You can't even consider Earl Spencer as any sort of Royal, not even a 'minor' one. Diana married into the 'Firm' (as the Royal family calls itself) so her siblings and parents didn't become Royals on the back of her marriage. Although Earl Spencer is a member of the aristocracy (but they take anyone these days.....)

The Queen's Flight is still in existence, they operate the very rare "Statesman" variant of the BAe 146-100. The livery is a masterpiece of understatement: a red tail with the Union Flag* and a simple black cheatline. A wonderful colour scheme that would look wonderful on something bigger........

......such as the oft-proposed "Blair Force One". This has been suggested as many different types of aircraft, from a small A319CJ (like the Italians) to something as large and as capable as an A340-500. The latest suggestion is to use one of the new MRTT aircraft (Multi-Role Tanker-Transport) being procured for the RAF which would make it either an A330-200 or a 767-300. But would we send our beloved Tony across the water in some two-engined contraption???? (By all means, say I......)

Of course it's a far cry from the heady days of 1990 when British Airways reconfigured a Concorde with very cool rearward-facing seats (grouped round a table) for the Queen's State Visit to the USA......

Air Force One may be big, but it sure wasn't fast.....

*Pet peeve: It's only the Union 'Jack' when it flies from a ship. On an aircraft, and everywhere else, it's the Union 'Flag'.

[This message has been edited by BahrainLad (edited Jan 09, 2004).]