Boeing gets $3.9 billion contract for new Air Force One jets

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

BUSINESS NEWS JULY 17, 2018 / 7:30 PM / UPDATED 28 MINUTES AGO

Boeing gets $3.9 billion contract for new Air Force One jets

Reuters Staff
3 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Boeing Co (BA.N) has received a $3.9 billion contract to build two 747-8 aircraft for use as Air Force One by the U.S. president, due to be delivered by December 2024 and painted red, white and blue, officials said on Tuesday.

The Pentagon announced the decision on Tuesday, saying Seattle-based Boeing’s previously awarded contract for development work had been expanded to include design, modification and fielding of two mission-ready presidential 747-8 aircraft.

The contract followed the outlines of the informal deal reached between Boeing and the White House in February. That agreement came after President Donald Trump objected to the $4 billion price tag of a previous Air Force One deal, complaining in a Twitter post that “costs are out of control” and adding “Cancel order!”

The White House said in February the new deal would save taxpayers more than $1.4 billion, but those savings could not be independently confirmed.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-boeing-af1/boeing-gets-3-9-billion-contract-for-new-air-force-one-jets-idUSKBN1K72SH

[redstatebluegirl]

1. Lord i hope Trump will not be decorating it!

Full of tacky gold stuff.

[rickford66]

2. Red, white and blue is too much.

Although, I bet Trump wanted gold. The present blue and white seems more dignified.

[Jake Stern]

3. Hope a Dem congress cancels this.

[Iliyah]

4. Now I see where the proposed cuts to SS, Medicare, and Medicaid,

SNAP, HUD, etc. are going, alongwith higher taxes on the middle class/poor.

[Justice]

5. So in the end paying what Boeing said.

Already paid for design etc which likely eats up lots of the $100 million difference. Also if Trump not president after 2020 successor has time to change paint colors.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

6. 3.9 Billion?? for two airplanes??

That's a little steep for a corporation that pays little to no taxes. When do we get a break?

[Suburban Warrior]

7. Russian Jets

The savings have nothing to do with Trump. The reduced cost is because the Air Force purchased two already built B747-800 that were originally ordered by the Russian Airline Transaero which went bankrupt before they could take delivery.

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/01/new-air-force-one-planes-were-once-set-to-become-part-of-russian-airline.html

[SummerSnow]

8. Oh so Meals on Wheels, healthcare and foodstamps has to be cut for this?

[erpowers]

9. How Did He Save A Billion Dollars?

Someone is going to have to explain to me how Donald Trump saved taxpayers $1.4 billion on those two planes when the first estimates out were that the plane would cost $4 billion and now the contract has been issued at $3.9 billion. Is the White House going to try to claim that each plane was going to $4 billion and since we are now getting two planes that equals a savings of $1.4 billion?