Latest news with #NextAirForceOne
Business Insider
13-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
See the US's presidential aircraft fleet that Trump wants to add to with a $400 million gift
Presidential aircraft fleet Air Force One is a call sign that refers to any US Air Force aircraft transporting the president, though it is commonly recognized by its blue-and-white livery. The Air Force has two "specially configured" Boeing 747-200B jets that are primarily used as Air Force One. The VC-25A aircraft is uniquely modified to serve as an airborne command-and-control center for the president, staff, and guests with the same level of safety and security as the White House. Other than the number of passengers it can carry, the main differences between the VC-25 and the standard Boeing 747 include more advanced electronic and communications equipment, a self-contained baggage loader, and the capability for in-flight refueling. The VC-25 also has a rest area and mini-galley for the aircrew, six passenger lavatories, and a compartment with medical supplies and equipment for minor in-flight emergencies. Marine One For shorter distance trips, especially to and from the White House, the president flies in Marine One, which includes military helicopters like the VH-3D Sea King and the VH-60N White Hawk. In service for nearly five decades, both military helicopters are set to be phased out and fully replaced with modernized rotary-wing aircraft, the VH-92A. The next-generation Marine One is designed to be a militarized variant of the Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot. Other aircraft The presidential fleet also includes other fixed-wing aircraft besides the modified 747. The C-32A, a modified Boeing 757-200, is better suited for smaller airports or low-profile missions. The C-40, based on the Boeing 737, can be used to fly the president but is more often used for Cabinet members or other VIP individuals. Based on General Dynamics' Gulfstream long-range business jets, the C-37 is used to transport high-ranking government and Defense Department officials for worldwide missions. 'Next Air Force One' The two planes currently being used as Air Force One have been in service for nearly four decades. They are set to be replaced by a modernized variant dubbed the " Next Air Force One." Officially designated the VC-25B, the new presidential aircraft is set to feature "electrical power upgrades, a mission communication system, a medical facility, an executive interior, a self-defense system, and autonomous ground operations capabilities," according to an Air Force release. The two future VC-25B jets were initially scheduled to be fielded in 2024, but supply chain issues and shifting requirements could postpone their delivery to 2029. Facing pressure from the White House to have the new aircraft ready before Trump leaves office in January 2029, the Air Force and Boeing are aiming to have the new aircraft delivered by 2027, according to Darlene Costello, the Air Force's principal deputy assistant secretary for acquisition, technology, and logistics. A 'security nightmare' An Air Force official told Air and Space Forces Magazine that the service is coordinating with the White House and Boeing "to further define the requirements and acceleration options while ensuring we provide a safe, secure, and reliable aircraft for the president." Trump has previously expressed his frustration with receiving the next-generation Air Force One, suggesting earlier this year that he may seek "alternatives, because it's taking Boeing too long." Despite the backlash, the president doubled down on his proposal to use the Qatari jet as Air Force One, saying he doesn't plan on using it after his term and would donate it to a future presidential library. "I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane,'" Trump told reporters Monday. Though free in cost, there's still a major cost to overhaul and retrofit the plane with the strict security requirements needed to serve as Air Force One. "Along with the obvious ethical and legal issues, a $400M gifted luxury jet is not Air Force One," US Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut wrote on X. "Retrofitting a plane from Qatar would create huge costs & a security nightmare that would impede the work underway to deliver the actual AF1 by 2027."
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk is trying to help Boeing out with its much-delayed new Air Force One for Trump
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg says Elon Musk is helping speed up the arrival of the Next Air Force One. The planemaker has lost more than $2 billion producing the long-delayed presidential aircraft. President Donald Trump "wants the airplane sooner," Ortberg told CNBC. Elon Musk is helping Boeing speed up production of the Next Air Force One, the planemaker's CEO told CNBC. Also known as the VC-25B, costs and delays have snowballed since Boeing was tapped in 2015 to build a new presidential aircraft. It was initially set to be delivered in 2024, but the timeframe has been pushed back to at least 2027. Boeing has reported losses of more than $2 billion on the program. "The president wants the airplane sooner, and so we're working with Elon and the team to figure what can we do to pull up the schedule of that aircraft," Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told CNBC. He added that discussions had been constructive and praised the Department of Government Efficiency. "They sincerely are looking at things in the contract or in the process that are slowing us down that are not providing value," Ortberg said. "We're engaging with the DOGE team to see if we can't find that right mix of requirements that need to come out and get out of our way so we can be more efficient and deliver a better product," he added. Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2016 During President Donald Trump's first term, he renegotiated the terms — threatening to cancel the program if it exceeded $4 billion. To cut costs, Boeing agreed in 2018 to use two jets originally destined for a Russian airline that went bankrupt. In 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that production problems included one Boeing employee not being properly credentialed to oversee the work and another failing a routine drug test. Mini bottles of tequila were also found on board one of the future presidential jets, the Journal reported. At his inaugural ball earlier this month, Trump signaled his appetite for the new presidential jet by cutting a cake adorned with the VC-25B. Notably, the model had a red, white, and blue design — unlike the light blue used for every presidential jet since the Kennedy era. In 2019, Trump showed ABC a similar plane design. "I'm doing that for other presidents, not for me," he added. However, this color scheme was found to cause further delays. The Air Force said a thermal study found that the dark blue would necessitate additional tests because of added heat in some environments. So in 2023, then-President Joe Biden chose a light-blue livery, in line with the current and previous Air Force Ones — but it seems like Trump would prefer his original design. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk is trying to help Boeing out with its much-delayed new Air Force One for Trump
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg says Elon Musk is helping speed up the arrival of the Next Air Force One. The planemaker has lost more than $2 billion producing the long-delayed presidential aircraft. President Donald Trump "wants the airplane sooner," Ortberg told CNBC. Elon Musk is helping Boeing speed up production of the Next Air Force One, the planemaker's CEO told CNBC. Also known as the VC-25B, costs and delays have spiraled since Boeing was first tapped in 2015 to build a new presidential aircraft. It was initially set to be delivered in 2024, but the timeframe has been pushed back to at least 2027. Boeing has reported losses of more than $2 billion on the program. "The president wants the airplane sooner, and so we're working with Elon and the team to figure what can we do to pull up the schedule of that aircraft," Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told CNBC. He added that discussions have been constructive and praised the Department of Government Efficiency. "They sincerely are looking at things in the contract or in the process that are slowing us down that are not providing value," Ortberg said. "We're engaging with the DOGE team to see if we can't find that right mix of requirements that need to come out and get out of our way so we can be more efficient and deliver a better product." During President Donald Trump's first term, he renegotiated the terms — threatening to cancel the program if it exceeded $4 billion. To cut costs, Boeing agreed in 2018 to use two jets originally destined for a Russian airline that went bankrupt. In 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that production problems included one Boeing employee not being properly credentialed to oversee the work and another failing a routine drug test. Mini bottles of tequila were also found on board one of the future presidential jets, the Journal reported. At his inaugural ball earlier this month, Trump signaled his appetite for the new presidential jet by cutting a cake adorned with the VC-25B. Notably, the model had a red, white, and blue design — unlike the light blue used for every presidential jet since the Kennedy era. In 2019, Trump showed ABC a similar plane design. "I'm doing that for other presidents, not for me," he added. However, this color scheme was found to be a cause for further delays. The Air Force said a thermal study found that the dark blue would necessitate additional tests because of added heat in some environments. So, in 2023, Joe Biden chose a light-blue livery, in line with the current and previous Air Force Ones — but it seems like Trump would prefer his original design. Read the original article on Business Insider
