Former President Donald Trump’s recent cake-cutting ceremony to announce the new Air Force One design. He previewed it at the Commander-In-Chief inaugural ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The design draws heavily from Boeing 747 Air Force One aircraft, something that Trump has been in the weeds on during his young Presidency. The project has gone through significant tumult. It’s experienced cost overruns of over $2 billion and a years-long delay on changes from Boeing.
Although celebrating about the design, Trump pointed to his dismay of the never-ending hold ups in the modification work coming from Boeing. We can’t blame the former president for making a stink about the aircraft, which he fears won’t be ready before he leaves office. In February, he told reporters, “We may buy a plane or get a plane, or something,” indicating he is considering alternatives due to the setbacks experienced with Boeing.
Boeing has won out on a multi-billion dollar contract to produce the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation fighter jet. This large contract, worth approximately $20 billion. Even with this commitment, the company has still reportedly struggled with the delivery of Air Force One. Kelly Ortberg of Boeing stated, “We continue to work with the customer to revise the program plan to allow for an earlier first delivery while maintaining our focus on safety and quality.”
In light of these delays, the U.S. Air Force has turned to L3Harris Technologies to modify a used jumbo jet formerly owned by the Qatari government, potentially serving as a new presidential plane. Originally expected to finish the Air Force One replacement work by 2017, those plans have since slid into the 2020s. Today, those anticipated delivery dates extend out to 2029 or further away.
Or should he combine forces with good-time Elon Musk – now on Trump’s advisory team – and Boeing? Together, they hope to accelerate the schedule for bringing the converted 747s into service. So Trump’s concerns about the timeline in some ways have forced him to start thinking down the line if Boeing isn’t able to deliver on time.
Trump, known for his bold statements, highlighted the capabilities of the new aircraft, asserting, “America’s enemies will never see it coming.” This sentiment is indicative of his broader vision for a future fleet. He wants it to flex American muscle and still bring in next-gen tech.
So as both Boeing and L3Harris Technologies continue making progress on their projects, the fate of Air Force One is still up in the air. Trump’s administration had come under pressure due to Boeing’s poor performance, searching for a realistic alternative while constantly rewriting the specifications.