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Air Force One fleet
In the air, Bush most often flies on a Boeing 747-200B laden with, among other things, an anti-missile system. Like gas for cars, fuel costs for the largest plane in the Air Force One fleet have gone up dramatically -- from $3,974 an hour in fiscal 2004 to $6,029 per hour now, according to the Air Force.
John Armbrust, publisher of Jet Fuel Report, said Air Force One is no different from its commercial counterparts in that respect.
"It's an expensive proposition to fly these planes, whether its Air Force One or a regular 747," he said.
Reducing his appearances outside the White House and making other gestures toward fuel conservation could help cut down on costs.
But some suggest that could do more harm for national morale and Bush's image than good for the financial bottom line.
Remember Jimmy Carter donning a sweater and asking Americans facing an energy crisis to turn down their thermostats? Or giving the speech about the nation's "crisis of confidence" that led to his permanent association with "malaise?" Carter's critics turned both utterances into emblems that contributed to his political undoing.
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
