UK prime minister Tony Blair left the Farnborough air show today onboard an Airbus A319 Corporate Jetliner (pictured below).
The aircraft (HB-IPO) is operated by Swiss charter company Comlux and was "delivered recently," says Airbus. The manufacturer declined to comment on the exact configuration, other than to say it was VIP. The aircraft was chartered by Airbus for the day and was not part of the official static display.
The prime minister few from the TAG Aviation fixed base operation to Teeside airport outside Newcastle, where he has his constituency.
Blair flew in to Farnborough today by helicopter to give his support to European aerospace industry and to voice encouragement for tomorrow's international youth day. Blair spent considerable time visiting the Airbus stand, fuelling suggestions that he could soon become a
customer of the manufacturer.
Blair has come under political pressure to choose a European replacement for the VIP aircraft
of the Royal Air Force’s 32 (The Royal) Squadron. The UK government has signalled its
intention to acquire a long–range airliner–class business jet and a smaller business jet for European flights.
Since 1944, US presidents – including current US president George Bush – have had their
own aircraft, currently two Boeing 747–200Bs, known when in use as Air Force One, leading some to dub the UK prime minister’s proposed aircraft ‘Blair Force One’. The Royal Family would also have access to the new aircraft.
During a whistle–stop tour of Farnborough, the prime minister flew into Farnborough’s heliport and then watched the spectacular combined Airbus A380 and Red Arrows fly–by from the SBAC chalet where he met leaders of major British aerospace companies. He then toured the halls, stopping off at Qinetiq where he met space missions scientist Sima Adhya, who works on the Don Quijote asteroid diversion project. She said: “I told him all about the project and he took a real interest.”
Source: Flight Daily News
