Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
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!
8:52 AM - 6 Dec 2016
Operations and maintenance are an inherent part of any such program. Canada was in line to buy the F-35, but then realized that they would actually had to operate the things, and had sticker shock. Malaysia bought a bunch of MiG-29s without a service contract, to save money, and they soon turned into hangar queens.
So what does he propose:
1 - the existing VC-25s are about to time out
2 - the 747 is the only US airframe big enough to carry all the needed people and gear
3 - I assume he is not proposing to buy A380s from Europe
4 - maybe the USAF just buys Trump One, and not even repaint it ?? If this has been thought through, rather than just stray voltage to keep everyone confused and distracted, maybe he is proposing to cut back on the size of the presidential travelling staff or the accompanying press pool - this would match his governing style of ditching the press pool and running the world from his twitter account without staff help.
This is a stunt, not policy - it is a standard gimic of incoming reformers to dump trappings of power Pope Francis decided not to wear the Papal red shoes, etc -- but Air Force One is not a gimic, it is part of running the Free World.
