet-gives-his-bid-and-his-brand-a-lift.html?_r=0 I read this a little while ago. Good article. Mark
Thanks, Mark. I didn't see Sandler's name in that article. Was he the guy who brokered the 1989 Trump Shuttle deal? Matt
Who is Dave Sandler? Given where the 757 came from, I'm sure it was bought through a reputable broker.
No clue. I've never heard of him. I just remembered reading an article not too long ago about how Trump acquired his planes, looked it up, and posted it. Mark
Some corrections to the NYT article: 1. The 727-100 was owned twice by Trump. As he nearly went into bankruptcy he sold it to a Saudi group. When the Saudis replaced the aircraft with a new 737-500 Trump bought it back by way of Bombardier (the Saudis had traded the Boeing against a Challenger). 2. Trump paid well under $15 mil for the 757. 3. Trump did a heavy refurb of the 757 but did no reconfiguation. He did do a huge entertainment system refit but that may have been partially removed as it was too complicated for Trump to operate. Paul Allen had the interior done at Associated Air Center as a very high quality outfitting. 4. I do not believe that this 757 was ever in airline service. I remember it as being bought from Ansett (AWAS) as a parked white tail. Jeff
Your number 3-do you have first hand knowledge of this? I noted in your profile this (VIP Aircraft Design & project management, FCA National Sponsorship Chair)
The escape pod in Air Force One is only fictional and comes about from Harrison Ford's movie Air Force One. I believe when the movie came out, the public didn't have any knowledge of its equipment let alone actual interior shots and the movie did base a lot of it on the real one, but of course added their own bits. After the movie, documentaries were done on AF1 and debunked the escape pod featured in the movie.
