Trump Wanted Cheaper Air Force One So the USAF Is Buying a Bankrupt Russian Firm's Undelivered 747s

[Tactical Peek]

President Donald Trump said the projected cost of new Air Force One aircraft was too high, so the U.S. Air Force found a way to lower it: by buying a pair of Boeing 747 jetliners abandoned by a bankrupt Russian airline.

Air Force officials are now finalizing a contract with Boeing for the two planes, according to three defense officials with knowledge of the deal. The Pentagon could publicly announce the deal as soon as this week.

“We’re working through the final stages of coordination to purchase two commercial 747-8 aircraft and expect to award a contract soon,” Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said in a statement.

The Air Force is not expected to disclose the specific value of the contract, but officials said that the military is getting a good deal on the planes. Boeing lists the average sticker price of a 747-8 as $386.8 million; the actual amount paid by airlines and other customers varies with quantities, configurations, and so forth.

http://www.defenseone.com/business/2017/08/russian-air-force-one-boeing-trump-747/139872/

[dalton99a]

1. Lovingly refurbished by Russian intelligence services

[TexasProgresive]

4. Planes never in Russia.

[Jazzgirl]

30. And probably lovingly bugged.

n/t

[Girard442]

2. An airframe is an airframe is an airframe.

Still, that's just weird.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

14. When they built the current Air Force One they found the openings in the framework

were too small to run all the wiring necessary for communications, etc. The plane had to be heavily modified after it was constructed to the tune of several million dollars.

I'm surprised he didn't buy a plane from a Saudi Sheik. They come with raised golden thrones.

BTW, whatever happened to "Buy American!"?

[Major Nikon]

32. That may not be true today

Advances in communication technology means less wires and/or a switch to fiber optics.

Regardless you can count on many million over and above the standard airframe simply due to a much different set of requirements.

[exboyfil]

3. It always comes back to Russians with Trump

Seriously it is a good idea, but you have to ask yourself why some other company didn't actually buy them. It could be timing, but I have to wonder. There must be excess planes in the current airline fleets.

[Initech]

6. Yeah like I said it's like playing a really fucked up game of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.

Except there's just one degree, and someone connected to Trump has ties to Russia. Shit, even Air Force One now has ties to Russia. Buy American! Sad!

[Doodley]

9. Why not? Russia is his motherland.

[hack89]

16. No demand for passenger 747s

Boeing has lost a lot of money on this plane.

[exboyfil]

18. Then I would hope

that our DoD would squeeze them until they squeal.

[hack89]

21. Unlikely

the price will be fair and acceptable to both parties. Boeing is not an enemy as far as the DoD is concerned.

[EX500rider]

23. "but you have to ask yourself why some other company didn't actually buy them"

Because no airline wants new 747's, too fuel inefficient compared to new designs.

[A HERETIC I AM]

31. Want to see how many mothballed airliners there are?

Google "Pinal Airpark" then go to maps and zoom in

That's just one of about a half dozen large commercial storage spots out west

[leftstreet]

5. Since when is that prick worried about saving us money? n/t

[smirkymonkey]

28. Seriously. There has to be some other motive because Trump obviously doesn't give a damn

about saving the taxpayers money. Something sounds off.

[Justice]

7. Did Trump start the whole discussion on AirForce one costs so as to wind up buying these planes?

I'd love to see the timeline on this. Remember Trump immediately complained about cost of Airforce One replacements.

The 747s that will be transformed for Presidential transport were originally ordered in 2013 by Transaero, which was Russia’s second-largest airline

Transaero went bankrupt in 2015.

Boeing built two of the four jets in the order, but the airline never took ownership of them.

Did someone in Russia guarantee Transaero's obligation to Boeing and Trump buying these planes helps that guarantor out?

[malaise]

20. My first thought

Bankrupt company - must be linked to him

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

24. I wonder how Donnie Two Scoops is going to make money on this transaction?

We know he never does anything that doesn't personally benefit him.

[LisaM]

27. Interesting.

He was harping on Air Force One even during the campaign.

[Johnny2X2X]

8. Not the Onion

What in the actual eff?

[Zoonart]

11. Wonder who's getting a kick-back on that?

I do. If Two Scoops wants to save the people some money he can stop golfing every effing weekend.

[renegade000]

10. He's going to tout that he made a "great deal", but...

In the absence of any details, particularly the whole important aspect of how much it costs to retool and upgrade off the shelf 747-8s to AF1 specs, I get the sense this about as great a deal as the Carrier plant one...

[Vinca]

12. Don's not going to like getting "hand me downs." LOL.

[asiliveandbreathe]

13. I wonder if sanctions had anything to do with bankrupt Russian airline..oops..eom

[uponit7771]

15. Damn, not German or UK or Oz ... always gotta be Russia or some shit

[Hekate]

17. Christ on a trailer hitch. Not Russia again.

[politicat]

19. So... he's shopping estate sales and eBay?

This is supposed to reassure us of fiscal responsibility... how? I've seen so much ebay/flea market/yard sale/estate sale hoarding in my elderly dementia relatives that seeing the accumulation start is almost a diagnostic for me, now.

[spanone]

22. they will do that same refurb they did to the one they are building...it's optics bullshit

[geek tragedy]

25. I'm sure there'll be no surveillance equipment hidden on it nt

[LongTomH]

26. Hey Donnie, I hear you can get a great deal on one of these............

Of course, the odor of insecticide may still cling to the plane; but, you did want to a cheaper AF 1!!

[Achilleaze]

29. Why don't Republicans buy American?

Freaking Republican show no patriotism at all. They talk up the idea of buying American, then They send our tax money to freaking evil Empire Russia. Disgusting.

[rickford66]

33. Refering to some previous comments

Any aircraft already built may need considerable mods to meet AF1 reqs. As noted you don't just cut bigger holes to run more cables. AF1 doesn't just takeoff and land over and over. It has to be able to be self sustainable in foreign countries for several days at a time and be ready to take off at a moments notice. May not be serviced from locals in certain places. There may be armored areas we are not privy to know about. The cargo holds may be different. Also I believe it has to be fitted for air refueling, unlike your average commercial jet. That's more than minor plumbing changes. So the initial price may sound nice but additional costs could be huge. The only benefit I see, is avoiding the lead time to build an air frame.