The so-called "flying palace" that might become the new Air Force One is actually quite a lot less opulent than the nickname might suggest. To be sure, there are plenty of quality materials involved but the 747-8 used by the Qatari royal family is far from the bejewelled sanctuary that has been conjured up in various media reports. Aerotime tracked down photos of the interior created by bespoke aircraft outfitter Cabinet Alberto Pinto. It cited a story in Altitudes Magazine where project lead Yves Pickardt said the goal was understated luxury. âThe owner gave us carte blanche. He wasnât looking for anything outrageously luxurious, with gold and diamonds," Pickardt said. "On the contrary, he called for some simplicity, which in the end is indeed the true luxury.â
While everyone likes a slick ride, maybe that time is in the past. How much internal volume does Airforce One need today? Might an Airbus 321 nicely outfitted do the job? In the end theyâre all flying targets. All that glitters isnât gold. Free gifts⌠that arenât free.
All while average Americans hope the next few years will leave some of their 401Kâs halfway functional. But props to the administration, for abruptly and artfully taking Big Chainsaw Elon out if the news. Not much to be heard from this geniusâŚ
I never quite understood why there has to be any Presidential plane to jet around the globe with. Physical presence is overrated.
Our European clowns travel extensively on taxpayers dime, while we navigate potholes with asphalt in between and wonder where to cross the water on horseback when the last of the bridges has collapsed of old age and rotâŚ
Looking at this impartially, the âdonationâ of a Qatari 747-8 to be used as Air Force One is more than just a logistical swap. Itâs a complex, politically charged move that raises serious constitutional, ethical, and strategic concerns, even if it doesnât come with 24k gold toilets.
Well, it sure looks like a flying palace to me. I donât (always) travel cheaply, but this is orders of magnitude more glittery and expensively chintzy than any suite that Iâve stayed in.
For anyone wondering, this is the last line from Article 1, Section 9 of the US Constitution:
âNo Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince or foreign State.â
In other words, Congress is the one that will have to approve the use of this 747-8 as a temporary replacement for the VC-25. The President canât do that on his own.
âThe so-called âflying palaceâ that might become the new Air Force One is actually quite a lot less opulent than the nickname might suggest. To be sure, there are plenty of quality materials involved, but the 747-8 used by the Qatari royal family is far from the bejeweled sanctuary that has been conjured up in various media reports.â
Russ, I havenât been inside the âflying palaceâ and neither have you. I did look at the photos in the link you provided. Your suggestion that the Qatari airplane is âluxurious but not opulentâ is truly a distinction without a difference. What is the point of downplaying the quality of its interior? So what. Of all the odd things to focus on, quibbling whether the interior appointments are a 9.0 or a 9.5 on a 0-10 scale seems to monumentally miss the point.
âQatar calls reports of pending jet gift to Trump âinaccurateââ
According to POLITICO it looks like Qatar is trying to distance itself from the growing backlash. The timing suggests theyâre backpedaling to avoid getting pulled into the constitutional mess this so-called âdonationâ is stirring up.
Lets look at this $100,000,000 gift to replace a genuine AF1 USAF VC-25 Acft.
This is a fully equipped luxury business jet⌠for starters.
NO hardening⌠structural/mechanical/electrical/electronic/engines/etcâŚfor nuclear warfare and âother air/ground threatsâ. IE: NO defensive/offensive countermeasures for electronic warfare or physical threats such as AAMs, SAMs, electronic attack, LASER attack, solar/interference, EMP, EMI , TREES, Ionizing radiation, etc. NO secure communications and military grade electronics for anything.
NO Air refueling system for extended range/duration flight.
NO Medical or long duration accommodations for crew and POTUS.
This is a unique configuration aircraft⌠engineering for everything takes time.
Decisions as to âwhat to include what to excludeâ and then ;'design arounds will take time⌠much-less build/install. The EXACT structural-interior-mechanical-electrical-etc configuration of the âQâ jet may be unusable and may have to be completely removed/replaced/scrapped.
This unique aircraft will require the USAF to 'staff/spin-up, plan-for the logistics of a singular âwhite-house-elephantâ configuration. The âsucking soundsâ of USAF/systems-contractor/Boeing/engine-manufacturers/etc⌠resources and attention⌠will be deafening. NOT even the tires will be common to existing VC-25 747s.
And-so-on. This is the âcorrupt giftâ that the USAF/USG/people could cringe about for decades. âSoo-sooollyâ that the aging/existing fully functional AF-1(s), 2-identical Acft)⌠ready to fly and fight⌠seem so beneath this egotistical short-sighted persona. In his mind and his observations and his calculations this is such an âeasy thingâ to accomplish.
Mary Trump was so right about her arctic-ice uncle. Amen.
Where is your national pride? Where is make America great again? The US is a world leader in aviation. Mr. President get off your duff, quit accepting gifts to pleasure yourself and get the American Aviation industry to do its job!
How stupid to even think for a moment about this as a viable option.
Mechanically and Legally impossible.
Empty of any ethical and moral dignity.
Crazy beyond belief
The physical age of the current 2 VC-25âs is irrelevant. Iâm sure theyâre low hrs and cycleâs. The maintenance history is Iâm sure beyond belief.
If he wants something fresh this year how about a rerag and paint of the current planes.
Seems like there wasnât much floor space for the gimbal-steadied putting green, theyâll probably have to make some hard decisions as to what goes and what stays.
