Former President Donald Trump toured a Boeing plane on Saturday at Palm Beach International Airport, spotlighting the significant delays in the delivery of new Air Force One aircraft. Initially expected to be delivered in December 2024, Boeing has now pushed the delivery date to at least 2027 or 2028. The delay is attributed to supply chain issues, high costs, and the complexity of the aircraft.
The aircraft Trump visited is a 12-year-old jet, previously owned by Qatar's royal family and now operated by a company in the Isle of Man. Trump's tour aimed to draw attention to the ongoing setbacks in the production of the new presidential planes. These aircraft are intended to serve as an airborne White House, equipped with military avionics, advanced communications, and a self-defense system.
During his first administration from 2017 to 2021, Trump negotiated with Boeing for a pair of new 747-8 aircraft. The contract capped the cost at $4 billion, a figure Trump insisted on after criticizing the high price tag in 2016. However, Boeing leaders have indicated that the contract's pricing was too low considering the advanced features required for the planes.
Boeing's CEO, Kelly Ortberg, disclosed that the company is now collaborating with Elon Musk, a known ally of Trump, to expedite the update process of the planes. Ortberg stated:
"The president wants those planes sooner so we're working with Elon to see what can we do to pull up the schedule of those programs."
The miniature Air Force One model atop Trump's Inauguration Day cake on January 20 boasted the president's favored red-line design. Trump proposed changing the look of the new Air Force One planes to incorporate a dark red color. However, former President Joe Biden later adjusted these plans to echo the current light blue model.
Steven Cheung commented on Trump's visit, stating:
"President Trump is touring a new Boeing plane to check out the new hardware/technology."
Despite these developments, Boeing had no immediate comment on Trump's visit and deferred inquiries about the Air Force One program delays to the Air Force.
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