House Orders Up Three Elite Jets

[Chris]

Last year, lawmakers excoriated the CEOs of the Big Three automakers for traveling to Washington, D.C., by private jet to attend a hearing about a possible bailout of their companies.

But apparently Congress is not philosophically averse to private air travel: At the end of July, the House approved nearly $200 million for the Air Force to buy three elite Gulfstream jets for ferrying top government officials and Members of Congress.

But the House Appropriations Committee, at its own initiative, added to the 2010 Defense appropriations bill another $132 million for two more airplanes and specified that they be assigned to the D.C.-area units that carry Members of Congress, military brass and top government officials.

Because the Appropriations Committee viewed the additional aircraft as an expansion of an existing Defense Department program, it did not treat the money for two more planes as an earmark, and the legislation does not disclose which Member had requested the additional money.

http://www.rollcall.com/media/37552-1.html

I wonder if they'll let Queen Nancy hitch a ride.

[thundley4]

http://www.rollcall.com/media/37552-1.html

I wonder if they'll let Queen Nancy hitch a ride.

It was probably her that pushed for the additional aircraft.

[DumbAss Tanker]

http://www.rollcall.com/media/37552-1.html

I wonder if they'll let Queen Nancy hitch a ride.

I am not positive, but if I recall correctly, one of the reasons she is so expensive to maintain is that Gulfstreams don't have the range to get her all the way to SF without refueling, and so she demands a larger, even more expensive, and longer-ranged aircraft for those little dashes back to bask in the stupidity of her constituents.   

[Chris_]

I am not positive, but if I recall correctly, one of the reasons she is so expensive to maintain is that Gulfstreams don't have the range to get her all the way to SF without refueling, and so she demands a larger, even more expensive, and longer-ranged aircraft for those little dashes back to bask in the stupidity of her constituents.   

Don't know which version the government owns, but Gulfstreams, (current top of the line is the G-500) going all the way back to the G-3, in the early 90's, with extended-range tanks had a  range capability of 4500 miles......more than enough to make SF from DC........

Perhaps its not a range issue, but she needs extra space for her "retinue".....

doc

[DixieBelle]

Perhaps if she tried stowing her broom lengthwise instead of widthwise, a smaller plane would suffice.

[thundley4]

 

Perhaps if she tried stowing her broom lengthwise instead of widthwise, a smaller plane would suffice.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Don't know which version the government owns, but Gulfstreams, (current top of the line is the G-500) going all the way back to the G-3, in the early 90's, with extended-range tanks had a  range capability of 4500 miles......more than enough to make SF from DC........

Perhaps its not a range issue, but she needs extra space for her "retinue".....

doc

Maybe it is the size of her retinue, but I do seem to recall that the Gulfstream wasn't enough airplane to suit her and they had to use something quite a bit larger and much more expensive.  I could be wrong, that's just how I recall it off-hand. 

[Eupher]

The Bitch claims that the issue has more to do with security than refueling. Apparently, if the C-20 aircraft that she'd normally take stopped to take on fuel in Denver, the aircraft would be attacked and overwhelmed by a gang of unruly Repubs.

Ostensibly, the House sergeant-at-arms ordered the use of the larger military plane (C-32?) because The Bitch is third in line in presidential succession (behind Obama and Biden) should both of those idjits not be able to serve. Of course, it doesn't hurt that it can go nonstop without refueling. Some articles insist that The Bitch would even go commercial but the House SAA nixed the idea because of the security issues.

She insists that the plane be big enough to get her home across the country because she's "going home to her family."

Michelle Malkin reports in her 11 Mar 09 article that the real reason The Bitch wanted a plane repositioned from San Fran Intl to Travis AFB because she didn't want to drive 90 minutes.

Malkin makes mention of the govt. watchdog group Judicial Watch's FOIA request for documents and the number of emails between The Bitch's staff and the poor saps that have to accommodate her endless demands. The result is very revealing.

Michelle Malkin

[TheSarge]

This is a pissing contest that goes back to when Pelosi was demanding to use the 757 (Normally AF 2) used by the VP and cabinet members to travel on.

Madam Speaker didn't like being told that she couldn't take that jet and use it as her own...she could fly on a G-IV like the rest of congress.

But there are rules to that. Like you can't use it to fly staffers back home with you to allow them to avoid flying coach. You can't use it to campaign in. Immediate family (hubby and kids) can fly with you but they have to reimburse the USAF the cost of a (I think) business class ticket on an airline.

Nancy didn't want to play by the rules. And she was furious back around Christmastime when she wanted to use one of the jets to fly everyone she wasn't supposed to home for the Holidays and was told there wasn't a jet available for her they were in use.

One of her staffers was quoted as telling someone at AMC that "The Speaker wants to know where her jets are at".


This is more about politicians thinking they have...by divine right...the use of equipment they really aren't entitled to and then not adhere to the rules laid out for them.


There is a G-III that is designated as the Speakers Jet...it was used by Speaker Hastert from 9/11 until he stepped down.

But she didn't want to have to stop and refuel on her way from D.C. to San Francisco.


Prior to 9/11 everyone in congress...including the Speaker flew commercial air.

[Chris_]

Prior to 9/11 everyone in congress...including the Speaker flew commercial air.

There is a whole laundry list of things for which I have no use for Juan McCain, but back in 2002 - when I was in between jobs and working pushing wheelchairs at Sky Harbor Airport - I greeted an incoming airplane where one of the first into the jetway was the Senator.  Post 9/11.