Boeing
Co. Gets $15.2 Million and
$28.9 million Air Force contracts
the Pentagon said late Tuesday
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| President Obama on his first trip aboard Air Force One in February 5, 2009. White House photo by Pete Souza . | President Barack Obama On Board Air Force One and flies to Washington D.C. for his inauguration. |
Yahoo news September 23rd, 2009 WASHINGTON (AP) -- Boeing Co. received a $15.2 million contract from the Air Force to provide heavy maintenance and other services for Air Force One, the Pentagon said late Tuesday. The VC-25A aircraft, a military version of the Boeing 747, is used to transport the president of the United States. In addtion, Boeing Co. also received a $28.9 million Air Force contract for contractor logistics to support engineering services for military aircraft, the Pentagon said late Tuesday.
Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. Since 1990, the presidential fleet has consisted of two specifically configured, highly customized Boeing 747-200B series aircraft – tail codes Special Air Mission (SAM) "28000" and SAM "29000" – with Air Force designation "VC-25A".
The VC-25As are expected to be replaced, as they have become less cost-effective to operate. The USAF Air Mobility Command has been charged with looking into possible replacements, including the new Boeing 747-8 and the EADS Airbus A380.
On January 7, 2009, the USAF Air Materiel Command issued a new requirement for a replacement aircraft to enter service beginning in 2017. On January 28, 2009, EADS announced they would not bid on the program, leaving Boeing the sole bidder, with either their Boeing 747-8 or Boeing 787 being proposed.
Air Force One is a prominent symbol of the American presidency and its power. The aircraft are among the most famous and most photographed in the world.
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Reported by catch4all.com, Sandra Englund, September 23rd, 2009 |
Sources:
White House
Yahoo News
Wikipedia
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