Boeing may have to fight for contract

CHICAGO, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- The U.S. Air Force is considering options for replacing Air Force One, the company said.

Crain's Chicago Business reported Tuesday that Boeing Co., which made the two 747-200B airplanes used as Air Force One, is likely to encounter competition from its European rival Airbus S.A.S., which could offer its larger A380 jumbo jet.

A 2005 decision to buy a foreign-made fleet of presidential helicopters used as Marine One sparked controversy.

The newspaper reported that the Air Force is studying plans to buy three aircraft for the Air Force One fleet, with presidential hopefuls Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain in mind.

The plan is to get a new Air Force One around 2017, said Tony Robertson Jr., vice president of Boeing's maintenance, modifications and upgrades division, which maintains Air Force One.

"We've been speculating what Mr. McCain or Mr. Obama would think," he said.