Trump and Boeing CEO Look to Downscale Requirements on Air Force One Replacement

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 01/23/2017 at 15:56 • Filed to: planelopnik

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Following a meeting between Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenberg and then President-elect Trump last week, the two came to an understanding about the need to make the new Air Force 1 more affordable.

Muilenburg told the press that he and Trump made “some great progress on simplifying the requirements for Air Force One” and that costs could be further lowered by using commercial practices to streamline the aircraft certification process, according to a pool report.

It will be interesting to see just what requirements will be simplified. While I am no fan of Mr. Trump, if he can strong-arm the defense industry into finding a way to save money that will be be a good thing. Of course, assuming that Mr. Trump is not reelected, this plane will go to his successor, who may want those features. This story is far from over.

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HammerheadFistpunch > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 15:57

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Here’s what I want my successor to have to change with the replacement program at great expense...

ttyymmnn > HammerheadFistpunch 01/23/2017 at 15:58

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Exactly. Talk about passing the buck.

Mercedes Streeter > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 15:59

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I expect him to tell the defense industry that his old 757 is just perfect for the job. It’s tremendously safe and has the best countermeasures, better countermeasures than AF 1 has obviously. ;)

HammerheadFistpunch > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 16:00

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The other side of the coin is:

Maybe he just wants to speed up delivery so he gets the new toy...because he knows his time is limited.

DipodomysDeserti > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 16:00

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Trump said he want it to look like this one:

Steve Bannon was hoping for something more along these lines:

For Sweden > DipodomysDeserti 01/23/2017 at 16:01

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tbh a Navy One blip would be cool

For Sweden > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 16:01

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I suspect the Secret Service will have opinions on this

DipodomysDeserti > For Sweden 01/23/2017 at 16:02

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They wouldn’t even need the hydrogen. They could just fill it with hot air.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 16:04

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I don’t see him as the type to downscale from the 747-8 to let’s say a 767 or a dreamliner.

HammerheadFistpunch > DipodomysDeserti 01/23/2017 at 16:09

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ttyymmnn > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 01/23/2017 at 16:12

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I’m almost certain it will still be a 747-8. Or possibly a 777. But whatever he gets has to have truly global range. And, with all the work that has already been done, I don’t see how he could switch types now.

ttyymmnn > For Sweden 01/23/2017 at 16:13

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And the Air Force.

ttyymmnn > DipodomysDeserti 01/23/2017 at 16:14

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ttyymmnn > HammerheadFistpunch 01/23/2017 at 16:15

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He’ll be impeached by the end of his second year (at the latest), so he’ll never see it.

HammerheadFistpunch > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 16:16

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“look just leave the paint off, I’ll have my own people paint it. They are the best, they’ll do it in no time.”

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 16:21

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Maybe he’ll push for the XB-70. If he thinks we can make another country pay for a wall, I wouldn’t doubt that he will ask for a different type. Hopefully Boeing explained that.

Bourbon&JellyBeans > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 16:21

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That’s a jet-powered, winged penis.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Mercedes Streeter 01/23/2017 at 16:22

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Is this a fact or an alternative fact?

ttyymmnn > Bourbon&JellyBeans 01/23/2017 at 16:23

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Seems appropriate for the Apricot Pol Pot.

pauljones > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 16:34

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While presidential planes may seem expensive when taken individually, they are ultimately nothing more than a drop in the bucket when taken in context. Trump managing to save 15% on the next contract would amount to precisely dick , and yet, it’s something that he would hang his hat on. Something that he could try to make look like a bigger deal than it actually is, all the while causing the armed forces to ultimately spend even more to fix his shortcuts and “efficiencies.” And yet, surely he would dance and crow about it - if only because he knows that he’s incapable of making substantive change, and he’s terrified that we will all find out.

pauljones > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 16:37

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Apricot Pol Pot. Oh, I like that one. Consider that one yoinked for personal usage.

haveacarortwoorthree2 > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 16:51

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C’mon, someone photoshop AF1 with a wig or a “make America great” hat.

ttyymmnn > pauljones 01/23/2017 at 16:52

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That’s fine. I stole it from somebody over on Jezebel (or The Slot, I can’t remember which; it gave me a much-needed smile on Friday morning).

ttyymmnn > pauljones 01/23/2017 at 16:55

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Even when he uses real numbers, like the cost of the F-35 program, the numbers don’t always tell the whole story. When you look at the trillions of dollars spent on that program, that includes not only the R&D but also the operating costs for the first few years. And the cost per unit will likely come down as it enters production, particularly when we start making them for other countries. The American people, and politicians in general, have cared little for context for a long time now. It takes too long to explain, and nuance isn’t exactly the First Cheeto’s forte.

ttyymmnn > haveacarortwoorthree2 01/23/2017 at 16:57

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Stolen from the Internet

ttyymmnn > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 01/23/2017 at 16:59

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Yes.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 17:00

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I laughed pretty hard at that.

ttyymmnn > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 01/23/2017 at 17:03

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Kelly Anne Conway is this generation’s Baghdad Bob.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 17:10

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Baghdad Barbie and return of the Baghdad Bob (Spicer).

leicester > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 17:29

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KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 17:46

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But if it’s not attached securely to his head, won’t it just blow away at Mach 0.855?

ttyymmnn > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 01/23/2017 at 17:53

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Nah, that sucker is glued down. Spirit gum FTW.

Grindintosecond > Mercedes Streeter 01/23/2017 at 18:12

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I expect the 70 yr old president to not know what he needs.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn 01/23/2017 at 18:19

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The most luxurious jets in the world.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > DipodomysDeserti 01/23/2017 at 19:06

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Zeppelins should make a comeback.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > HammerheadFistpunch 01/23/2017 at 19:08

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*comes back gold plated*

wafflesnfalafel > Mercedes Streeter 01/23/2017 at 19:51

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and it’s hyuge on the inside

wafflesnfalafel > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 01/23/2017 at 19:53

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ooooh - that would be sexy in AF1 colors. And flyovers would be SUPER loud!

jtso > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 01/23/2017 at 23:38

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ImwithHer4eva111 > Mercedes Streeter 01/24/2017 at 08:23

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Ironically it looks like his plane does have manpad counter measures which would put it at the same level of defense.

DanimalHouse > ttyymmnn 01/24/2017 at 10:52

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I know Trump is now Commander in Chief, but he can’t make unilateral decisions about this airplane without agreement from the USAF, can he?

DanimalHouse > ttyymmnn 01/24/2017 at 10:55

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Highly unlikely they’ll switch, primarily because the USAF fancies 4-engines for redundancy purposes. Even though the 777X will have better range than the 747.

Don’t know how that’ll work for them in 30 years when they replace it next time. Maybe by then we’ll have a lifting-body airliner, or a new-aged Sonic Cruiser

DanimalHouse > DipodomysDeserti 01/24/2017 at 10:56

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In Soviet Russia, plane fly you!!!

ttyymmnn > DanimalHouse 01/24/2017 at 11:01

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That remains to be seen. The Secret Service will have a huge say in this also. Trump has spent his life as a CEO whose word was never questioned. Now he’s got this pesky group of people called “Congress” to deal with. And, even though the GOP controls it, that doesn’t mean that they will sign off on everything he wants. I hope.....

ttyymmnn > DanimalHouse 01/24/2017 at 11:02

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I’d like to see that with Loewy’s livery on it.

DipodomysDeserti > DanimalHouse 01/24/2017 at 11:10

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Absolutely terrifying

DanimalHouse > ttyymmnn 01/24/2017 at 11:19

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They won’t. I think Speaker Ryan will keep the peace as much as possible, but it’s clear he doesn’t like or prefer President Trump. Ryan is too principled to play the role of a puppet (unlike McConnell).

ttyymmnn > DanimalHouse 01/24/2017 at 11:30

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I’m not a violent man, but Mitch McConnell is one of the few people I would like to punch in the face. Honestly, I don’t think there’s a principled one in the lot.

DanimalHouse > ttyymmnn 01/24/2017 at 14:33

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