America's doomsday planes are in the air following news of Commander in Chief infected

[Baclava]

Two US Navy E-6B Mercury nuclear war command posts were observed in flight Friday, one on each coast of the United States. They were initiating the “Take Charge and Move Out” (TACAMO) defense protocol – essentially dispersing the command and communications facilities needed to control the US nuclear arsenal.

These aircraft are activated by the Pentagon when it is deemed necessary to communicate with the US Navy’s secretive nuclear missile submarines, stealth bombers and missile silos.

The move underscores the potential severity of the situation.

The President of the United States is also the commander-in-chief of the nation’s armed forces, including its nuclear forces. The incapacitation of whoever holds this position could be seen as an opportunity by potential belligerents.

https://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/us-politics/trump-tests-positive-for-covid19-doomsday-planes-mobilise-in-washington/news-story/e295d2a0f6044aafdd049f2e444163e5

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China could see this as an opening, time to invade some islands?

[samnsara]

1. there was a du post tracking the path of a cpl planes but i didnt understand all the jargon..

..now it makes sense.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I also didn't completely get what that was all about. Now, I do. n/t

[machI]

3. This increases the likely hood the idiot with the nuclear codes will start a war by mistake.

This just one more opportunity for the orange one to botch up the works.

Trump: "How many missiles would launch if I press this button?" CLICK "Woops!, did I do something bad?"

[Baclava]

8. Aren't hallucinations one of the side effects of Covid19? He should be stripped of the football now

[patricia92243]

4. Scary stuff.

[nolabear]

5. It's okay. Dr. Strangelove is on top of it.

[BannonsLiver]

6. I see the E6's in the air all the time

As they are based near my home. Very capable people in our military.

[HAB911]

7. NOTHING unusual

I track them all the time, they are always there

[BComplex]

9. Love your sig line. n/t

[HAB911]

10. thank you very much!

[HAB911]

11. attribute

Mark Twain > Quotes > Quotable Quote

“I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.”

[Kid Berwyn]

12. Be calm. All is well.

[RockCreek]

13. How much does it cost every hour to keep them in the air?

More direct $ costs of Trump's irresponsible actions leading to his infection.

[A HERETIC I AM]

14. It's basically a Boeing 707

A 4 engined airliner. According to the Wikipedia article about them, they have a crew of 22, so most of those folks will be radar and communications specialists.



This aircraft is clearly equipped with updated engines from the original delivery configuration, so they are much more fuel efficient.

On edit to add this picture, to show the engine difference I mentioned. Below is a KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft (same basic airframe - a B-707) with the original Pratt & Whitney engines. Notice how much smaller the intake and the overall diameter of the engines are compared to the plane in the pic above.



They have an annual budget that covers these operations, but the first answer to your question, apart from "I don't know exactly", would be a guess in the $20K to $25K per hour range.

[RockCreek]

15. Thank you!

Wow. And 2 planes, 24 h d.
20 k × 2 × 24 = $960,000 k/ day
Using
25k x 2 x 24 = $1,200,000/d.

Guess there won't be any savings on having his golf habit cancelled while sick .
Estimated avg $600 k/ day of golf -- averaged over all of his favorite courses (virginia, nj, flirida).