Trump says cancel new Air Force One: Costs 'out of control'

Associated Press ^ | Dec. 6, 2016 9:36 AM EST | Jonathan Lemire

[Olog-hai]

Six weeks from taking office, Donald Trump says he wants the government to cut some costs by canceling its order for a new Air Force One, the plane that carries presidents around the globe.

The government has contracted with Boeing to build two or more new planes, which would go into service around 2024. That means Trump wouldn’t fly on the new planes unless he pursued and won a second term. But the Air Force has pressed for a faster schedule, saying the current planes are becoming too expensive to repair and keep in good flying shape.

The contract for the planes was to be about $3 billion, but costs have been reported to be rising. Trump tweeted early Tuesday, “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!” …

[Olog-hai]

Uggh, not EADS. They’re virtually state-owned.

[D Rider]

Only 13 acres? I say let’s plant some trees.

[epluribus_2]

By now you’d think they would know that this is artofthedeal stuff. Throw out a bombast to shock them into flexible thinking then make them a deal where you get what you really want. Taiwan call was part of that. Carrier business was that.

[semimojo]

Uggh, not EADS. They’re virtually state-owned.

True. Actually virtually states-owned.

Fact is, there aren't any domestic alternatives to Boeing.

[taxcontrol]

Ummm, guys. Lets not get overly excited.

A tweet, even if from the President elect, does NOT cancel a contract. There are REAMS of laws on government contracts and what it takes to cancel a contract and who gets paid what when that happens.

[Bigg Red]

Ruh-roh! Now, Boeing will be out to get him.

MAGA!

[Bigg Red]

Exactly.

[RGF]

Over 8 YEARS to build a plane? That’s a lot of overhead and indirect costs that get added on. Why does it take longer than 2 years if using off the shelf commercial electronics?

[60Gunner]

Why not just take an existing C-17? There’s room for vehicles and a module where the VIPS can sit. Press can hang out in a penned-off section of the cargo ramp, follow along in an un-pressurized Herky Bird, or (gasp!) fly commercial at their own expense.

[AndyJackson]

2024?!

[Olog-hai]

There used to be quite a few more. Unless Lockheed Martin is no longer an alternative?

[V K Lee]

“Let me make this perfectly clear” Rooster has yet to crow this morning. He’s not fully awake :-)

Why spend big bucks stolen from American taxpayers in order to cart around the President’s entourage who then lie to US about what in the hell is going on; and then be expected to pay to read what the MFM agrees to reveal. They seem to be getting both ends of the sugar came here.

[AndyJackson]

current planes are becoming too expensive to repair and keep in good flying shape.

It's a 747. They cannot maintain a 747?

[Olog-hai]

No, but incentive to bring costs under control is always welcome.

[mj1234]

not only 8 years- cost’s are approaching - 4 $$Billion??

FOR 2—?! planes- something fishy... or very secret

[Liz]

The Obamas wave as they board Air Force One after family vacation,
Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016, in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Obama family travel, vacations, cross $85 million mark

The first family has spent over $10 million a year on travel and vacations, and the still growing bill has crossed over $85 million in eight years, according to Judicial Watch from a new batch of bills for the first family's Christmas break in Hawaii, bringing that trip to nearly $5 million. The expenses cover items such as security, flights and hotel rooms for staff and U.S. Secret Service. They do not include the price of prepositioning ships and aircraft in the area or much of the communications costs.

Judicial Watch announced today that it obtained records from the U.S. Secret Service revealing that its travel expenses for the First Family's 2015 Hawaiian vacation cost taxpayers $1.2 million, which bring the total cost of the vacation trip to at least $4.8 million. This was the Obamas' eighth Hawaiian family vacation. The trip has become an annual event for the Obamas. To date, Obama's and his family's travel expenses total at least $85,029,819.

The records obtained by Judicial Watch for Obama's Secret Service travel to Hawaii reveal the following expenses totaling $1,234,316.67:

Hotel and lodging costs totaled $1,000,458.63.

The Secret Service spent $165,893.88 on car rentals.

Air and rail expenses totaled $67,964.16.

Although the vacation officially lasted from December 18, 2015, to January 3, 2016, the Secret Service rented several Kailua homes for 19 nights, starting from December 16. The total for the rentals, located near the Marine Corps base at Kaneohe Bay was $245,993.12.

According to bills obtained by Judicial Watch through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Secret Service also paid for rooms at the Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki and Golf Club. The Secret Service also reserved rooms at the Moana Surfrider resort on Waikiki Beach, and the Ala Moana Hotel, which cost a total of $40,249.48 and $671,895.99, respectively.

The Secret Service rented cars from Avis, Alamo, and Hertz – 103 cars for the two-week vacation, totaling $165,893.88 in taxpayer money.

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/obama-family-travel-vacations-cross-85-million-mark/article/2608882

[RoosterRedux]

My comment was in response to an error in the article that appears to have been corrected.

Next time I will cut and paste the error in my comment.

[HarleyLady27]

Thanks Liz.

[Loud Mime]

How about a 787?

[Kadric]

All he needs to do is threaten to buy stock in Boeing and the MSM/Libs will be demanding all contracts with them be cancelled.