The New York Times is reporting the interim replacement aircraft for the VC-25s that normally serve as Air Force One may be rushed into service by this coming summer before the full suite of security measures that would normally be included in a plane carrying the president are in place. The Times said the aircraft, a Boeing 747-8 donated to the Air Force by the Qatari royal family, will be painted to President Donald Trump’s preferences and have all the luxury amenities, but it quoted an unnamed source as saying that won’t be enough time to install all the security gear the Air Force thinks it should have. It reported the source said the president is expected to approve the security shortcuts because he wants to be able to use the aircraft, which was nicknamed the Flying Palace when Qatar was flying it.
The Air Force issued a statement on Thursday confirming the timeline for commissioning the aircraft, saying it anticipated the delivery “no later than summer 2026.” The announcement prompted criticism from Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who said she’s against the Air Force rushing the project. “Air Force One should be the most secure aircraft in the world, and cutting any corners could threaten our national security secrets, the president and our entire country,” Duckworth said in a statement to the Times. “That’s unacceptable.” The Air Force took delivery of the aircraft last summer and has been working on refurbishing it into an executive transport with contractor L3Harris in Waco, Texas. Meanwhile, Boeing recently pushed back its delivery of the official replacements for the presidential aircraft to 2028. They were originally expected to be ready by 2024.
“Boeing recently pushed back its delivery of the official replacements for the presidential aircraft to 2028.” Boeing has lost their way and can’t deliver a product on time or a working one.
I’ll bet a dollar the AF requirements have shifted over the life of the contract, making the project difficult to complete. Too many folks signing off on edge-case scenarios because no one gets fired for adding complexity in the name of “better safe than sorry.”
It’s his funeral. One that I won’t be watching.
Actually, I’d watch that one!
All Trump cares about is the installation of his sold-gold toilet.
Duckworth has TDS to the max, so she is automatically against anything and everything President Trump does. You would think she would want him to fly around in a tattered Piper Cub if she had her druthers.
And yet…
By deflecting to an assumption of the thinking from a war hero, you nicely avoided the issue that ‘before the full suite of security measures that would normally be included in a plane carrying the president are in place…
… the president is expected to approve the security shortcuts because he wants to be able to use the aircraft, which was nicknamed the Flying Palace,’ as if it were merely an unprotected Piper Cub.
We, the taxpayer, are financing with borrowed money, the refurbishment of a used 747, to the private specifications of our current 79 year old president for an interim Flying Palace, to be retired when he retires… whenever that retirements happens by intention or ill health.
Another reflection of who we are as a population, and the true character of our elected officials, revealing what is our collective priorities while we and our empire nationally and internationally slide into oblivion. Clowns to the left of me, jokers to my right, stuck in the middle with you!
As of today, we’re paying for (5) aircraft:
2 flying VC-25A aircraft
2 replacement VC-25B (late 2027 delivery)
1 VC-25 “bridge” (summer 2026)
2018: $3.9 billion fixed-price contract awarded to replace (2) Air Force One VC-25A aircraft with (2) VC-25B aircraft (new 747-8s with Air Force One-unique communications suite, internal and external stairs, large galleys and other equipment) in 2024.
2019: White House requests dark blue exterior paint.
2021: USAF stated delivery could move to 2025
2022: Pentagon approves delay of 1st aircraft to Sep 2026 at the earliest, due to “… interiors supplier transition, wiring design, fabrication, installation timelines, modification throughput limitations, and project execution rates.”
2023: USAF estimates 1st delivery in 2027. Use of dark blue exterior paint led to more heat testing.
May 7, 2025: USAF “actively pursuing options to accelerate VC-25B delivery in coordination with commercial and government stakeholders” to the end of FY2027; delays caused by “interiors supplier transition, manpower limitations, and wiring design completion.”
May 21, 2025: Pentagon accepts gift from royal family of Qatar; the (1) aircraft requires extensive inspection & modifications to provide protection that current VC-25A already delivers.
Mods will not be completed until after 2028.
“Bridge VC-25” transfers to Trump Presidential Library Foundation after he leaves office.
Jan 21, 2026: USAF is “committed to delivery of VC-25 bridge aircraft … anticipated delivery no later than summer 2026”
Could you guys quit insulting Piper Cubs?
if you are going to quote from the New York Times we know the anti-Trump bias will be obvious. Do better.