“I’m Not Happy With Boeing!” Trump Goes Plane Shopping Due To Air Force One Delays

President Donald Trump is personally shopping for a new aircraft for presidential transport as Boeing delays grind on for the next-generation Air Force One jet ordered during Trump’s first term.

Angry At Air Force One Delays From Boeing, Trump Personally Examines Qatari-Owned 747

In 2018, President Trump ordered the next-generation jet for presidential transport (called Air Force One when the president is traveling on it) from Boeing, a pair of modified 747-8 jets.

Those aircraft were supposed to have been delivered already, but in February Boeing told the White House that delivery may be delayed as late as 2029, which would mean delivery would even not come during Trump’s non-consecutive second term.

The President is not happy about the delay and has taken it upon himself to work on finding a suitable alternative option.

To that end, Trump recently personally examined a Qatari-owned 747 that he believes could become the future presidential aircraft. The aircraft, registration number P4-HBJ, touched down in West Palm Beach, Florida on February 15, located a short distance from Trump’s Mar-a-Logo retreat. According to White House logs, Trump spent 72 minutes onboard the aircraft.

Once used by the Qatari Royal Family, the aircraft interior resembles Trump’s opulent penthouse in Trump Tower in New York City. That aircraft already features a $200 million missile defense system from Northrop Grumman (the ability to deflect certain incoming missiles with a high-powered laser).

The current aircraft used to transport the US president, a pair of modified 747-200 aircraft first delivered during the George H. W. Bush administration in 1990, are now 35 years old.

Asked about the Boeing delays after his inspection of the Qatari 747-8, Trump said:

“I’m not happy with Boeing. We may do something else. We may go and buy a plane.”

Boeing has noted that it is working with Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency to find ways to speed up delivery of the aircraft.

CONCLUSION

With rolling delays on the next-generation presidential transport, President Trump is fuming and looking at other options. Boeing blames the delay on classified communication and weapons systems, which the Qatar 747-8 the President examined does not have.

Will the US buy a used jet to upgrade Air Force One or will the 747-200s keep flying for another generation?

top image: White House