Ford: Alan Mulally and Bill Ford will continue to use private aircraft fleet

If Ford can sustain itself and not rely on tax dollars, then more power to them. Who are we to try to regulate what a company do with their profit. Government officials, speakers, entertainers ( Al Gore, Bill Clinton, Steve Spielberg, etc) use jets regularly to get to their engagements quickly due to time constraints. Corp. types are no exception.

I'm fine with Ford keeping what they want, they can pay their bills unlike other automakers. Not to mention the new Fusion that just came out is a HUGE improvement over the decent original. A lot more European Mondeo styling. I like it a lot. And if above is the new Taurus, then they have got another nice vehicle coming out. I like the lines of the boxy Flex for a family WUV (my own creation, Wagon Utility Vehicle). And the upcoming Focus which is said to be VERY close to the European version will just push them further ahead.

Ford is doing a lot of the right things, now they just need to work on cleaning up the Explorer and Escape to look more modern and less like their 1990s roots.

The Escape will be based on the C1 chassis (Euro Focus chassis). It will be the same as the next generation Ford Kuga. http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/suvs/112_news080215_2009_ford_kuga/index.html

As for the Explorer, well that is a bit of a question mark. It is supposed to be on D3 (an evolution of the Freestyle, Taurus-X, Ford Flex chassis). If Ford were moving forward with their RWD volume large sedan chassis I would like to see it on this chassis but I believe for the time being there is no development going on with this.

FWIW I love my 08 Escape. It has strong lines and a very smooth ride.

That's right I forgot about the Ford Kuga design being used to a degree. I also have no issues with the current Escape. Just making note that they are becoming a much more noticeable difference than other models. For instance, the Mazda Tribute which is the Ford Escape for all intensive purposes does not fit into the Mazda lineup at all.

My uncle and Aunt have an 05/06 Escape and a 07 Escape. My ex has a 09 Mercury Mariner. Oh and my cousin has a 07 Escape as well.

If they are not using taxpayer funds then I don't care how they use their money. It's the tin cup types that should not even think about private jets.

No problem here, I hope they order a couple more aircraft, get some people working in this country.

They haven't taken any tax paper $$$. Why even mention it?

So what, I am not paying for it, however House Speaker Pelosi who works 3 days a week and flies round trip to California each week cost tax payers $60K each way, 480K/month, 5.76 million per year concerns me more. Speculate what the other senator/congressman Democrats and Republican are doing.

More shoddy "journalism" from the autospies.

Probably the only site that tries to create flamewars in its own comment section.

that taurus has the tackiest rims i have ever seen.

In other news, they also refused a bailout.

So, they can do what they want as long as they are self sufficient and do not need the government's aka our help.