The expected delivery date for the first of two new Air Force One aircraft has now been pushed back until the middle of 2028. This could mean that the current president, Donald Trump, may never step foot on the plane. The exact schedule continues to be discussed between American planemaker Boeing and the United States Air Force.
Previously, 
Boeing had promised that the first of two replacement aircraft would be delivered in 2027, which is already three years delayed from the contracted date of December 2024. This comes at a time when Trump had demanded to receive the plane before the end of his presidential term.
New Air Force One Delayed Again Until Mid-2028
According to a report by Bloomberg, the United States Air Force requested the delivery pushback for the first replacement Air Force One jet to mid-2028. In President Trump’s first term in office (2017 to 2021), he directed a $3.9 billion purchase for two new next-generation Boeing 747-8, which were set to replace the current aging aircraft.
The delays have come after Boeing has been challenged with several structural challenges with the new aircraft, which have included flaws in cockpit and passenger window designs, cracks to the fuselage structure, and reports of excessive amounts of noise.
In usual Trump fashion, the President has been vocal about his displeasure with the delays, noting back in February that Boeing ‘can never finish the damn thing’. Air Force One is the official aircraft to provide transport for the president of the United States. The current plane is capable of refueling mid-air, and has been fitted with onboard electronics that are protected against electromagnetic pulse.
Boeing VC-25
The official aircraft is a collection of two Boeing VC-25 and a more secretive Boeing 757. These airplanes carry tail numbers 28,000 and 29,000 and belong to the 89th Airlift Wing and Joint Base Andrews. The VC-25 is a militarized version of the ‘ Queen of the Skies‘ Boeing 747-200, and is the official aircraft to transport the president.
The term ‘Air Force One’ is technically only used when the president is onboard, with the common term for the aircraft being the VC-25. The aircraft often operates in conjunction with the Marine One helicopters, which are used to transport the president where a motorcade is inappropriate.
The current aircraft is capable of operating up to 7,800 miles (12,600 km) on one tank of fuel, and can seat up to 70 passengers. There are two main decks and a cargo area. Usually, the president uses the front entry door, while journalists and other passengers enter from the rear. The front section of the plane is called the ‘White House’, which includes a sleeping quarter, toilet and shower, and an ‘Oval Office’, where the president can address the nation from the skies if necessary.
The New Boeing 747-8 Air Force One: What’s The Latest?
Will we see a new Air Force One before the end of the decade?
The New Air Force One
The new Air Force One aircraft will be developed from the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental. This is the largest and most recent version of the 747, and will provide a more fuel-efficient and larger footprint than the existing 747-200B. The aircraft will be longer, have a wider wingspan, and be fitted with more modern avionics.
Powered by four General Electric GEnx engines, the airplanes will be quieter and produce less carbon emissions. These aircraft will undergo significant modifications to ensure they are fit for purpose to transport the president, which are effectively mobile command centers that are suitable for the country’s commander-in-chief.
The new aircraft, which will hold the designation VC-25B, will include a state-of-the-art communication system providing secure lines of contact to other government officials and world leaders. The aircraft can also be used in a national state of emergency, where it can give the president the same commands as if in the White House Situation Room.
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