Air Force 3? 4? 5?

[Merlin Dorfman]

Please see <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-1.jpg> and
<http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-2.jpg>.
These were taken at Wellington Airport, New Zealand, on March
10. Sorry, they are the best I could do from an airplane window at
that distance. It is a Boeing 737-800 (with winglets) in the same
paint scheme as Air Force 1 & 2.
I was not aware of this model 737 until then, though in the
following days I flew on some Qantas versions. (That's how I know
they are designated 737-800.) How many does the Air Force have?
Are all of them VIP transports? And any idea what VIP(s) might have
been in Wellington on March 10?

[Tarver Engineering]

"Merlin Dorfman" > wrote in message
...
>
> Please see <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-1.jpg> and
> <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-2.jpg>.
> These were taken at Wellington Airport, New Zealand, on March
> 10. Sorry, they are the best I could do from an airplane window at
> that distance. It is a Boeing 737-800 (with winglets) in the same
> paint scheme as Air Force 1 & 2.
> I was not aware of this model 737 until then, though in the
> following days I flew on some Qantas versions. (That's how I know
> they are designated 737-800.) How many does the Air Force have?
> Are all of them VIP transports? And any idea what VIP(s) might have
> been in Wellington on March 10?

I believe it is a 737 BBJ, a 737-700 on a -800 wing.

[Kevin Brooks]

"Merlin Dorfman" > wrote in message
...
>
> Please see <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-1.jpg> and
> <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-2.jpg>.
> These were taken at Wellington Airport, New Zealand, on March
> 10. Sorry, they are the best I could do from an airplane window at
> that distance. It is a Boeing 737-800 (with winglets) in the same
> paint scheme as Air Force 1 & 2.
> I was not aware of this model 737 until then, though in the
> following days I flew on some Qantas versions. (That's how I know
> they are designated 737-800.) How many does the Air Force have?
> Are all of them VIP transports? And any idea what VIP(s) might have
> been in Wellington on March 10?

Designated as C-40 in US military usage. The USAF has a few, and use them
frequently to cart around senior Pentagon types; the ANG also has at least
one, replacing the 727 that the National Guard Bureau used to use. Also in
service with the USN. I believe PACOM has the use of one of the USAF
aircraft, which would be the likely source for the one you saw.

Brooks
>

[robert arndt]

"Tarver Engineering" > wrote in message >...
> "Merlin Dorfman" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > Please see <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-1.jpg> and
> > <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-2.jpg>.
> > These were taken at Wellington Airport, New Zealand, on March
> > 10. Sorry, they are the best I could do from an airplane window at
> > that distance. It is a Boeing 737-800 (with winglets) in the same
> > paint scheme as Air Force 1 & 2.
> > I was not aware of this model 737 until then, though in the
> > following days I flew on some Qantas versions. (That's how I know
> > they are designated 737-800.) How many does the Air Force have?
> > Are all of them VIP transports? And any idea what VIP(s) might have
> > been in Wellington on March 10?
>
> I believe it is a 737 BBJ, a 737-700 on a -800 wing.

Not quite... Boeing 737-800BBJ2... which was launched in October 1999
and is based on the stretched 737-800 airframe, offering 25% greater
cabin space and 100% more baggage space. It is fitted with between 3-7
aux. belly tanks with slightly less range than the 737-700BBJ that has
10 aux. belly tanks.

Rob

BTW, the winglets became a standard option following certification in
September 2000. Australia and the RSA have placed orders for the
aircraft. There is also a C-40A Clipper version for the USN and a
C-40B for the ANG.

[Richard]

"Merlin Dorfman" > wrote in message
...
>
> Please see <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-1.jpg> and
> <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-2.jpg>.
> These were taken at Wellington Airport, New Zealand, on March
> 10. Sorry, they are the best I could do from an airplane window at
> that distance. It is a Boeing 737-800 (with winglets) in the same
> paint scheme as Air Force 1 & 2.
> I was not aware of this model 737 until then, though in the
> following days I flew on some Qantas versions. (That's how I know
> they are designated 737-800.) How many does the Air Force have?
> Are all of them VIP transports? And any idea what VIP(s) might have
> been in Wellington on March 10?
>
Admiral Thomas Fargo, commander of the United States Pacific Command, was in
town.
http://tinyurl.com/ypzsp
Flying in one of these?
http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=189

[Tarver Engineering]

"robert arndt" > wrote in message
om...
> "Tarver Engineering" > wrote in message
>...
> > "Merlin Dorfman" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >
> > > Please see <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-1.jpg> and
> > > <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-2.jpg>.
> > > These were taken at Wellington Airport, New Zealand, on March
> > > 10. Sorry, they are the best I could do from an airplane window at
> > > that distance. It is a Boeing 737-800 (with winglets) in the same
> > > paint scheme as Air Force 1 & 2.
> > > I was not aware of this model 737 until then, though in the
> > > following days I flew on some Qantas versions. (That's how I know
> > > they are designated 737-800.) How many does the Air Force have?
> > > Are all of them VIP transports? And any idea what VIP(s) might have
> > > been in Wellington on March 10?
> >
> > I believe it is a 737 BBJ, a 737-700 on a -800 wing.
>
> Not quite... Boeing 737-800BBJ2... which was launched in October 1999
> and is based on the stretched 737-800 airframe, offering 25% greater
> cabin space and 100% more baggage space. It is fitted with between 3-7
> aux. belly tanks with slightly less range than the 737-700BBJ that has
> 10 aux. belly tanks.

I can't find any BBJ2's delivered to the US Military. Just the regular
kind.

http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews/01paris2/intell29.htm

[Merlin Dorfman]

Richard (rlmccannathotmail.com) wrote:

: "Merlin Dorfman" > wrote in message
: ...
: >
: > Please see <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-1.jpg> and
: > <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-2.jpg>.
: > These were taken at Wellington Airport, New Zealand, on March
: > 10. Sorry, they are the best I could do from an airplane window at
: > that distance. It is a Boeing 737-800 (with winglets) in the same
: > paint scheme as Air Force 1 & 2.
: > I was not aware of this model 737 until then, though in the
: > following days I flew on some Qantas versions. (That's how I know
: > they are designated 737-800.) How many does the Air Force have?
: > Are all of them VIP transports? And any idea what VIP(s) might have
: > been in Wellington on March 10?
: >
: Admiral Thomas Fargo, commander of the United States Pacific Command, was in
: town.
: http://tinyurl.com/ypzsp
: Flying in one of these?
: http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=189

Thanks for all the replies. Clearly the same plane, though I
was not close enough to read the tail number.
I also verified that it was the USS Higgins that I saw in Sydney
harbor:
<http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2004/03/mil-040309-c7f01.htm>
Has New Zealand been participating in the Iraq war?

[Richard]

"Merlin Dorfman" > wrote in message
...
> Richard (rlmccannathotmail.com) wrote:
>
> : "Merlin Dorfman" > wrote in message
> : ...
> : >
> : > Please see <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-1.jpg> and
> : > <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-2.jpg>.
> : > These were taken at Wellington Airport, New Zealand, on March
> : > 10. Sorry, they are the best I could do from an airplane window at
> : > that distance. It is a Boeing 737-800 (with winglets) in the same
> : > paint scheme as Air Force 1 & 2.
> : > I was not aware of this model 737 until then, though in the
> : > following days I flew on some Qantas versions. (That's how I know
> : > they are designated 737-800.) How many does the Air Force have?
> : > Are all of them VIP transports? And any idea what VIP(s) might have
> : > been in Wellington on March 10?
> : >
> : Admiral Thomas Fargo, commander of the United States Pacific Command,
was in
> : town.
> : http://tinyurl.com/ypzsp
> : Flying in one of these?
> : http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=189
>
> Thanks for all the replies. Clearly the same plane, though I
> was not close enough to read the tail number.
> I also verified that it was the USS Higgins that I saw in Sydney
> harbor:
>
<http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2004/03/mil-040309-c7f0
1.htm>
> Has New Zealand been participating in the Iraq war?

We weren't involved in shooting the place up but are helping rebuild with
UN. Our SAS have been chasing Osama alongside US, Aussie & other troops in
Afghanistan.

[Alan Minyard]

On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 20:16:23 +1200, "Richard" <rlmccannathotmail.com> wrote:

>
>"Merlin Dorfman" > wrote in message
...
>> Richard (rlmccannathotmail.com) wrote:
>>
>> : "Merlin Dorfman" > wrote in message
>> : ...
>> : >
>> : > Please see <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-1.jpg> and
>> : > <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-2.jpg>.
>> : > These were taken at Wellington Airport, New Zealand, on March
>> : > 10. Sorry, they are the best I could do from an airplane window at
>> : > that distance. It is a Boeing 737-800 (with winglets) in the same
>> : > paint scheme as Air Force 1 & 2.
>> : > I was not aware of this model 737 until then, though in the
>> : > following days I flew on some Qantas versions. (That's how I know
>> : > they are designated 737-800.) How many does the Air Force have?
>> : > Are all of them VIP transports? And any idea what VIP(s) might have
>> : > been in Wellington on March 10?
>> : >
>> : Admiral Thomas Fargo, commander of the United States Pacific Command,
>was in
>> : town.
>> : http://tinyurl.com/ypzsp
>> : Flying in one of these?
>> : http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=189
>>
>> Thanks for all the replies. Clearly the same plane, though I
>> was not close enough to read the tail number.
>> I also verified that it was the USS Higgins that I saw in Sydney
>> harbor:
>>
><http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2004/03/mil-040309-c7f0
>1.htm>
>> Has New Zealand been participating in the Iraq war?
>
>We weren't involved in shooting the place up but are helping rebuild with
>UN. Our SAS have been chasing Osama alongside US, Aussie & other troops in
>Afghanistan.
>
Except that the UN is not doing any rebuilding in Iraq. NZ has pretty much disarmed
itself.

Al Minyard

[Richard]

Don't need guns to rebuild. Perhaps that's where other countries get
confused.
NZ Defence Forces news:
http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/news/archived-media-releases.html
Current deployments:
http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/operations/current-missions.html


http://www.army.mil.nz/?CHANNEL=OPERATIONS&PAGE=Iraq+-+UNMOVIC
Engineers departed NZ 14/11/02. Note references to UN.
http://www.navy.mil.nz/rnzn/article.cfm?Article_ID=1409
Note words such as peacekeeping, peace talks, evacuation. Also note frequent
references to UN. NZ has found other ways to help world peace rather than
blowing everyone/thing up.

"Alan Minyard" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 31 Mar 2004 20:16:23 +1200, "Richard" <rlmccannathotmail.com>
wrote:
>
> >
> >"Merlin Dorfman" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> Richard (rlmccannathotmail.com) wrote:
> >>
> >> : "Merlin Dorfman" > wrote in message
> >> : ...
> >> : >
> >> : > Please see <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-1.jpg> and
> >> : > <http://mdorfman.home.netcom.com/737-800-2.jpg>.
> >> : > These were taken at Wellington Airport, New Zealand, on March
> >> : > 10. Sorry, they are the best I could do from an airplane window at
> >> : > that distance. It is a Boeing 737-800 (with winglets) in the same
> >> : > paint scheme as Air Force 1 & 2.
> >> : > I was not aware of this model 737 until then, though in the
> >> : > following days I flew on some Qantas versions. (That's how I know
> >> : > they are designated 737-800.) How many does the Air Force have?
> >> : > Are all of them VIP transports? And any idea what VIP(s) might
have
> >> : > been in Wellington on March 10?
> >> : >
> >> : Admiral Thomas Fargo, commander of the United States Pacific Command,
> >was in
> >> : town.
> >> : http://tinyurl.com/ypzsp
> >> : Flying in one of these?
> >> : http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=189
> >>
> >> Thanks for all the replies. Clearly the same plane, though I
> >> was not close enough to read the tail number.
> >> I also verified that it was the USS Higgins that I saw in Sydney
> >> harbor:
> >>
>
><http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2004/03/mil-040309-c7f
0
> >1.htm>
> >> Has New Zealand been participating in the Iraq war?
> >
> >We weren't involved in shooting the place up but are helping rebuild with
> >UN. Our SAS have been chasing Osama alongside US, Aussie & other troops
in
> >Afghanistan.
> >
> Except that the UN is not doing any rebuilding in Iraq. NZ has pretty much
disarmed
> itself.
>
> Al Minyard

[Alan Minyard]

On Fri, 2 Apr 2004 08:17:56 +1200, "Richard" <rlmccannathotmail.com> wrote:

>Don't need guns to rebuild. Perhaps that's where other countries get
>confused.
>NZ Defence Forces news:
>http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/news/archived-media-releases.html
>Current deployments:
>http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/operations/current-missions.html
>
>
>http://www.army.mil.nz/?CHANNEL=OPERATIONS&PAGE=Iraq+-+UNMOVIC
>Engineers departed NZ 14/11/02. Note references to UN.
>http://www.navy.mil.nz/rnzn/article.cfm?Article_ID=1409
>Note words such as peacekeeping, peace talks, evacuation. Also note frequent
>references to UN. NZ has found other ways to help world peace rather than
>blowing everyone/thing up.
>

They simply hide behind Australia's skirts. Sad, really, NZ once had some
backbone. NZ is not "rebuilding" Iraq, and neither is the UN.

72 "troops" is a joke.

Al Minyard

[Grantland]

>They simply hide behind Australia's skirts. Sad, really, NZ once had some backbone.

They love to admit huge numbers of the most radical of Muslim
"Refugees" too. 'Can't wait to watch the soft, spineless, pudgy
little white things getting thoroughly reamed when the balloon goes
up. What a pleasure.

G

[Richard]

"Alan Minyard" > wrote in message
...

> They simply hide behind Australia's skirts. Sad, really, NZ once had some
> backbone. NZ is not "rebuilding" Iraq, and neither is the UN.
>
> 72 "troops" is a joke.
>
> Al Minyard

They have been restoring water supply systems. Why is that not rebuilding?
What is the minimum number to have an effect?
Or is this more "If you are not with us, then you are against us" crap.

[Alan Minyard]

On Fri, 2 Apr 2004 22:27:24 +1200, "Richard" <rlmccannathotmail.com> wrote:

>
>"Alan Minyard" > wrote in message
...
>
>> They simply hide behind Australia's skirts. Sad, really, NZ once had some
>> backbone. NZ is not "rebuilding" Iraq, and neither is the UN.
>>
>> 72 "troops" is a joke.
>>
>> Al Minyard
>
>They have been restoring water supply systems. Why is that not rebuilding?
>What is the minimum number to have an effect?
>Or is this more "If you are not with us, then you are against us" crap.
>
I was merely pointing out that 1. The UN is not involved in rebuilding Iraq and
2. NZ is incapable of making a significant contribution to the rebuilding that
the US has undertaken. Politically, NZ has acted appropriately by sending
a token force.

Al Minyard

[Richard]

"Alan Minyard" > wrote in message
...
>
> I was merely pointing out that 1. The UN is not involved in rebuilding
Iraq and
> 2. NZ is incapable of making a significant contribution to the rebuilding
that
> the US has undertaken. Politically, NZ has acted appropriately by sending
> a token force.

NZ responded to UN Security Council resolution 1483 which called upon member
states to help meet the humanitarian and other needs of the Iraqi people by
providing food, medical supplies, and resources necessary for the
reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq's economic infrastructure. We are
a member of the UN doing work requested by the UN. The UN is therefore in
Iraq.
Our rebuilding is being done to help, at our cost. We are a small country
doing what we can. We are not involved in the looting of the country's
resources.

[Alan Minyard]

On Sat, 3 Apr 2004 07:33:50 +1200, "Richard" <rlmccannathotmail.com> wrote:

>"Alan Minyard" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> I was merely pointing out that 1. The UN is not involved in rebuilding
>Iraq and
>> 2. NZ is incapable of making a significant contribution to the rebuilding
>that
>> the US has undertaken. Politically, NZ has acted appropriately by sending
>> a token force.
>
>NZ responded to UN Security Council resolution 1483 which called upon member
>states to help meet the humanitarian and other needs of the Iraqi people by
>providing food, medical supplies, and resources necessary for the
>reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq's economic infrastructure. We are
>a member of the UN doing work requested by the UN. The UN is therefore in
>Iraq.
>Our rebuilding is being done to help, at our cost. We are a small country
>doing what we can. We are not involved in the looting of the country's
>resources.
>
The UN is not in Iraq. What part of that do you not understand??

It is not that NZ is a small country, it is that NZ has decided to abandon
their own defense. Don't **** off the Aussies or you will have no
defense at all.

Al Minyard

[Richard]

"Alan Minyard" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 3 Apr 2004 07:33:50 +1200, "Richard" <rlmccannathotmail.com>
wrote:
>
> >"Alan Minyard" > wrote in message
> ...
> >>
> >> I was merely pointing out that 1. The UN is not involved in rebuilding
> >Iraq and
> >> 2. NZ is incapable of making a significant contribution to the
rebuilding
> >that
> >> the US has undertaken. Politically, NZ has acted appropriately by
sending
> >> a token force.
> >
> >NZ responded to UN Security Council resolution 1483 which called upon
member
> >states to help meet the humanitarian and other needs of the Iraqi people
by
> >providing food, medical supplies, and resources necessary for the
> >reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq's economic infrastructure. We
are
> >a member of the UN doing work requested by the UN. The UN is therefore in
> >Iraq.
> >Our rebuilding is being done to help, at our cost. We are a small
country
> >doing what we can. We are not involved in the looting of the country's
> >resources.
> >
> The UN is not in Iraq. What part of that do you not understand??
>
> It is not that NZ is a small country, it is that NZ has decided to abandon
> their own defense. Don't **** off the Aussies or you will have no
> defense at all.
>
> Al Minyard

http://www.uniraq.org/

[Mike Williamson]

Richard wrote:
> "Alan Minyard" > wrote in message

>>
>>The UN is not in Iraq. What part of that do you not understand??
>>...
>>
>>Al Minyard
>
>
> http://www.uniraq.org/
>
>

Yep, according to their website, the UN forward team for Iraq is
in Jordan - not Iraq.

Mike

[Richard]

"Mike Williamson" > wrote in message
...
>
> Yep, according to their website, the UN forward team for Iraq is
> in Jordan - not Iraq.
>
> Mike
>

http://www.uniraq.org/aboutus/corefunctions.asp

C&P
"Liaison with the UN Agencies operating in Iraq, as well as with UN Agency
'Iraq focal points' in Jordan, Kuwait and Cyprus."