U.S. President Donald Trump is frustrated by the delays to the production of the new Air Force One aircraft and is now considering buying a used Boeing plane, perhaps from a foreign seller, as an alternative. Asked about the timeline for delivering the replacements, Trump took issue with Boeing in front of reporters aboard one of the two ageing Boeing 747-200s the White House uses for presidential travel. He added, “We’re looking at alternatives because I think that it’s taking too long for Boeing.”
If Donald Trump bought a plane, he would modify it to adhere to the presidential requirements, he indicated. However, he ruled out buying aircraft from Airbus, one of Boeing’s chief rivals in the widebody aircraft market. “I would not consider Airbus.” He clarified that he could buy one from another country perhaps or get one from another country.
The VC-25B is the new presidential plane, based on the 747-8 model of a modern Boeing, that was commissioned under a contract negotiated by Trump during his first term. But production delays and cost overruns have held up the project and Boeing has lost billions of dollars on the deal. It is not that these aircraft themselves are so special; it is because of the extensive transformation needed to turn them into secure flying command centres for the U.S. president.
These include highly classified communication systems, enhanced survivability features for different contingencies, and built in air stairs that permit the aircraft to perform both remote or emergency duties. Earlier, Trump had removed the requirement for the new aircraft to have air to air refueling capabilities, as with the current VC-25A designs, which were built during the time of the Cold War.
Trump has been in no hurry to finalise a president’s plane equation and has taken to looking at a second-hand Boeing aircraft as delays continue.
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