It will cost too much to upgrade the systems as are on the present Air Force One.
They could use it as a VIP plane. The present Air Force One was released around 1991 so it is about 34 years old. How long is the life of a plane that gets limited use? Lots of things to consider.
41
Posts: 12334 | Location: Herndon, VA | Registered: June 11, 2009
Originally posted by 41: It will cost too much to upgrade the systems as are on the present Air Force One.
They could use it as a VIP plane. The present Air Force One was released around 1991 so it is about 34 years old. How long is the life of a plane that gets limited use? Lots of things to consider.
Main issue is parts. The 747-200 isn't in use anywhere else except maybe a literal handful of aircraft. Something breaks, it may not be available now.
Posts: 2274 | Location: New Hampshire | Registered: February 25, 2007
Saw one report that if the gifted plane was allowed to be kept that the upgraded security / communication measures would take at least 4 years because the plane would have to be totally tore apart every inch and rebuilt to make sure no listening bugs were hidden in a concealed space. ..... drill sgt.
Posts: 2277 | Location: denham springs , la | Registered: October 19, 2019
the problem with the backup AF1 is structural in nature and not currently repairable
it wasn't a major issue until Boeing started fucking the dog on its replacement and so far behind schedule that it was something that needed to be mitigated
I'm thinking that President Trump would have been better off in his first term to just order 2 new aircraft while the production line was operating. Surely it didn't take 8 years to build a 747. In the meantime, maybe get a couple 777's or 787's that are under construction and do the conversion on them.
All of this is embarrassing. In WW2, we were churning out a B25 bomber every 30 days. I know a modern jet is far more complicated, but something is terribly wrong for it to take years to build one. Are there just 10 people out on the assembly line, taking union breaks every 15 minutes?
No one's life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is in session.- Mark Twain
Posts: 3746 | Location: TX | Registered: October 08, 2005
Originally posted by BOATTRASH1: I'm thinking that President Trump would have been better off in his first term to just order 2 new aircraft while the production line was operating. Surely it didn't take 8 years to build a 747. <snip>
I believe that President Trump did order two Boeing passenger jets for Air Force One replacements during his first term.
The article linked in my OP says that he did. But their production has been horribly slow.
Serious about crackers.
Posts: 10153 | Location: San Diego | Registered: July 26, 2014
This seems like a HUGE national security concern to me. Qatar funds terrorism.
quote:
Originally posted by Pipe Smoker: “President Donald Trump defended his decision to accept the gift of a plane from Qatar to use as a temporary Air Force One.”
