特朗普稱空軍一號太貴,那它究竟貴在哪里?
繼本月初批露美國總統(tǒng)專機“空軍一號”的成本達40億美元之后,美國勝選總統(tǒng)特朗普近日再度發(fā)聲,痛斥“空軍一號”的天價成本不合理,并威脅要在正式上臺后砍掉與波音的合同。特朗普爆出這個大新聞后,美國網(wǎng)民一片嘩然,人們都對40億的天價表示咂舌,因為它要比一架標準的商用客機貴得多。 “空中一號”又被稱作“空中白宮”,它搭載了各種高科技設備以確保總統(tǒng)的安全,同時還能讓總統(tǒng)在20,000英尺的高空上繼續(xù)辦公。現(xiàn)在就讓我們看看到底是哪些功能讓這架飛機賣得如此之貴,以及美國政府在支付了40億美元之后,還需要再掏多少錢用于維保。 空軍一號的總成本 目前承擔“空軍一號”任務的是兩架波音747-200B系列客機。這兩架飛機是1990年老布什當政時交付的,計劃服役年限是30年,2024年即將迎來置換。讓這兩架飛機超齡服役并不值得推薦,一是由于技術(shù)已經(jīng)老舊,二是由于難于維護。 2015年,美國政府選擇了波音747-800系列客機作為“空軍一號”的后繼機型。據(jù)波音公司稱,美國政府迄今已投入了1.7億美元用于該項目的研究,包括在2016年訂立的三個總價1.7億美元的合同,其目標就是想方設法降低未來的設計成本。 盡管據(jù)特朗普推測,“空軍一號”的總成本有40億美元之高,但據(jù)美國空軍估算,“空軍一號”的五年總成本實際應在28億美元左右,其中2017、2018、2019、2020、2021財年的投入額分別是3.512億、6.256億、7.41億、5.737億和4.873億美元。 空軍一號每小時的飛行成本 總統(tǒng)專機出動一次自然是不便宜的。“空軍一號”每飛行一小時,運行總成本就高達206,337美元。 根據(jù)來自美國交通運輸管理局的數(shù)據(jù),通常美國國內(nèi)航班的一趟往返機票的平均票價是361美元。也就是說,“空軍一號”飛行一小時的成本,至少可以買571張民航的往返機票。 作為三軍總司令的總統(tǒng)大大,自然是可以免費乘坐“空軍一號”的了。但美國的高級領導人們也并非都能享受到這項免費福利。比如希拉里的競選團隊就在今年八月向聯(lián)邦選舉委員會遞交的報備文件中披露,他們?yōu)槭褂谩翱哲娨惶枴倍Ц读?6,602.99美元的租金。 空軍一號的運營成本 “空軍一號”實際上是由兩架飛機組成的,一架在天上飛的時候,另一架可以在地面接受維修保養(yǎng)。“空軍一號”的維保費用目前尚未公開披露,但它顯然是不便宜的。 總統(tǒng)大大出行時當然不會是個“光桿司令”,但“空軍一號”每次也不是單獨飛行的。通常會有幾架貨運飛機給“空軍一號”打前站,好為總統(tǒng)提供一些在偏遠地區(qū)沒法提供提的服務。這也意味著這些貨機的燃油成本、機組人員工資和其他相關成本也得納入“空軍一號”的預算里。 “空軍一號”還給跟總統(tǒng)一起出行的幕僚和扈從們留足了空間。跟著總統(tǒng)出訪的媒體記者、高級顧問、特勤局的特工和其他客人都有自己的位置。 其中的很多人在飛機上也得正常工作,所以機上的時間也得計入他們的工時,這樣一算成本就更高了。比如據(jù)FederalPay.org顯示,負責保護總統(tǒng)及其家人的特勤局特工2015年的平均年薪是96,838.29美元。另據(jù)來自美國勞工統(tǒng)計局的數(shù)據(jù),2015年飛行員的平均年薪是102,520美元。 總統(tǒng)專機的特殊功能 “空軍一號”絕對不是一架普通的飛機。作為全世界唯一的超級大國的總統(tǒng)專機,“空軍一號”不搭載一些先進的黑科技,怎么好意思飛到其他國家耀武揚威。實際上,“空軍一號”的大部分預算都是花在了這些黑科技上頭,飛機本身的成本每架大約只有3.8億美元左右。 “空軍一號”共有三層甲板,內(nèi)部空間合計達370平方米以上,功能可謂應有盡有,總統(tǒng)坐在這架“空中白宮”里依然能正常治國理政。機上的“總統(tǒng)套房”包括一間大辦公室、一間會議室和一間浴室——這些只是他的私人空間。 “空軍一號”的時速最高可接近1000公里,比普通商用客機快了60多公里,并且具備空中加油能力,理論上可以想飛多遠飛多遠,無需考慮中轉(zhuǎn)加油的問題。該機還配備了先進的安全通訊裝置,如果美國遭遇了襲擊,“空軍一號”可以瞬間變成一座空中指揮中心,從這里向全國發(fā)號施令。 “空軍一號”上有兩間廚房,可以同時滿足100人的用餐需求,機上的美食自然也不是普通民航航班可比的。為了防止發(fā)生緊急情況,機上常年都有一名醫(yī)生待命,機上的醫(yī)療室甚至可以做一臺手術(shù)。“空軍一號”上還有一間健身房、87部電話和19臺電視。 關于“空軍一號”的安全措施的具體細節(jié)目前仍處于保密狀態(tài),但大家不要忘了它是一臺軍用飛機。它可以作為核大戰(zhàn)爆發(fā)時的避難所,另外它還具備反導彈功能,它的電子防御系統(tǒng)還能癱瘓敵軍的雷達。 特朗普的專機PK空軍一號 和之前任何一位總統(tǒng)都不一樣,財大氣粗的特朗普早就有了自己的豪華專機。他的這架波音757-200是從微軟聯(lián)合創(chuàng)始人保羅·艾倫手里買下的,大約花了他1億美金。這臺豪華飛機上有一間淋浴室,連座位安全帶上的卡扣都是鍍金的。另外機上還有一臺52寸的純平大彩電,還有上千部電影可供乘客挑選。 這架“準總統(tǒng)專機”坐起來無疑也比普通民航航班舒服得多,但是特朗普專機的運行成本也不便宜。一架標準的波音757的運行成本大約為每小時8,000美元,不過只要這位準總統(tǒng)扶了正,就可以免費乘坐“空軍一號”了。 特朗普的這架私人專機雖然是定制的,但“空軍一號”畢竟體格更大、飛得也更快。特朗普的私人專機只能容納43人,但“空軍一號”可以輕易坐下102個人——包括機組成員。雖然他的私人專機富有濃郁的個人特色,不過當準總統(tǒng)先生面對超豪華的“空軍一號”時,想來還是不會拒絕的。 新一代的空軍一號 新的一代的“空軍一號”將于2024年入役,它的功能勢必要比它的前任更加強大。“空軍一號”的機型從波音747-200型換成747-8系列,也是有很多好處的。 首先,波音747-8型平均每趟航程要少排放16噸的二氧化碳,而且它的滿載航程也比現(xiàn)在的“空軍一號”遠了1,000英里。波音747-8也是當前世界上航速最快的商用客機,巡航速度達每小時656英里,載重也比747-200多出154,000磅。747-8的翼展達到250尺2寸,從而使它成為了地球上最長的商用客機。 不過到目前為止,下一代的“空軍一號”仍然處于研究階段,波音公司尚未正式啟動建造。至于特朗普扶正后是否真的會砍掉“空軍一號”的合同,還是會繼續(xù)安然享受總統(tǒng)專機的待遇,就只有時間能告訴我們了。 (財富中文網(wǎng)) ? 譯者:樸成奎 |
After tweeting the rumored $4 billion cost of Air Force One in early December, President-elect Donald Trump condemned the plane’s sky-high price tag and threatened to cancel its contract with Boeing. Many Americans were shocked by the cost of the president’s plane as it is much more than a standard commercial airliner. Known as the Flying White House, Air Force One has high-tech capabilities designed to keep the president safe and allow him to work from 20,000 feet in the air. Learn more about the features that make the plane so expensive and what it costs to maintain it after the estimated $4 billion price tag. Total Cost of Air Force One Currently, two Boeing 747-200B series jets operate as Air Force One. Delivered in 1990 during President George H.W. Bush’s reign, the planes will be upwards of 30 years old when their replacement arrives in 2024. Keeping the planes in service past the 30-year mark isn’t recommended because the technology becomes obsolete and difficult to maintain. The Boeing 747-800 series was selected as the next generation Air Force One in 2015. A total of $170 million has been spent on research for the project so far, according to Boeing. This includes three separate contracts in 2016 worth a combined total of $170 million, as the team works to find a way to lower future design costs. Despite Donald Trump’s $4 billion estimate, the Air Force estimated a five-year total cost of $2.8 billion for Air Force One. This includes $351.2 million in Fiscal Year 2017, $625.6 million in Fiscal Year 2018, $741 million in Fiscal Year 2019, $573.7 million in Fiscal Year 2020 and $487.3 million in Fiscal Year 2021. Air Force One Cost Per Hour Flying like the president doesn’t come cheap. Operating expenses total $206,337 for every hour the president’s plane is in the air. The average domestic round-trip airline fare in the U.S. is $361, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. This means more than 571 plane tickets could be purchased for the price of operating Air Force One for an hour. While the Commander in Chief always gets a free ride, every Air Force One passenger doesn’t get complimentary airfare. In its August Federal Election Commission filings, the Hillary Clinton campaign revealed $36,602.99 in expenses for its use of the luxury airliner. Cost to Operate Air Force One The president’s plane includes a fleet of two jets, so one can fly while the other undergoes maintenance. Specific costs to maintain Air Force One haven’t been publicly revealed, but it’s safe to assume keeping the plane running doesn’t come cheap. Obviously, the president doesn’t travel alone, but Air Force One doesn’t fly solo either. A fleet of cargo planes usually fly in front of the plane to provide the president with a suite of services not available in remote spots. This means fuel expenses, pilot salaries and other costs for cargo planes must also be factored into the Air Force One budget. Never without an entourage, Air Force One has plenty of room for everyone traveling with the president. There’s space for press, senior advisors, Secret Service officers and other guests. Many of these people are on the clock during flights, which can add up fast. The average annual salary of a U.S. Secret Service agent is $96,838.29, as of 2015, according to FederalPay.org. And as of 2015, pilots earn an average of $102,520 per year, per data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Special Features on the President’s Plane Not your average airplane, Air Force One has state-of-the-art capabilities fit for the person running the most powerful country in the world. In fact, these features comprise the majority of the Air Force One budget, as the planes themselves cost approximately $380 million each. The current tri-level plane has 4,000 square feet of space and features everything needed to run the U.S. from the airways. The presidential suite includes a large office, conference room and bathroom—but that’s just his private quarters. Capable of moving up to 620 miles per hour—40 miles per hour faster than the average commercial jet—Air Force One has the ability to refuel midair, so the president can travel as far as necessary without the need to touch down on dry land. The plane is equipped with cutting-edge secure communications equipment, allowing it to serve as a flying command center if the U.S. is under attack. Featuring two kitchens that can feed up to 100 people at a time, the gourmet food served is far from the fare served on standard airliners. In case of emergency, a doctor is always onboard the plane and its medical suite can even serve as an operating room. Air Force One also has a gym, 87 phones and 19 televisions. Specific security details for the plane are kept under lock and key, but it is a military aircraft. It can function as a bunker in a nuclear attack, has the ability to repel airborne missiles and its electronic defense system can gridlock the radar of enemies. Donald Trump’s Plane vs. Air Force Once Unlike any other president before him, Donald Trump already has his own lavish airplane. Purchased from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the Boeing 757-200 cost an estimated $100 million. The luxury airliner features a shower, signature gold-plated seatbelt buckles and a 52-inch flat screen television with more than 1,000 movies for passengers to choose from. It’s undeniably more comfortable than a ride on the average commercial airliner, but operating Trump’s plane comes with a hefty price tag. A standard 757 costs approximately $8,000 per hour, but hitching a ride on Air Force One is free for the president. Trump’s current plane is customized, but Air Force One is bigger and faster. His private jet seats 43 people, but Air Force One can accommodate a passenger load of 102 people — including crew. Despite the personalized touches on his personal plane, it seems unlikely the president-elect will mind the switch to this ultra-exclusive aircraft. The New Air Force One When the latest version of Air Force One takes flight in 2024, it promises to be even more impressive. Shifting from an outdated 747-200 model to a 747-8 version offers many benefits. The 747-8 model emits 16 fewer tons of carbon dioxide emissions per trip and it can fly 1,000 miles farther than its current counterpart. Also the fastest commercial jet in the world, the 747-8 has a cruise speed of 656 miles per hour, can hold an additional 154,000 pounds and is the longest commercial jet on Earth with a wingspan of 250 feet 2 inches. Still in the research phase, Boeing has not yet begun building the next generation Air Force One fleet. Only time will tell if Donald Trump will have the contract canceled or continue on with the process. |