Originally published at: Trump’s Qatari Jet Faces Questions Over Air Force One Readiness Timeline - AVweb
Experts say February goal would require waiving key security and safety requirements.
“…referring to the new jets under construction in San Antonio.” Perhaps the more correct terminology would be “under REconstruction”. Those two craft suffer the same issues as the Qatari “gift”, in that they were already completed and outfitted for civilian airline service. In his first administration, the “Deal Maker in Chief” decided that Boeing’s cost estimates for a clean sheet of paper replacement for the VC25s was too much and chose the two 747s (originally ordered by a Russian airline that went south before the planes could be delivered) as a cheaper alternative. But in order for them to be properly outfitted, they had to be stripped to the bare skin and completely rewired and redone to accept the necessary communications systems (hardened for EMP resistance), along with all the other top secret defense stuff that the Air Force deems necessary for the President’s safety. The irony is that, in spite of the supply chain and pandemic issues, had Boeing started from scratch, those planes might be ready for service by now. It’s always faster to start from square one than to tear apart and renovate an existing structure, especially if your needs demand such a highly unique and sophisticated aircraft. Trump loves the Art of the Deal, but in this case, it has kind of backfired on him - and the taxpayers.
This is an aviation forum, I believe? Those jets are not “under construction”, they are “in completion”.
Quelle surprise. Everybody that knew anything at all about aviation has been saying this from day one. Trump in cloud cuckoo-land!
Reality tv person makes poor choice based on ego not reality.