As usual DU ignorance on clown-parade.
In 2018, Boeing signed a contract for two “new”, updated, Air Force Ones, with delivery due in 2024. Delays happened, President AutoPen did nothing, unsurprisingly. Delivery got pushed out to 2029, then Trump jerked Boeing’s chain, some used 747-8s were bought by the USAF for training and, eventually, for spare parts, Qatar gave the USAF a more modern used 747, which has been reworked into an updated, operational Air Force One.
The current promised delivery date is mid-2028, which means Trump might use the plane(s). I have a feeling that might slip back to 2029; look for the TDS-colored union label.
The two existing Air Force One planes, designated VC-25A’s, are based on 747-200s and started in service in 1990. Had Boeing delivered the upgraded 747-8i’s on time, the original VC-25A’s would have been just short of 35 years in service. The reworked Qatari 747-8 is designated VC-25B Bridge, and the new Air Force Ones will be designated simply VC-25B. This means that the Qatari 747 has greater capabilities than a VC-25A, but short of what the VC-25Bs will have.
DU-grade Progs believe Qatar gave the 747 to Trump, not the USAF, and are full-Sergeant-Schulz about the plane’s capabilities and taking on usage from the aging GHWB Administration Air Force Ones.
It’s interesting that it took Reagan to get the aging 707 Air Force One(s) replaced with modern planes, then Trump 1.0 to get the aging 747-200s replaced, with tail-kicking and dealing by Trump 2.0 when Boeing delayed. It’s almost as if Carter, OhBummer!, and AutoPen didn’t much care about Air Force Ones’ reliability and capability.
