One of the reasons AF1 is so special is that it has secure communications equipment that not many other planes have. The President is able to talk (or probably even watch) anywhere on the globe at a moment’s notice. It also needs to be big enough to carry his staff.
Yes, Trump Force One is a 757. It’s much smaller than a 747 and can’t carry the staff a President requires. Not only that...if Trump intends to use that plane, it’s going to HAVE to be outfitted with the same secure commo equipment the 747 has...and I think it’ll take a pretty big cut into the space available for him.
If Boeing comes knocking on his door to try to save the order, I think Trump’s going to tell them to cut the costs or he’ll go somewhere else. I think they can bring the costs down.
I would think it would be worth it to them to be the company that makes AF1.
[One of the reasons AF1 is so special is that it has secure communications equipment that not many other planes have. ]
IIRC, AF1 also has defensive capabilities installed if it is under attack....
I imagine that is a large bulk of the hefty cost.
“If Boeing comes knocking on his door to try to save the order, I think Trump’s going to tell them to cut the costs or he’ll go somewhere else.”
China.
Where’s that “China” clip?
It would also make a lot of cuts into the leather upholstery. That’s a non-starter.
Airbus?
How about a 787?
I can think of 1000 reasons why POTUS shouldn't be flying to world capitals in an A380...one being simple optics.
Get the new 747's and equip them properly...even if the price tag is a bit stiff.
“Yes, Trump Force One is a 757. It’s much smaller than a 747 and can’t carry the staff a President requires”
Sure it is. The problem is that presidents seem to carry around the press and we taxpayers pay for that. Kick the damned press off the plane!
#17 Trump just needs access to Twitter and maybe a cb radio....