New gov't aircraft arrives in Hokkaido

The reason the current 747-400 is being expedited for retirement is because both JAL and ANA have retired their fleets of 747s and maintenance was outsourced to JAL/ANA. As many airlines around the world switch to smaller more fuel efficient aircraft. 777's fly around the world and parts are readily available, plus the engines are more fuel efficient then the current 747 saving more money in the long run.

One item about government aircraft, is unlike the US "Air Force One", it can only be used for official government trips, no private trips funded by the tax payer line Trump.

That's a beaut. I've seen its predecessors on approach to Kumamoto a few times.

Why can't the Imperial Family and PM travel normal airlines and "get in touch" with the rest of us?????

For private trips they do for the most part (minus the police escort etc) the royal family can be often seen taking the Shinkansen (even though there is an Imperial Train, the emperor opts not to use it to reduce the burden on the Japanese people).

The current Japanese 747-400s are also used not only for VIP transport but have been used in emergency situation to carry back soldiers, victims of terrorist attacks overseas etc.

The Japanese government should have bought the MRJ instead of a Boeing plane. 

A 777 vs MRJ you got to be kidding me right? A 777 can fly 3-4x the distance of a MRJ and carry 3-4x more passengers and cargo.

Its a 777 made in the USA. 

Assembled in the USA. Many parts are made overseas including many important parts from European (Airbus) countries like France. Some Boeing models have as much as 35% of parts manufactured in Japan and shipped to the US for final assembly.

@Patricia

I understand the goal of reducing government expenses, but having planes like this is an absolute necessity for diplomatic and security reasons. And be honest, would you really want to be at the same boarding gate as the prime minister or a member of the royal family? What a mess that would be.

What a waste of taxpayers money

Why? Most countries in the world have similar planes for their presidents / prime ministers. It's a necessity.

Japanese companies make most of the fuselage panels, all the doors, wing section, wing to fuselage fairings and wing ribs between the spars on the 777.  Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (which also makes the MRJ) contribute nearly 40% of the Japanese contribution to building of Boeing Aircraft (other companies include Fuji Heavy Industries and Kawasaki)

@Patricia Yarrow

Why can't the Imperial Family and PM travel normal airlines and "get in touch" with the rest of us?????

Why some people can't see the obvious??

Reason 1 Normal airlines fly on fixed schedules. It's very difficult to harmonize very busy schedules of PM's foreign trips with departure time of regular flights.

Reason 2 PM and the Imperial Family do not fly alone, there is quite a number of entourage and aids of all kinds, literally dozens of them. How to book them on a regular flight? During Golden Week?

Reason 3 Security

Reason 4 Stable, secure communication for PM even in midair in case of emergency. Regular airliners do not have such kind of equipment. Just imagine: North Korea fires a ballistic missile, and PM is out of touch somewhere in the skies.

Enough?

Wish I had an airplane, my tax paid for it so I guess I do. Have to update my Facebook.

This is a smart move by Japan. The old 747s were inefficient gas guzzlers that cost taxpayers a lot of money and had been announced a couple of years ago.

In 2016 during the campaign Trump tweeted something similar, but now has settled for a new paint job instead.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/18/donald-trump-air-force-one-red-white-and-blue-cost-3-9-billion/794735002/

The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft (max. 368 seats) is much better than Boeing 747 (max. 467 seats) aircraft, the "old" Jumbo-Jet in Japan, that's better for fuel saving and all those authorities should be reduced as no pay passengers accompanied to the leaders and the emperor family. For less yearly budget better use the Mitsubishi MJR90, will be the best to demonstrate to the world the made in Japan aircraft of small side for (max. 92 seats). Very light and faster.

It is a sharp looking plane. Nice paint design!

Nice plane, but I prefer the Iron Maiden plane. A plane with attitude.

They could. They just reserved the first class, or travel by night, but it is not exactly the coolest thing to see and it is difficult for the picture descending the plane.

Again that makes no sense, you kick out all the passengers in First class, or you still need to reserve an ANA/JAL aircraft, take it out of it's normal schedule leaving hundreds of passengers stranded with no plane etc.

Air Force One is always used inside the north american continent. This is one plane for 55 states.

Where do you get your information from?

If you mean the US Air Force one, it can travel around the world (and it does) the 747 version. There isn't one plane , there are many planes (any Air Force plane that the President of the US is on, is called "Air Force One"). If it is a navy plane it is called NAVY ONE, if Marine Helicopter (called Marine One) or Army (Army One).

Nonetheless, they fly american. This is a big diplomatic gesture. It is not as secured as french, 

Did you read about my post about Boeing aircraft actually mostly built by overseas companies, including nearly 35% parts made in Japan and also items made by French companies. Did you know that some Airbus A319 and A320's are assembled in China?

Why? Most countries in the world have similar planes for their presidents / prime ministers. It's a necessity.

Many countries do not. They use comercial flights or, if security is an issue, an airforce flight.

Again that makes no sense, you kick out all the passengers in First class, or you still need to reserve an ANA/JAL aircraft, take it out of it's normal schedule leaving hundreds of passengers stranded with no plane etc.

Yeah and then they'd be on here complaining that politicians and the royal family are causing delays for everyone else when they have to take a flight. Can't win with some folks.

I’m surprised Japan didn’t choose Boeing’s B-747-8.

taj

It is a sharp looking plane. Nice paint design!

Agree. Simplistic, great flow of the line.

Chico3

Nice plane, but I prefer the Iron Maiden plane. A plane with attitude.

Or they should have copied the 'Hello Kitty" shinkansen design...

I wouldn't get on an A319 or A320 if you paid me......lol. Planes are risky enough as they are.

@smithinjapan

Yeah, because they need such a big jet.

Actually the 777 is not being enough.

Jets used by head of state normally have four engines, because the jet can continue to fly with one engine out.

Twin engine jets don't have this kind of redundancy and must land in 3 hours when one engine goes out.

Because the A380 is too large for landing at many airports around the world, the 747 is normally preferred.

Flying a 747 is not a luxury, but a necessity.

Samit, I believe a 777 can safely continue a takeoff to climb-out if one engine fails on the takeoff rotation.

Nice looking aircraft.

Its a 777 made in the USA. So much for the myth that Japan does not buy anything from the USA. The Japanese government should have bought the MRJ instead of a Boeing plane. Could you imagine Trump riding around in a Toyota or Honda?

@Asakaze

°

They could. They just reserved the first class, or travel by night, but it is not exactly the coolest thing to see and it is difficult for the picture descending the plane.

Air Force One is always used inside the north american continent. This is one plane for 55 states.

Someone like Abe or a Royal Family just need a jet and rent a long range one or borrow one from army.

There is always mobile security facilities.

Nonetheless, they fly american. This is a big diplomatic gesture. It is not as secured as french, but still it is better than chineese (and a lot more than Russian).

°

NCM

Why can't the Imperial Family and PM travel normal airlines and "get in touch" with the rest of us?????

What a waste of taxpayers money.

Yeah, because they need such a big jet.