Thai Air Force Eyes Buying New Airbus

[AlQaholic]

5 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

looks like an A340-500 to me.

The nose doesn't look right?

[Bangkok Barry]

1 hour ago, Bday Prang said:

Were you  expecting the Thais to fly around europe speaking to every manufacturer of all the various components asking them to load the prices ?

I would expect them to contact Airbus HQ in Europe, rather than who knows who in the US where the aircraft isn't manufactured or for sale, unless second-hand I suppose. The article though says they are buying a new aircraft, but that might be a poor translation and they actually mean replacement.

[herfiehandbag]

The RTAF fixed wing transport aircraft fleet consists of 37 aircraft, 14 of which are configured for VIP transport. The Helicopter fleet consists of 50, 16 of which are VIP aircraft.

 

The army fixed wing transport fleet has 17 aircraft, 8 of which are VIP aircraft.

 

The Army helicopter fleet includes 8 VIP helicopters,and a further 102 utility helicopters.

Figures from Wikipedia. 

[metisdead]

Some posts with references to the Royal family have been removed.

[sandyf]

16 hours ago, Yorkshire Tea said:

Why have talks with US?

The article does not say they are buying a new Airbus aircraft, it says they are buying a replacement for their "airbus", could be a Boeing.

If they are actually buying another A340, not going to be new, it was discontinued in 2011.

[Balance]

Airbus is owned by a number of countries and private interests.  But the United States does not have any ownership and hence can not sell one to the Thai Air Force.

 

If the artical was implying that the Air Force wants the U.S. to buy it for them, or provide financing, it is poorly written, and the U.S. Airline companies would have something to say about it.  Bottom line, it would never happen.  

 

 

[Yellowtail]

15 minutes ago, Balance said:

Airbus is owned by a number of countries and private interests.  But the United States does not have any ownership and hence can not sell one to the Thai Air Force.

 

If the artical was implying that the Air Force wants the U.S. to buy it for them, or provide financing, it is poorly written, and the U.S. Airline companies would have something to say about it.  Bottom line, it would never happen.  

 

 

Airbus has sales and assembly/manufacturing in the US so there is likely no reason Thailand could not deal directly with Airbus in the US to buy new or used aircraft. 

[Will B Good]

I read yesterday that someone has 38 aircraft on standby......couldn't they ask politely if they could use one of them?

[ignore it]

The United States military thanks the Royal Thai Military for a great, abiet short, time.  However the US regrets to inform the Royal Thai Airforce that it cannot buy an airplane  for them.

A spokesman stated "Yes we love you big time, it was so wonderful! We hope to see you again next time we are in town."

 

[Emdog]

18 hours ago, Yorkshire Tea said:

Why have talks with US?

Many Thai think US and Europe are one and the same. Really

[Yellowtail]

4 minutes ago, Emdog said:

Many Thai think US and Europe are one and the same. Really

Many Americans think Europeans are sophisticated. Really

[kimamey]

18 hours ago, Yorkshire Tea said:

Why have talks with US?

I think that's in regards to the F35 which they are looking at rather than the Airbus. Just badly written.

As has been said before the US might have reservations given the closeness to China

[Yellowtail]

Just now, kimamey said:

I think that's in regards to the F35 which they are looking at rather than the Airbus. 

If that were the case, would they not be in negotiations with Afghanistan?  

[nauseus]

2 hours ago, AlQaholic said:

Very confusing article indeed. The original article talks about replacing an existing Airbus A340 and upgrading a Saab 340, but the picture shows something entirely different (looks like a Tupulev). They talk about airbus rather as a concept than the Airbus brand?? The Saab aircraft is older, if anything needs replacement it would be that one?

The picture is of the RTAF A340. No Tupolevs involved. 

 

The Saab 340 mentioned refers to the Saab 340 AEW early warning aircraft.

 

 

[kimamey]

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I don't get that either, they should be talking to Airbus in Toulouse France?

Unless they're buying a second-hand aircraft from someone?

Read the whole article. the OP is just badly written.

[kimamey]

12 minutes ago, Emdog said:

Many Thai think US and Europe are one and the same. Really

I was told when I first came here to say I'm from England if asked by the police. If you say United Kingdom they have no idea what that is and as soon as you say United they're already thinking United States anyway.

[a340bangla1]

2 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

looks like an A340-500 to me.

The perspective is not so good, but it seems to have a center gear, so it really must be the A340-500 (HS-TYV). I first thought it is a B737.

 

The RTAF does have a passenger jet fleet of some Airbus 319/320's, some B737's and one A340-500. There are also 3 Sukhoi Superjets 100, which do not seems to see a lot of flying.... (see wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_of_the_Royal_Thai_Air_Force)

 

Which one of those they want to replace is not clear. Whoever wrote that article does not really have a particularly deep knowledge of aviation.

 

The A340 has flown to Turkey a couple of times lately, I suppose on humanitarian missions. As far as I know from FR24, it has also spent quite some time in Lufthansa's workshop in Hamburg last  year  - probably for upgrades inside and out. So I somehow doubt it is up for replacement.

[spidermike007]

I wonder how many "humanitarian missions" they have flown, relative to trips for the overly entitled, overly wealthy, overfed, relatively useless generals. 

 

And what exactly does the army do for the people? 5 billion baht seems like an awful lot of money to shlepp the generals around. The army sometimes feels like a giant vacuum cleaner, absorbing as much of the national budget as they can. And what do they offer the people in exchange? 

[newnative]

Plenty of newer used planes sitting around. Buy one of them.

[Ralf001]

11 minutes ago, newnative said:

Plenty of newer used planes sitting around. Buy one of them.

Kick backs from buying new are bigger and more easily concealed.

[billd766]

3 hours ago, AlQaholic said:

The nose doesn't look right?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Thai_Air_Force

 

Scroll down to transport and it will say what aircraft they have.

 

 

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“The replacement requires a substantial budget,” the commander-in-chief admitted,” However, it is necessary.”

Now where have I heard that before?

[Sydebolle]

Tell the air chief marshal to have a look at the royal air force fleet's movement on www.flightradar24.com - absolutely scary, what these clowns are doing with their toys. Among others you can see flights from Bangkok to Kamphaengsaen (that is in Nakorn Pathom), 11 minutes flight time, other movements from Don Meuang to Swampy and the pictured airbus A320 is an absolute luxurious plane, fitted by the best in Hamburg and in service for a very short time. 
Should the protectors of the sky need civilian services, then the three brand new B777 (HS-TTA, HS-TTB and HS-TTC) are absolute long-range birds in a three class concept so to accomodate the tired bottoms of all these goons in blue. 

In closing, Airbus is an European plane (with US components) and home based in the French city of Toulouse. 

Needless to say, how scary this is how they splurge unbelievable amounts of money for all the wrong causes yet the electorate says Zilch even if they know. The air force boys learnt fast from the navy with their little stint on the Chinese submarines without engines. 

Good luck it is not my money being spent on various "beneficiaries" (remember the Rolls Royce scandal on the "much more open" Thai Airways purchase - nothing ever happened thereafter). 

[3NUMBAS]

On 3/15/2023 at 10:27 AM, Yorkshire Tea said:

Why have talks with US?

worried about it ending up in russia by the back door

[Mickmouse1]

Airbus talk with the USA?

Ok, so if buying Boeing or Phantom, you will talk to the Russians or China? 

Journalism at it's best 555

[suestra29]

Just use one of the Thai Airways jets it is trying to sell. The government has a list of planes available as they are 49% owners. 

[nglodnig]

This will be ideal for taking gangs of high-ranking officers (and maybe their wives but probably not ???? ) on jollies to other countries.

 

Oh, sorry I meant "fact-finding missions"

[Derek B]

On 3/15/2023 at 9:07 PM, soi3eddie said:

Why even do that, just get down to Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang and select another pristine model before it rots into the ground? Why not a nice big Boeing B747 or an Airbus A380? Very nice planes and plenty of space for generals and cronies! Even better for humanitarian needs too!!!

At this time, does the Thai air force really need a "new" plane? An 18 year old airframe still has at least 12 years left of service at least.

 

Even bigger selection at UTP airport (U-Tapao)(Pattaya)

[jacko45k]

11 hours ago, Mickmouse1 said:

Airbus talk with the USA?

Ok, so if buying Boeing or Phantom, you will talk to the Russians or China? 

Journalism at it's best 555

Isn't Russia getting it's Boeing parts from China to keep their planes (some of which they stole) going?

[sammieuk1]

Solved its a new F35 Airbus ????