Simviation Forums

How much usable floor area does a Boeing 747-200 (VC-25/E-4B) have? And how does A380-800 compare against this?

Roughly how are the usable spaces of VC-25 and E-4B divided? I mean, the basic layout of both is public domain, and there should be a rough idea of the numbers.

E-4B layout:
http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/ph ... utaway.jpg

Parts of the interior are similar. Both VC-25 and E-4B have principal

Sounds feasible to me.. But I don't think they'd want to drag national emergency communication and control hardware around on every junket, campaign, public relations, political and and "appearance" flight. Like.. would you want the E-4B systems parked somewhere in the Middle East while the President is attending a funeral or something ?

And would the American military buy an airbus product *cough*KC-X*cough*....perhaps not

.mic

And would the American military buy an airbus product *cough*KC-X*cough*....perhaps not

.mic

What are you trying to say?

History proves they'll buy (makes a change, we like to lease things over here, as we're daft) the best kit for the job - just look at the US-101, and as you said, KC-X...

I think they should go with a 707 . Atleast it looks sleak and majestic!

Sounds feasible to me.. But I don't think they'd want to drag national emergency communication and control hardware around on every junket, campaign, public relations, political and and "appearance" flight. Like.. would you want the E-4B systems parked somewhere in the Middle East while the President is attending a funeral or something ?

Actually, they do drag a E4 around every time the president goes overseas.

. Like.. would you want the E-4B systems parked somewhere in the Middle East while the President is attending a funeral or something ?

I'm fairly sure it'd be parked in a secure location, and there's only a couple of huge USAF bases in the middle east.

I'm fairly sure it'd be parked in a secure location, and there's only a couple of huge USAF bases in the middle east.

That's why this is a bad idea.. We can't have THE E-4B going everywhwere that the President would go. Secure base or not. We can't have THE command and control platform hopping around the globe.

Well, to add my two cents, and to highlight what I think Brett is getting at...

...I belive such a platform would cost far too much to be viable. The beauty of the VC-25 is that it is furbished mainly for its role of carrying the president. With some satellite communications. The airframe is relatively cheap.

The beauty of the E-4B, is that it has a dedicated purpose of being the doomsday airplane. Radiation filters, hi-band satellite antenna etc. There is a relatively high need for multiple aircraft too.

ONE A380 costs around 317 MILLION USD. An A380 without a comms suite, and other military requirements.

One E-4B costs about 200 million.

One VC-25 costs 325 million.

These two Boeing aircraft have different roles and are therefore required in different numbers.

Buying two A380s and refurbishing them as a cross between the VC-25 and the E-4B would be too expensive.

We can't have THE command and control platform hopping around the globe.

Never seen one of the hop. I thought they flew?

Well, to add my two cents, and to highlight what I think Brett is getting at...

...I belive such a platform would cost far too much to be viable. The beauty of the VC-25 is that it is furbished mainly for its role of carrying the president. With some satellite communications. The airframe is relatively cheap.

The beauty of the E-4B, is that it has a dedicated purpose of being the doomsday airplane. Radiation filters, hi-band satellite antenna etc. There is a relatively high need for multiple aircraft too.

ONE A380 costs around 317 MILLION USD. An A380 without a comms suite, and other military requirements.

One E-4B costs about 200 million.

One VC-25 costs 325 million.

Priced when?

Without comms suite and other military requirements, a VC-25 is a standard green 747-200. E-4B ditto. B747-200 is not for sale now, it is out of production. A green B747-800 is about US$ 250 millions or so. Fitting it out extra with comms suite would cost a lot on top of that.

Buying two A380s and refurbishing them as a cross between the VC-25 and the E-4B would be too expensive.

US AF is asking for 3 planes, to be delivered in 2017, 2019 and 2021. And they are considering A380 as option.

If they use this only to replace VC-25, they are spending huge sums to replace two VC-25 747-s with 3 A380-s that are VC-25 plus a lot of unused space, and they still have to be trailed by the then very old E-4B-s. If they equipped that excess space of those three A380-s with the E-4B functionality, they could ground most of the 4 E-4B-s and achieve savings thereby.

Slightly unrelated, but I could see why the president would use an A380. He's the most powerful man in the world, having the largest plane as well works as a symbol. He couldn't fly all over in a C172, now could he?

And would the American military buy an airbus product *cough*KC-X*cough*....perhaps not

.mic

Yes the MILITARY would......Congress however will not

Actually, they do drag a E4 around every time the president goes overseas.

Ditto

That's why this is a bad idea.. We can't have THE E-4B going every whwere that the President would go. Secure base or not. We can't have THE command and control platform hopping around the globe.

Like what was said, yes the E-4 goes with the President every where. It shadows the President ever place he goes when he leaves United States Air Space, encluding the back up VC-25. The plane itself keeps a low profile for it's size and nature.

But for the question at hand, with today's computers being 10-times faster then what they were in the late 70's-early 80's, not to mention smaller too with flat screens,

This is a flagrant violation of Moore

[quote]This is a flagrant violation of Moore