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> The 747 notched its last order as a passenger jet in 2017 -- for Air Force One. What's the next version going to be then?

ceejayoz 6y ago
The current set were built in the 1980s, these ones will likely have a similar lifespan, so who knows? If you had to pick a non-747 Air Force One today it'd probably be a 777 or 787, although it'd be fun to see a C-5 in AF1 colors. In 30 years the President may hop around in a custom SpaceX Starship.
- gpm 6y ago
  > In 30 years the President may hop around in a custom SpaceX Starship. This would be really cool, but it wouldn't work for the "last mile". It's too loud and obnoxious to land in cities. Maybe if they could modify it to deploy Marine 1 mid-air, but to me that sounds a lot like stranding the president wherever you dropped him off and an necessarily high risk maneuver. Maybe the president gets an ICBM-Force One in the future, but I bet they also keep an Air Force One equivalent around too.
jandrese 6y ago
Probably a 777. It's smaller, but not by a lot. Plus the current AF1 should be in the air for many years still.
- SkyMarshal 6y ago
  Yes, 777 (X or BJ) is also capable of the longest max range of any US jet, so I imagine that would factor into an AF1 decision too. Longest range or loiter time without refueling.
- coin 6y ago
  Japan went with the 777 for their replacement AF1s
- sgent 6y ago
  Maybe... the Secret Service and Military REALLY want a 4 engine plane for AF1 -- remember other than transporting the President it serves as command and control for US armed forces. Losing an engine due to an attack is part of their planning. They may look at a military conversion if there isn't a civilian airliner available.
  - jabl 6y ago
    Hmm, does 4 engines really add to survivability? Looking at recent-ish cases like the 777(?) the Russians shot down over Ukraine or the case in Iran a few years ago, after being hit they go down pretty solidly whether they have 2 or 20 engines. I guess the one case where 4 engines might be useful is if somebody sneaks up with an IR-guided manpad near an airport. Such a small missile might just take out an engine without breaking up the entire plane. Then again, in a war if you're operating AF1 anywhere close where hostile missiles are a concern, you're doing something wrong.
anamexis 6y ago
The previous generation was delivered in 1990, so who knows what the airliner market will look like in 2050.

ceejayoz 6y ago

The current set were built in the 1980s, these ones will likely have a similar lifespan, so who knows? If you had to pick a non-747 Air Force One today it'd probably be a 777 or 787, although it'd be fun to see a C-5 in AF1 colors. In 30 years the President may hop around in a custom SpaceX Starship.

gpm 6y ago
> In 30 years the President may hop around in a custom SpaceX Starship. This would be really cool, but it wouldn't work for the "last mile". It's too loud and obnoxious to land in cities. Maybe if they could modify it to deploy Marine 1 mid-air, but to me that sounds a lot like stranding the president wherever you dropped him off and an necessarily high risk maneuver. Maybe the president gets an ICBM-Force One in the future, but I bet they also keep an Air Force One equivalent around too.

jandrese 6y ago

Probably a 777. It's smaller, but not by a lot. Plus the current AF1 should be in the air for many years still.

SkyMarshal 6y ago
Yes, 777 (X or BJ) is also capable of the longest max range of any US jet, so I imagine that would factor into an AF1 decision too. Longest range or loiter time without refueling.
coin 6y ago
Japan went with the 777 for their replacement AF1s
sgent 6y ago
Maybe... the Secret Service and Military REALLY want a 4 engine plane for AF1 -- remember other than transporting the President it serves as command and control for US armed forces. Losing an engine due to an attack is part of their planning. They may look at a military conversion if there isn't a civilian airliner available.
- jabl 6y ago
  Hmm, does 4 engines really add to survivability? Looking at recent-ish cases like the 777(?) the Russians shot down over Ukraine or the case in Iran a few years ago, after being hit they go down pretty solidly whether they have 2 or 20 engines. I guess the one case where 4 engines might be useful is if somebody sneaks up with an IR-guided manpad near an airport. Such a small missile might just take out an engine without breaking up the entire plane. Then again, in a war if you're operating AF1 anywhere close where hostile missiles are a concern, you're doing something wrong.

anamexis 6y ago

The previous generation was delivered in 1990, so who knows what the airliner market will look like in 2050.