AF1 and gas n go

[quid21]

I’m sure this was answered before, but why does AF1 not simply air refuel from Mildenhall tankers rather than going to the trouble of landing to refuel?

[POL]

Risk.

[NorvilleRogers]

I’m sure this was answered before, but why does AF1 not simply air refuel from Mildenhall tankers rather than going to the trouble of landing to refuel?

AF1 has AAR capabaility but it is rarely used and almost never with POTUS on board due to the increased risks involved during AAR. If its not an emergency situation it always lands somewhere to refuel when carrying POTUS.

[Alf]

That's why the new VC-25B (when they eventually get delivered) will not have AAR as it was not worth the costs.

[EGDR]

As far as I recall, I don't think the capability has actually ever been used, let alone rarely! All the training and certification can be done on the E-4B which has an identical system.

[quid21]

Thanks for your answers.

Does that mean that hypothetically in the event of a nuclear war the President would decamp to an E-4B? Or would that just be battle command staff and he/she simply find the nearest bunker and 'wait for it all to blow over'? (Shaun of the dead pun - well he usually has a bit of red on him....)

[T_J]

That's why the new VC-25B (when they eventually get delivered) will not have AAR as it was not worth the costs.

The military wanted the aerial refuelling capability for the VC-25Bs but the decision was made by Trump to cut it. Even Republicans on Capitol Hill were shocked that the capability was being omitted.

From September, 2017

The decision to omit aerial refueling capability from the new Air Force One was taken by the White House and not the USAF

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford was asked during Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on why the Pentagon decided to omit aerial refueling capability from the new Air Force One – based on the Boeing 747-8.

Dunford explained to Sen. Tom Cotton that the decision was taken by the White House and not the U.S. Air Force (USAF). He cited fiscal constrains of the program for the decision.

He added, “That will certainly be a limiting factor, and we’ll have to plan accordingly.”

However Cotton said on Tuesday that lawmakers and military leaders will have to revisit the refueling decision in the future.



From
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/congres ... apability/

[POL]

The best part about that decision is the 747-8 is even more restricted on where it can operate into and out of, so options on where it can land to refuel are much more limited.

[raptor9]

What restrictions are there on a 747-8?? Lufthansa operated a fully loaded one into Majorca last year or the year before. Not a huge runway length there!. Lots of longer runways about.

[slogen51]

The B748 has a wider or longer wingspan

Potus could probably pick up a A380 on the cheap- quite a few sitting around california deserts !

[raptor9]

A380 has some 30 feet longer wingspan than 747-8, yet even little Birmingham handles them, so I would imagine plenty of other airports are more than capable of it as well.

[EGDR]

Both of the airports you've mentioned have runways longer than the one at Andrews Air Force Base. Lots of airports have weight limits for their runways, taxiways, and hard standings. Compared to the 747-200B, the -8 weighs up to around 100t more and will almost certainly be overweight for quite a few places where VC-25As have previously operated.

[raptor9]

Well aware of weight limits etc., but the fact remains that there are many airports that a 747-8 is capable of operating from, so finding one at which to refuel etc. would not be too much of a problem. Some limitations of course.

[H.A.Bucken]

Tech-specs aside, when they G-n-G away from home I guess hydrants are used rather than bowsers.
I remember after an Airfete a B-52 (of 93rd BS?) was fuelled up at the nee 29 hammer-head from bowsers. When I started counting them I guess three or four had already off-loaded the juice- the number of tankers was into the teens if memory serves.
(writing of which, we're coming up to the anniversary week-end of the greatest airshow this side of the pond).
Roger

[paddyboy]

Totally agree re: the best airshow, Rog

IAT/RIAT could never get anywhere near the atmosphere of an Air Fete