Going by the rumors, the Airbus A380 is being considered by the US Air Force (USAF) as a cargo freighter and as a large VIP transport in the Air Force One class. Apparently EADS answered to two separate inquiries by the USAF’s Air Mobility Command (AMC) about the A380, last summer. The first call was for the data about the A380F Freighter for potential use as a military air lifter. The company will probably make a presentation regarding the same in December to AMC officials. The move (on USAF’S part) may stem from the ongoing review of a potentially over-budget re-engining and reliability improvement programme for the Lockheed Martin C-5 fleet. USAF officials were not immediately available to comment. It is also believed that the AMC had also asked for data regarding three Airbus jets as part of a market survey for “VIP Large Aircraft Recapitalization.” They wanted info on the A380, A340-600 and A330-200.
“AMC’s two separate requests for Airbus jets arrived as EADS prepared a bid for the KC-X tanker contract based on the A330-200 converted freighter. The US Special Operations Command, meanwhile, has previously asked EADS for information about the A400M. Another EADS division, Eurocopter, is supplying the EC145 to the US Army as a light utility helicopter. ”
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