Posted on Dec 8, 2016
Trump Tweets US Should Cancel Air Force One Replacement
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WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday said he wants to cancel the plan for a new Air Force One design.
At 8:52 a.m. EST, Trump tweeted: “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!”
The US Air Force selected Boeing to design the next presidential transport aircraft in 2015. The company has put forth a heavily modified 747-8 design, and the service intends to have two of the new Air Force Ones flying by 2024.
While based on an existing design, the price for an Air Force One are massive compared to what a basic 747-8 commercial jet would cost, due to the electronic suites and defensive systems needed on the presidential plane.
Boeing's stock closed Dec. 2 at $152.25, and opened Dec. 5 at $153.24, closing that day at $152.16. As of 12:33 a.m. EST on Dec. 6, the stock sat lower at $151.45 .
Todd Harrison, a budget expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, responded to Trump’s tweet: “To be clear, it's $4B for two planes that operate as a flying command post for POTUS in a national emergency, have EMP protection, etc.”
Harrison later noted that the Air Force's budget plan shows $2.9 billion in research, development, test and evaluation funding through fiscal 2021. Procurement is expected to come in at about $1 billion, getting essentially to the $4 billion figure cited by Trump.
An Air Force spokesman said the service has budgeted $2.7 billion, "but expect this number to change as the program matures with the completion of the risk reduction activities."
Boeing released a statement Tuesday, saying: "We are currently under contract for $170 million to help determine the capabilities of these complex military aircraft that serve the unique requirements of the President of the United States. We look forward to working with the U.S. Air Force on subsequent phases of the program allowing us to deliver the best planes for the President at the best value for the American taxpayer."
Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security arm, said in a Dec. 3 interview with Defense News TV that she is confident in how the program is moving along.
“We’re working currently with the customer on their aircraft procurement and on the actual outfitting of the aircraft,” Caret said. “It’s very exciting to be part of this history and this legacy.”
For more from Caret, watch the Dec.18 edition of Defense News TV.
For the record, Trump has not always been critical of Boeing's work. Looking at previous tweets, the next president has recommended Boeing as a stock several times and praised the company's 757 design.
At 8:52 a.m. EST, Trump tweeted: “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!”
The US Air Force selected Boeing to design the next presidential transport aircraft in 2015. The company has put forth a heavily modified 747-8 design, and the service intends to have two of the new Air Force Ones flying by 2024.
While based on an existing design, the price for an Air Force One are massive compared to what a basic 747-8 commercial jet would cost, due to the electronic suites and defensive systems needed on the presidential plane.
Boeing's stock closed Dec. 2 at $152.25, and opened Dec. 5 at $153.24, closing that day at $152.16. As of 12:33 a.m. EST on Dec. 6, the stock sat lower at $151.45 .
Todd Harrison, a budget expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, responded to Trump’s tweet: “To be clear, it's $4B for two planes that operate as a flying command post for POTUS in a national emergency, have EMP protection, etc.”
Harrison later noted that the Air Force's budget plan shows $2.9 billion in research, development, test and evaluation funding through fiscal 2021. Procurement is expected to come in at about $1 billion, getting essentially to the $4 billion figure cited by Trump.
An Air Force spokesman said the service has budgeted $2.7 billion, "but expect this number to change as the program matures with the completion of the risk reduction activities."
Boeing released a statement Tuesday, saying: "We are currently under contract for $170 million to help determine the capabilities of these complex military aircraft that serve the unique requirements of the President of the United States. We look forward to working with the U.S. Air Force on subsequent phases of the program allowing us to deliver the best planes for the President at the best value for the American taxpayer."
Leanne Caret, president and CEO of Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security arm, said in a Dec. 3 interview with Defense News TV that she is confident in how the program is moving along.
“We’re working currently with the customer on their aircraft procurement and on the actual outfitting of the aircraft,” Caret said. “It’s very exciting to be part of this history and this legacy.”
For more from Caret, watch the Dec.18 edition of Defense News TV.
For the record, Trump has not always been critical of Boeing's work. Looking at previous tweets, the next president has recommended Boeing as a stock several times and praised the company's 757 design.
Trump Tweets US Should Cancel Air Force One Replacement
Posted from defensenews.comPosted in these groups: 
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Donald TrumpTwitter
Posted >1 y ago
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I thought it was very appropriate for the incoming President of the USA Donald Trump to make a decision to cut costs for the airplane fleet that carries him on official journeys SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL. Just because a new President comes along does not mean that the previous POTUS aircraft fleet needs to be replaced. Upgrades, refurbishment of existing aircraft makes much more sense that replacing the fleet.
While there is a potential for lost government-contract jobs. If the prime and sub-contract firms take care of their folks they will work on other contracts, if not they will move on.
On the other had, the retrofitting and upgrading of the existing fleet probably result in other skilled-workers being hired.
Kudos to President-elect Donald Trump for this decision and many others for that matter :-)
LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) SFC William Farrell SSgt (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Forrest Stewart SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher WrightMaj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Tom Brown SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"SSgt Robert Marx TSgt Joe C. SGT Robert George PO2 Ed C.
While there is a potential for lost government-contract jobs. If the prime and sub-contract firms take care of their folks they will work on other contracts, if not they will move on.
On the other had, the retrofitting and upgrading of the existing fleet probably result in other skilled-workers being hired.
Kudos to President-elect Donald Trump for this decision and many others for that matter :-)
LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) SFC William Farrell SSgt (Join to see) SGT (Join to see) SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Forrest Stewart SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher WrightMaj William W. 'Bill' Price Capt Tom Brown SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4"SSgt Robert Marx TSgt Joe C. SGT Robert George PO2 Ed C.
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1stSgt Nelson Kerr
GySgt. The Basic aircraf cost 250 million dollars each commercially off the shelf and there is a waiting list so nobody get a discount. Then you add in the defensive systems and a communication systems that is probably the most complex mobile system even made, And the BTW you EMP hardened them to a fare thee well and then make sure that tempest requirement are met.
How much do you think would be a fair price? What Proof is there that that that is not a good price?
Add in the fact that you can not go to a different vendor for the Aircraft with going to either Airbus or Antonov. Nobody else builds big enough air-frames, Then you would have to go to a third party to d systems integration and nobody else has done something like this, or even supported something like this, but Boeing in decades, So you will be paying to them to learn how to do it.
How much do you think would be a fair price? What Proof is there that that that is not a good price?
Add in the fact that you can not go to a different vendor for the Aircraft with going to either Airbus or Antonov. Nobody else builds big enough air-frames, Then you would have to go to a third party to d systems integration and nobody else has done something like this, or even supported something like this, but Boeing in decades, So you will be paying to them to learn how to do it.
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747 is alot more expensive to operate than a 757 but they probably wont stop the build !!!
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