Posted on 12/06/2016 7:22:37 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Is this the Art of the Deal coming into play, or a stand against gouging by defense contractors? Despite insisting on the latest in luxury as a private citizen, Donald Trump seems to be saying no to a new fleet of presidential aircraft. He tweeted earlier today that the contract for replacing Air Force One should be canceled due to spiraling costs:
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2016
Over the past few months, the Pentagon approved contracts that allowed Boeing to prepare to convert two of its 747-8s into replacements for the current pair of aging 747s that serve as Air Force One. The three contracts come to $169 million, a down payment on an expenditure that the Pentagon estimates will have a total cost of $1.65 billion. The Air Force announced that plan almost two years ago, and the Air Force promised to “use proven technologies and commercially certified equipment” to keep costs under control. That’s for two planes, not one, as the president always travels with both as a precautionary measure.
A search of news does not produce any links about costs doubling on the project. It’s certainly possible that it might be happening; the request for bid went out to Boeing in September, so perhaps the proposal came back with a surprisingly high bottom line. If so, it’s being kept so quiet that even industry outlets have missed it. Boeing already has a limited market for the 747-8 as it is, thanks to competition from Airbus and a preference for two-engine aircraft for most routes. In January, Boeing announced a cutback in production of the 747-8 due to lower demand. Does it make much sense that Boeing would make their product look even less commercially useful by blowing up a high-profile contract? For some perspective on that question, check out the hit that Boeing took after Trump’s tweet, losing 1% in premarket trade.
Besides, canceling the order doesn’t make much sense in practical or political terms. The current pair of 747s fulfilling this mission are almost 30 years old and are nearing the end of their planned lifespan as AF1s. Replacements have to be found soon, and Boeing already has the process underway. The only other four-engine airframe option would be the Airbus 380, which would mean dumping a product made in the USA to, um … outsource it overseas. That’s not exactly Making America Great Again, is it?
Either this is a stream-of-consciousness tweet that means nothing, or Trump wants to lean on Boeing publicly to wring a better deal out of them. As a defense contractor, they depend on government contracts for survival, and they had to have noticed what happened last week with United Technologies and its Carrier subsidiary. Nice contracts ya got there, pal …
As far as I knew, the contract was for THREE new B747-8s to replace the current two 747-200s.
The President always flies with both 747-200s in case one has maintenance issues during the trip. Because of this, if one plane is down, effectively both are down until the one is fixed.
The Air Force wanted three 747s to increase the mission availability of two at any one time.
Mr. GG2 who used to work for Boeing building 747’s and work on Air Force One said the outside price for a totally tricked out new Air Force One should run no higher than $800 million.
I’d imagine having more than one taking off and in the air has a sort of shell game advantage in confusing potential hostiles, too.
Does that include all of the military accoutrement?
Yes including everything.
The terrain following nose gear is scavenged off of decommissioned B52’s. And that’s an expensive unit that does not have to be bought or built new.
The antennas and communications is all standard in use military equipment. Its the same stuff they use in an AWAC.
The FFI (friend or foe identifier) is also front line military equipment just like the chaff and flares.
$4 billion for this plane is a lot of graft.
I think you can buy 2 VIRGINIA Class submarines for that much money.
Does Clinton have one at his Trailer Liebrary??
Yeh so 2x800 million is $1.6 billion. Still over $2 billion in waste and or graft. Trump is well aware of the prices of planes I’m sure. This is likely his opening salvo to get the price down. :-)
...........I personally believe that the Air Force should take an existing cargo plane like the C-5, and make a module that slides in and out that in effect is a presidential suite and use that to haul the President around. When the Suite is not in use, it is pulled out and stored.
The US is BROKE. It cannot afford business as usual and/or 4 billion to haul one man around. It’s lunacy. Another big Hooray for Trump!
Words the good boy club never knew existed.
Canceled due to spiraling costs:
There is a lot going on here. Not the least of which, Boeing threw in for Hildabeast pretty hard (and the Clinton’s in general)
I would ENSURE the press travels commercial. FOr all the FakeNews and snotty attitude Mr Trump and his family had to endure, they should be happy to get the time of day from him. He Owes Them Nothing except continued contempt and disinterest. You know they’re paying nothing to ride-along on AF1. If the VerminShillMedia want to cover the president, let them find their own transportation. I’d order the press secretary to provide a WEEKLY schedule with no revision updates and let them fend for themselves. I’m all for a smaller domestic use AF1.
Leni
Airbus made in Mobile, AL.
Have the media travel by kalitta Cargo. It is good enough to take supplies to our military all over the world & has been good enough to bring back military bodies in caskets.
You would think there would be more work, materials and engineering in a submarine
Plus the nuclear power plant in it as well
Sounds like another win
[Have the media travel by kalitta Cargo.]
Sounds like a great idea but I was kinda’ curious about that ‘renovation’ 0 is planning for the Oval Office.
It’s been said that Trump won’t be able to use the Oval for a year or more until 0 is done F’n it up.
[Have the media travel by kalitta Cargo.]
Sounds like a great idea but I was kinda’ curious about that ‘renovation’ 0 is planning for the Oval Office.
It’s been said that Trump won’t be able to use the Oval for a year or more until 0 is done F’n it up.
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