Trump and Boeing reach “informal” agreement for new Air Force One
The President of the United States negotiated with Boeing to acquire two new Air Force One planes. They agreed on a total cost of $3.9 billion, according to the White House.
Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley told Reuters that the new “informal” deal reached with Boeing would save the taxpayers $1.4 billion. Boeing confirmed that “President Trump negotiated a good deal on behalf of the American people“. This information has not been independently confirmed yet.
On December, 6, 2016, a month after his election, Donald Trump had announced that he would cancel the order previously made with the American manufacturer.
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 6 décembre 2016
When asked to clarify his position, Trump answered: “Well, the plane is totally out of control. It's going to be over $4 billion for this Air Force One program, and I think it's ridiculous. I think Boeing is trying to do a little bit of a number. We want Boeing to make a lot of money, but not that much money.“
The former Air Force One, two Boeing 747-200B had been ordered by President Ronald Reagan and entered service in 1989. They are specially fitted to sustain extreme conditions. For example, the 383km of electric cables (twice the length of a regular 747) are reinforced to resist to an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) induced by an atomic explosion. Other unique equipment includes missiles warning system and countermeasures, 87 phone lines and custom-fitted fridges.
The Boeing 747-8s that should replace them will meet the same requirements, making them 'flying White Houses'.
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