Trump Contemplating Alternatives for Preferred Aircraft Following Boeing Disappointment
Trump's Temporary Flights: Ditching Boeing for a Retrofitted Dreamliner
The cat's out of the bag - President Trump's exploring new options for the presidential aircraft due to Boeing's delayed deliveries, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. With the primary contractor slipping up, the Old Man is turning to L3Harris for a workaround.
Tired of waiting, Trump's ordered a makeover for an ex-Qatari Boeing 747-8, P4-HBJ, turning it into a temporary Air Force One. L3Harris is in charge of the revamp, aiming to make the bird fly by Fall 2025.
Why all the fuss, you ask? Well, Boeing's been dragging its heels, pushing the timeline for new 747-8 jets from 2024 to as late as 2035. Seems like structural and wiring issues have got them in a bind[1][2][3].
Interesting tidbits about the temporary solution:- Old bird, new life: This aircraft was previously flying the skies for the Qatari government.- Getting spruced up: L3Harris is giving it a facelift, installing essential systems to get it up and running.- Why the backup plan: The current VC-25A fleet could use a fresh coat of paint, and this interim jet will serve as a standby during maintenance.- Mickey Mouse jet: It may not have all the bells and whistles of the new Air Force One aircraft, but it'll be a modernized upgrade to the current fleet.
Meanwhile, the VC-25A fleet, which debuted during the George H.W. Bush administration, is long overdue for an update. The U.S. Air Force's been talking about adding a third Air Force One, with discussions about partnering with Airbus or switching to twin-engine planes instead of the four-engine VC-25As. The jury's still out on that one.
Back in the day, Trump stirred the pot when he took office, setting up talks with Boeing's bigwigs and buttonholing Elon Musk to speed up the production process. Even went so far as to suggest buying a used Boeing plane and converting it into an Air Force One. Musk's in one corner, Airbus in another, but that story's still being written[4].
Boeing's faced its fair share of crises in recent years, with employee strikes leading to layoffs and bad press due to defects in their civilian aircraft. For instance, in January 2024, a section of a fuselage from a Boeing 737 MAX 9 belonging to Alaska Airlines popped off shortly after takeoff, causing the crew to call it quits on the flight. Boeing carried out an investigation and temporarily grounded some of these aircraft[5].
And if that wasn't enough, customers have complained about receiving substandard parts[6]. Here's hoping L3Harris turns this Boeing bird into a genuine beak humdinger to keep our Commander in Chief flying high.
- In light of Boeing's delayed deliveries, the presidential aircraft exploration has extended to include L3Harris, working on a temporary solution for Air Force One.
- The ex-Qatari Boeing 747-8, P4-HBJ, is being refurbished by L3Harris, with the goal of having it airborne by Fall 2025.
- As Boeing faces accusations of using substandard parts and problems with aircraft safety, the aerospace industry is closely watching the readiness of this former Boeing jet.
- Financially, the aerospace technology sector could see a significant shift if the US Air Force proceeds with its plans to switch from four-engine planes to twin-engine ones for their next generation of Air Force One.
- Additionally, with Boeing's reputation taking a hit in the industry due to recent crises, third-party providers like L3Harris might seize an opportunity to establish a stronger foothold in the presidential aircraft industry.
