President Joe Biden has rejected Donald Trump's red, white, and dark blue color scheme for the new Air Force One planes, stressing the increased expenses. This suggests the Biden administration is maintaining the Kennedy-era baby blue and white color palette. A dark blue color was desired for the underside of the new 747s, as well as for the engine area. However, this might add to the plane's overheating, a flaw that Boeing would have to remedy on its own dime, according to sources.
Donald Trump unveiled his unique design back in 2019. The color scheme matches that of Trump's own Boeing 757, dubbed "Trump Force One" by 2016 campaign supporters. The red, white, and blue version of the new Air Force One design was presented in the Oval Office of President Donald Trump. The conversion of two 747 airplanes into new Air Force Ones has cost Boeing about $1.1 billion so far, and the company's CEO regrets agreeing to Trump's conditions.
Trump's contract stipulated a set price of $3.9 billion, leaving Boeing responsible for any design revisions or cost inflation. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun stated that corporate officials should not have accepted former President Trump's requirements for the Air Force One contract four years ago, noting $660 million in budget overruns in the first quarter of 2022.
Four Years After Signing The Deal, Boeing Officials Are Dissatisfied
As soon as he was inaugurated, Donald Trump openly slammed Boeing's then-deal to build a new presidential jet because of exaggerated prices. As a consequence, Dennis Muilenburg, then-CEO of Boeing, personally discussed conditions with Trump. In 2018, Trump praised the fixed-price arrangement. He was quite interested in the blueprints for the new presidential plane, even though it won't be ready until 2024, so he'll never get to board it. "Boeing gave us a good deal, and we were able to take it," he stated.
At the time, Boeing was likewise pleased with the contract. A tweet from Boeing read, "Boeing is proud to build the next generation of Air Force One, providing American presidents with a flying White House at outstanding value to taxpayers." Meanwhile, Boeing sued a subcontractor last year for causing delays. In April, Boeing executives said that the pandemic and supply-chain problems have also hampered production.
Boeing guaranteed delivery of the aircraft by December 2024. The company stated that its 747-8 series will serve as the basis for future Air Force Ones, and Calhoun stated that he no longer wants fixed-price agreements. According to Calhoun, Boeing's $3.9 billion deal to create two replacement airplanes for the White House in 2018 was a unique negotiation that the company should have avoided. "But we are where we are, and we’re going to deliver great airplanes, and we’re going to recognize the costs associated with it," he added.
The History Of Air Force One In A Nutshell
Seven distinct aircraft types have been developed since the 1940s for the exclusive purpose of transporting the American president. In 1943, authorities expressed alarm over the president's use of commercial airlines. The C-54 Skymaster was adapted for presidential usage and carried Franklin D. Roosevelt to Yalta in 1945 before being used by Harry S. Truman. After a Lockheed Constellation dubbed Columbine II was nearly destroyed in 1953, the call sign was formed.
President Dwight Eisenhower was on the plane when air traffic controllers mistook the flight numbers of Eastern Airlines flight 8610 for those of the presidential airplane, which was known at the time as Air Force 8610. The authorities deemed it prudent to adopt the title "Air Force One" to prevent a similar incident from occurring in the future. The first Lockheed Constellation was replaced by the Columbine III, followed by two 1960s-era Boeing 707s.
During John F. Kennedy's administration, industrial designer Raymond Loewy collaborated with first lady Jackie Kennedy on a sky blue and cyan scheme for Air Force One. Two modified Boeing 747-200Bs have been in operation since 1990. The presidential plane incorporates confidential communication equipment to keep the president in close contact with the outside world, as well as unique amenities such as a surgery suite.
Not to mention the security and defensive technologies, including safeguards against nuclear explosions for onboard electronics. Furthermore, the plane features retractable stairways for the back and front entrances, unlike a standard 747. It also has its own luggage loader, so if necessary, it can do everything on its own. Another feature is a refueling technology that allows it to remain in the air for an endless period of time.
The White House did not publicly present a new design for the replacement planes, which are now getting major upgrades at a Boeing factory in San Antonio. As development progresses, they are now painted in a basic white and blue scheme with US Air Force symbols. The new VC-25B planes, which are years late, are expected to replace the old VC-25A planes in 2026. The present generation of planes transported President George H.W. Bush for the first time.