Boris Johnson, UK Foreign secretary wants a new plane. There are a few white tails around. Could it happen?

Perhaps, just put some 'spare' RR engines on one stuck at LHR currently.

https://news.sky.com/story/boris-johnso ... d-11382346

If the UK government decides it's that much of a problem then I would think the cheapest option is another Voyager. Maybe even just a fully civilian A330 CEO but with an RAF paintjob. Should still have commonality for important stuff like engines, wings, avionics, etc.

Otherwise it sounds like BoJo is just complaining. You'd think he'd be too busy with Brexit to worry about the long haul stuff.

Don’t need one. The A330 is more than fine.

I was a brexit voter but we certainly don’t need a brexit plane.

RAF have spare 330s that are leased out to Thomas Cook. Just recall them back

What a muppet. Sorry Boris you will have to make do with slumming it on the A330 voyagers!

f4f3a wrote:

RAF have spare 330s that are leased out to Thomas Cook. Just recall them back

Exactly, not like its needed every week, just more hot air from Bonkers.

uta999 wrote:

Perhaps, just put some 'spare' RR engines on one stuck at LHR currently.

This fits the bill and is cheaper than the 787 or A350..... .....




Have it for VIP work and lend the Voyager to the lord mayor.

Why not an A380, its GREAT Britain anyway.

There's no need for a new plane, they could just drive the Brexit bus everywhere. Although the queues for customs on the M20 in Kent may add a bit to the total journey time.

jeffrey0032j wrote:

Why not an A380, its GREAT Britain anyway.

And will look amazing when flying over Garden Bridge before landing in Boris' Island:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_Bridge
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-24895965

How long before this guy is sacked and sent back to the nearest pub?

We could always P the Americans right off, by getting the Concorde at LHR through its MOT. My planes better than your plane.

Jayafe wrote:

jeffrey0032j wrote:

Why not an A380, its GREAT Britain anyway.

And will look amazing when flying over Garden Bridge before landing in Boris' Island:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_Bridge
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-24895965

How long before this guy is sacked and sent back to the nearest pub?

Should also fly over one of his special extra-expensive London buses on which only two of the three sets of doors are actually used, and passengers pass out from the lack of ventilation on the upper deck

uta999 wrote:

We could always P the Americans right off, by getting the Concorde at LHR through its MOT. My planes better than your plane.

That's the spirit!
Or he can refurbish a VC-10

What a dick that man is. He needs no plane that joker. After pushing for brexit all he needs now is an old coach tour that takes him to the English Riviera for a fortnight with a gang of senile gits.

Seriously, he better not travel much: he is a National embarrassment.

How these same Tories whined and bellowed when Tony Blair suggested we lease an aircraft for Government use. IIRC Tony only wanted an A319!!!

Ahhh, The tall poppy syndrome come out again! I'm sure some of you didn't read the article by saying he'd
just have to slum it with the voyager. We had the same problem here in Australia (and we basically are having one of
our MRTT KC-30s converted to something similar to the voyager), but a while back, the government risked political backlash
And ordered some BBJ's to replace ageing 707s. The media were largely positive? Why? These trips usually have delegations with them.
Everyone from Business leaders, High Commission and Diplomatic staff, translators, security, and of course... the Media. Now the 707s were
getting completely unsafe/unreliable for PM's and government use and the RAAF didn't like using them for this purpose, and smaller biz jets meant booking everyone on commercial.

Not all countries you go to have an outstanding aviation system. However this meant most of the entourage was forced to use, at government expense,
commercial flights (which didn't work out cheap when you need that many seats anyway). In a major economy in Asia, (I won't say which one so as not to offend anyone) this forced everybody onto an aged A300 for an internal connection, which ended up crashing and killed the entire Entourage. Not to mention
it was a hugely inefficient process. And it was all about public perception, and not really much of a cost saving at all.

Nowhere in the article does it state that he wants a brand new plane. The 787/a350 aren't mentioned at all. I'd say an well used 767-300 or A340-300 are you're more likely bets. It would need probably 11-12 hr range and the ability to refit it with secure communications/a cabin divider to seperate gov and no gov traffic. Or even a 757. I'd say an early built A330 but they're going to be considerably more expensive as the type is still in high demand. It doesn't need to look like a flying Arab palace, but the ability to fit lie-flat beds in it and travel long distances is essential. This thing may be in china one day, then need to cross the pacific to Canada, go down to South America and then return to the UK.

Boris probably wants access to the BA 772ER that has the wiring and modification in place for Royal tours. A private compartment could be fitted for Her Majesty, and the plane had the back cabin and Business Class section for the flunkeys and hangers-on.

It's still flying with BA; one of the G-YMM* lot.

Theresa should instead sack him and stop pretending he's competent.

He's moaning that the Voyager isn't often available at short notice for long-haul trips. But in a way I agree with him that the UK should have at least a dedicated ACJ or BBJ, they'd be cheaper to operate than a Voyager for starters.

How about a hot air balloon ? Imagine how high and far he could go just by talking !

TC957 wrote:

He's moaning that the Voyager isn't often available at short notice for long-haul trips. But in a way I agree with him that the UK should have at least a dedicated ACJ or BBJ, they'd be cheaper to operate than a Voyager for starters.

That's basically why they fitted out one of their MRTTs with a VIP config.

What Boris is complaining about is he can't book it for his trips as it's already being used. There is nothing in any of the articles I've read saying that Boris has been unable to book any of the other Voyagers with the normal config. This is Boris complaining he isn't getting the shiny one that he feels he deserves. And suggesting the UK public should shell out for another plane kitted out with the VIP configuration. If Hillary Clinton as US Secretary of State could travel the world on a fancy pallet in a C-17 then Boris can put up with a normal Voyager or commercial. This is his belief he is entitled to such comforts. Note the total lack of argument on it saving the British taxpayer money or being able to do lots of weird routes.

JannEejit wrote:

How about a hot air balloon ? Imagine how high and far he could go just by talking !

Probably never come down.

A country with such a global standing needs a fleet of government aircraft, especially after Brexit. I think a mix of 787 BBJs and 737 BBjs would work nicely. And a livery based on the BOAC with the tail of British Caledonian.

uta999 wrote:

Boris Johnson, UK Foreign secretary wants a new plane....

Is NHS planning to sponsor? Also royal family is growing. Kate-Williams need a plane to go to Seychelles, so does Meghan-Harry.

The Voyagers will cover the bulk of any VIP transport requirements, but the 32 Sqn. 146s at Northolt will not fly forever..an ACJ or Embraer Legacy/Lineage would be a perfect replacement for the regional routes the 146s operate on.

Reactivate a VC10 or a stored RAF L1011 and any British foreign Sec will travel in style.

jeffrey0032j wrote:

Why not an A380, its GREAT Britain anyway.

And Boris might just about get his head in an A380

He just needs to wait for the B797

oldannyboy wrote:

What a dick that man is. He needs no plane that joker. After pushing for brexit all he needs now is an old coach tour that takes him to the English Riviera for a fortnight with a gang of senile gits.

Seriously, he better not travel much: he is a National embarrassment.

What do the British expect from a sawed-off Yank from New York?

.
ACJ321LR.



P.S. the seating area just in front of the bedroom can be refitted with a 16g Pub Sports Bar with lukewarm bitters for a stink'n E1.8mln.

PM wrote:

I'm not sure a plane is necessary but the obvious answer would be a cheap A340-500. More than 50% UK content and it has the range to fly (almost) anywhere. (It would also look great.) Commonality with the Voyagers and immediately available.

I'd prefer a 747SP.

Surely there is a VIP config that could be put to good use.

I know it is nonsense to suggest and old plane, but I can dream.

opticalilyushin wrote:

The Voyagers will cover the bulk of any VIP transport requirements, but the 32 Sqn. 146s at Northolt will not fly forever..an ACJ or Embraer Legacy/Lineage would be a perfect replacement for the regional routes the 146s operate on.

The various Royal's and hangers-on use Legacy's and a Citation Excel nearly every day from London Executive Aviation. G-SIRS is almost exlusively used by the Royal Family and G-PEPI is one the Legacy's that sees a fair bit of Royal use.

I know it is nonsense to suggest and old plane, but I can dream.[/quote]

Maybe a DC-3 Dakota would do just fine.

Wow, this thread managed to be not even a little bit political. Congrats, all!

Bricktop wrote:

Wow, this thread managed to be not even a little bit political. Congrats, all!

Yes, maybe Wow could wet lease it.

With Boris involved, one can only expect comedy in the thread

The government already has a 238t A330-243MRTT conversion from the surge fleet. Do they need another? If yes, they could buy two of the ex-EY A345s from European Aviation Group.

Channex757 wrote:

Theresa should instead sack him and stop pretending he's competent.

Then she could have the ACJ338 --- Presto! --- MAYFAIR ONE. And just let the Royals borrow it for when they visit the in-laws accross the pond.

Well, since we all know Brexit was funded by the Kremlin, maybe Boris should order one of these?



He can even get the tacky interiors that would befit his style:

So wet leased WOW 338NEO, "Saving £350M a Week" livery , operated exclusively by Eastern European crew. English egress(synomym) dream come true.

FatCat wrote:

uta999 wrote:

We could always P the Americans right off, by getting the Concorde at LHR through its MOT. My planes better than your plane.

That's the spirit!
Or he can refurbish a VC-10

Or he can refurbish one of the three Tristars that are airworthy and sitting idle at Bruntingthorpe!!!.

Bah, put him on some proper British engineering. Lancaster or bust. Empire power and all that.

Channex757 wrote:

Boris probably wants access to the BA 772ER that has the wiring and modification in place for Royal tours. A private compartment could be fitted for Her Majesty, and the plane had the back cabin and Business Class section for the flunkeys and hangers-on.

It's still flying with BA; one of the G-YMM* lot.

Theresa should instead sack him and stop pretending he's competent.

What wiring modifications has it got?

Not sure the royals would want a YMM now, the current cabin has had it and they will be 10Y shortly haha.

Would be nice if they could resurrect those old raf transport command colours they used to have on vc10 . Would look nice

WorldFlier wrote:

Well, since we all know Brexit was funded by the Kremlin...

Abandon thread!

Arion640 wrote:

Channex757 wrote:

Boris probably wants access to the BA 772ER that has the wiring and modification in place for Royal tours. A private compartment could be fitted for Her Majesty, and the plane had the back cabin and Business Class section for the flunkeys and hangers-on.

It's still flying with BA; one of the G-YMM* lot.

Theresa should instead sack him and stop pretending he's competent.

What wiring modifications has it got?

Not sure the royals would want a YMM now, the current cabin has had it and they will be 10Y shortly haha.

From memory there are three 772 in the fleet that are modified for head of state duties, I’m not sure about specific wiring though there maybe some, I believed the main difference to standard in that the first class area has reinforced floors in order to be fitted out with two beds at required and any other amenities that come as part of the head of state fittings...protocol dictates this can only be used by the current head of state and partner, I think the only recent exception to this was when Charles used it for attending ever the opening or closing of the Australian commonwealth games a few years back...

There was also uproar when Blair when PM tried to make use of the facility

The British Prime Minister typically takes British Airways. I think they should buy one or two official government A330's and a small fleet of Global 7000.

WorldFlier wrote:

Well, since we all know Brexit was funded by the Kremlin, maybe Boris should order one of these?

Too big. They may be amenable to providing this though..... .....

http://seasonsgreetings.superjetinternational.com/

Saberlets could be added for better efficiency and a more updated look..... .....


http://www.scac.ru/en/wp-content/upload ... %D1%8F.jpg

WorldFlier wrote:

He can even get the tacky interiors that would befit his style:

But why.....the SBJ is available in a more utilitarian, workaday shuttle layout...matches his initials too.....

Beatyair wrote:

The British Prime Minister typically takes British Airways. I think they should buy one or two official government A330's and a small fleet of Global 7000.

I'm a British taxpayer. I think they shouldn't. Far more sensible to keep the hangers-on to a minimum and buy seats on commercial flights as required. That way it is possible to see exactly how much money is spent on flights, and the government people concerned get to experience the congested experiences that are UK airports and airspace.