Air Force 3? 4? 5?

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?

"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.

"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.

"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...2/intell29.htm

"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

"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

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?

"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/milita...il-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.

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/milita...il-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

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...-releases.html
Current deployments:
http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/operations/current-missions.html


http://www.army.mil.nz/?CHANNEL=OPER...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/milita...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