At 11:40 PM 4/9/2003 -0700, , Stanley Powroznik wrote: >I was always curious as to why the basic 747-200 airframe was chosen for >the two VC-25A's and not the updated with the newer 747-400 airframe >considering that both VC-25A's flew for the first time in 1990 while the >very first 747-400 made its maiden flight a year or two before and put >into commercial service with PW4000 engines by Northwest Airlines. > >The 747-400 airframe already existed, so why not using this airframe for >both VC-25A's ? > >In any case, why isn't both VC-25A's retrofitted with -400 winglets either >to make it the only 747-400 passenger transport that has the shorthened >-200 upperdeck which is only found on the -400 freighter ? > >Any clue(s) ? The USAF already had 747-200s in their fleet, the E-4 aerial command centers. Why pay the extra expense for a -400 when a -200 did everything they need, was available, and was familiar to the operator?