# Hillary's campaign 737 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 6, 2016, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillarys-campaign-737/765183 "2016-09-06T13:20:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bizerta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@bizerta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizerta)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillarys-campaign-737/765183/1 "2016-09-06T13:20:16Z")
Hillary unveiled her campaign Boeing 737 replete with a fresh panting job. Who owns the plane? Is it a rental? Certainly, the paint scheme becomes useless in another nine weeks. Any idea how much it costs to paint an airplane? Is the old paint typically removed before adding a new paint scheme? How much does the paint on a 737 add to the gross weight? (which is why I asked if the old paint is removed first). ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillarys-campaign-737/765183/2 "2016-09-06T13:31:49Z")
Chartered. Vinyl decals. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillarys-campaign-737/765183/3 "2016-09-06T13:43:39Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Chartered. > Vinyl decals. Vastly more fuel-efficient than Trump’s own 757, which he’s kindly leasing to the campaign for a goodly sum. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillarys-campaign-737/765183/4 "2016-09-06T16:07:16Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Vastly more fuel-efficient than Trump’s own 757 Various Googling suggests the difference is ~18% - depends on many things including loading & what engines are on these aircraft. Not sure that qualifies as “vast”. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillarys-campaign-737/765183/5 "2016-09-06T17:01:47Z")
Googling around a bit… On the Democratic side Hillary Clinton’s campaign rolled out a Boeing 737-86J, tail number [N881XA](http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N881XA). Registered owner is AERSALE USA 1 LLC, with Xtra Airways as the operator. It is not tracking on FlightAware. I’ve not been able to find details on a plane for VP nominee Time Kaine. On the Republican side Donald Trump is Boeing 757-200, tail number [N757AF](http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N757AF). Registered owner is DJT OPERATIONS I LLC. Reportedly tracking via Flightaware was removed at request of the owner. Mike Pence is flying in a Boeing 737-7L9, tail number [N278EA](https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N278EA). [Registered owner](http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N278EA) is Wells Fargo Bank Northwest NA Trustee. Reportedly this is chartered from Eastern Airlines. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillarys-campaign-737/765183/6 "2016-09-06T18:13:14Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Various Googling suggests the difference is ~18% - depends on many things including loading & what engines are on these aircraft. > > Not sure that qualifies as “vast”. I believe Trump’s is older (maybe ten years old) and the Clinton charter is a 737-800; that puts them pretty much at the diametric extents of any general differences between the equipment. On short-haul comparison, which is probably the best match for campaign planes, WP says the 757-200 uses 4.67kg/km and the 737-800 uses either 3.17 or 3.50kg/km. Not sure if that accounts for the heavier takeoff weight of the 757 (around 127,000 pounds empty, vs around 75,000 empty for the 737), which would burn more fuel at that stage. So I get around 30% better economy for the HRC express, and probably more. When you’re talking about fuel measured in by the ton, that’s considerable. I guess T can lease himself any of his own planes he likes, though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillarys-campaign-737/765183/7 "2016-09-06T18:31:27Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > I’ve not been able to find details on a plane for VP nominee Time Kaine. He’s a VP candidate. He gets the URL for Greyhound and a card for 10% off at participating Waffle Houses. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillarys-campaign-737/765183/8 "2016-09-06T19:28:14Z")
> [@bizerta](#): > > How much does the paint on a 737 add to the gross weight? (which is why I asked if the old paint is removed first). For comparison, the [Space shuttle’s external tank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_external_tank#Standard_Weight_Tank) was only painted white for the first couple of flights; leaving the paint off on subsequent flights saved about 600 pounds. The fuselage of a Boeing 737 is skinnier and shorter, but of course the wings and horizontal/vertical stabilizers add quite a bit of area. I would not be surprised if the total weight of paint on a completely painted aircraft is several hundred pounds. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillarys-campaign-737/765183/9 "2016-09-06T19:36:40Z")
> [@bizerta](#): > > … > Any idea how much it costs to paint an airplane? Is the old paint typically removed before adding a new paint scheme? How much does the paint on a 737 add to the gross weight? (which is why I asked if the old paint is removed first). As to these, a paint job can cost a few tens of thousands of dollars and take a plane out of service for several days. Particularly more so for multiple colors. But for the design on the Clinton campaign plane it seems that the desired effects could be achieved with vinyl decals in a single day for much less cost. As you might imagine a full paint job weighs more than a partial one over burnished metal. The common range I’ve seen while googling is that a full paint job adds about 300lbs to the weight of a 737. Bigger planes can be more, as much as 1200lb on a 747. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillarys-campaign-737/765183/10 "2016-09-06T19:37:25Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > For comparison, the [Space shuttle’s external tank](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_external_tank#Standard_Weight_Tank) was only painted white for the first couple of flights; leaving the paint off on subsequent flights saved about 600 pounds. Now, see, I could have edited the quote there more easily, but **not me**. 🙂 It was only on the \*first \*flight. If you see a shot of a shuttle launch with a white tank, it was the first launch of _Columbia_. (Why? Because it looked better, but more importantly, to protect the red anti-corrosion paint over potentially years of delays and weeks of outdoor exposure before the launch.) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillarys-campaign-737/765183/11 "2016-09-06T19:59:36Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Now, see, I could have edited the quote there more easily, but **not me**. 🙂 > > It was only on the \*first \*flight. If you see a shot of a shuttle launch with a white tank, it was the first launch of _Columbia_. (Why? Because it looked better, but more importantly, to protect the red anti-corrosion paint over potentially years of delays and weeks of outdoor exposure before the launch.) 😕 The Wikipedia article claims it was the first two flights, backed up by [this cite.](http://www.space.com/2282-columbias-white-external-fuel-tanks.html) The [Wikipedia page for STS-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-2) (the second flight) also specifically mentions the tank paint: > [@Wikipedia](#): > > STS-2 was the last shuttle flight to have its external fuel tank (ET) painted white. In an effort to reduce the Shuttle’s overall weight, STS-3 and all subsequent missions used an unpainted tank, saving approximately 272 kilograms (600 lb). Are these all wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillarys-campaign-737/765183/12 "2016-09-06T20:59:45Z")
> [@bizerta](#): > > Hillary unveiled her campaign Boeing 737 replete with a fresh panting job. If that’s not a typo, I hope a video of the event surfaces. I just googled “how much does plane paint weigh,” and [it seems we’ve discussed this before.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=405748) ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2016, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hillarys-campaign-737/765183/13 "2016-09-06T21:05:01Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Are these all wrong? Apparently not. Huh. That’s one of those things that makes you feel like history has been edited from under you. 🙂