Air Force One Fleet Is Ageing, Needs Upgrade, Gates Says

The Fleet of two 747-200B's that carry the designation Air Force One when the President is on board is aging and should be updated, according to Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The comments came during Gate's testimony at a House Appropriations Committee hearing on the Pentagon budget.

"There clearly is a need for a new presidential aircraft," Gates said. "We actually have some money in the budget in 2011 to begin looking at a new Air Force One. That money will clearly ramp up in the -- in the next few years as we move in that direction."

Fox News reports that the Presidential aircraft fly some 200,000 miles per year, and that the first of the highly-customized 747's was delivered 20 years ago during the administration of George H.W. Bush.

Kansas senator Todd Tiahrt(R) said during the hearing that there are only about 20 of the same model of 747 currently in service with commercial airlines. He said the aircraft are nearing a point where the cost of supporting them will exceed the value of the aircraft.

FMI: www.whitehouse.gov/about/air-force-one