Obama brings two fuel-guzzling planes to serve as Air Force One in Argentina

President Obama brought along a second, smaller Air Force One for his family to enjoy a day of sightseeing in Argentina on Thursday.

After dancing the tango at a state dinner in Buenos Aires Wednesday night, the president and first lady Michelle Obama took their daughters aboard the government plane colloquially known as “baby” Air Force One Thursday to fly to the scenic town of Bariloche in southern Argentina. It’s a Boeing 757 used when traveling to places where the runway is too short for the primary Air Force One.

The larger Air Force One, a 747-200, was parked alongside the smaller plane at the airport in Buenos Aires, according to pool reporters traveling with the president. It costs about $206,000 per hour to fly the larger plane, which the president is expected to use for the 10-plus-hour flight back to Washington late Thursday night.

It’s common for the government to have a backup plane available when the president travels, although not often for a family sightseeing excursion.

Bariloche is a lakeside resort town nestled in the foothills of the Andes mountains, famous for its chocolates and Swiss-style architecture.

... plus at least one C-130 that brings in the limo and communication vans.

Not an accurate estimate. They do not use C-130's for the vans, limos, etc. It is C-17s or C-5s. They use big jets and lots of them. This is hidden from the true costs. Obama and wife have spent more than $1BILLION, maybe as much as $5Billion. Here is a report from his trip to India...

The presidential entourage will have 40 aircraft, including the Air Force One that will ferry the president. There will be six armoured cars, including the Barack Mobile, a Cadillac. . . .

http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2010/10/guess-how-many-airplanes-it-will-take.html

Three Marine One choppers will be reassembled in India to ferry Obama and his family. These helicopters will also assist in evacuation in case of an emergency. . .

BUT WAIT, that ain't all:

He will also be protected by a fleet of 34 warships, including an aircraft carrier, which will patrol the sea lanes off the Mumbai coast during his two-day stay there beginning Saturday. The measure has been taken as Mumbai attack in 2008 took place from the sea.. . . .

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