President Trump has ordered this when the order for the new Air Force One is now complete. But he himself is unlikely to get to enjoy the plane.

”The costs are out of control,” Donald Trump said at the end of 2016, when he criticized plans for new presidential aircraft. Now he has been engaged in negotiations with manufacturer Boeing, and claims to have brought the price down significantly.

But it's not a cheap deal. The Pentagon announced that a $3.9 billion contract (around SEK 35 billion) has been signed with Boeing. For that, the government will receive two specially equipped 747-8s. It is the third generation of the 747 and one of the world's largest commercial aircraft.

”Boeing gave us good terms,” Trump tells CBS.

For comparison, that price would buy over 60 Gulfstream G550s, the latest model of the business jets used by the Swedish government and royal family.

But Trump is going big, even when it comes to the paint job.

”I thought, are we really going to use the same baby blue color? And we’re not going to.”

The current presidential planes, converted Boeing 747-200Bs ordered by Ronald Reagan, are painted white and two shades of blue. Although the planes themselves have been replaced, the colors have remained the same since John F Kennedy's presidency from 1961–63.

The new planes will be significantly more colorful, although it is still unclear exactly what the red-white-blue livery will look like.

The delivery date is set for December 2024. It is right at the end of the next term, which means that Trump barely has time to try out the president's new "wings.".

”"It's hard to say, but this is going to take time. It's a very complicated project," Trump told CBS.

”But once it’s done, hopefully many presidents can use and enjoy it.”

Source: TT