I must admit though, the Millenium Goals will end “World Poverty”. It is actually quite ingenious. You just destroy the middle class and you have destroyed poverty by eliminating any contrast to the condition. Then O and all his Frechified buds like Kerry will be able rule us with pride at their “Mission Accomplished”.

The paint scheme is said to be even lighter, saving an estimated 350 lbs, which shuld save enough Cooking oil to cook Onion Rings at all D.C. fast food restraunts for a week.

If I were a brilliant engineer, I would try to find a way to turn the top sufaces of the wings into solar panels. Imagine how much less hard the engines would have to work by not turning generators, Ples, it would be free electricity for while a plane is stuck at the gate.

THe cargo bay of this aircraft could easily carry a US made Honda Hybrid for a quick trip around towns. Imagine the possibilities!

The Airbus was 160 Millon a copy ver the Boeing at 130 Million, but the AF would be the only ones operating what in effect was a hybrid 767. A case could be made that parts for a tanker based on a commercial jet in wide service would be somewhat cheaper than a custom aircraft so the logistical cost of the life cycle of the tanker would be higher with the Boeing aircraft.

I own a fair chunk of NOC stock by the way.

Disclosure: I’m a child of Boeing so I’m very biased (although still po’d that they moved to Chicago) and there are USAF and Air Guard refueling wings stationed where I live, both flying the venerable KC-135.

By the way, the last Boeing machinist Union strike was over increasing outsourcing overseas large parts of future aircraft like has been done in the Dream Liner. Aircraft manufacturing has become increasingly global.

To protect the President and those men and women who have the privilege of serving on AF 1, or VH-71.

As an aside, the Boeing aircraft also had about 40 percent non US content and was a hybrid of existing Boeing models where the NOC/Airbus KC30 was based off a stardard Airbus A330. The Royal Australia Air force currently is flying a small number of these aircraft.

Life’s a be-yatch.

There are serious issues with the new helicopter, mostly to due to the weight of all the systems that are required by the Presidential fleet. The Navy is asking for $218 Million for work on a more advanced version that can carry all the extra gear, the new President will have to make the call on keeping the program going.

Boy, money will buy you anything in Washington. “To H’ with the people, I’m getting mine.”

Sad.

Regards