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VMA131Marine

(5,009 posts)

32. One of the reasons presidential aircraft are so expensive

Sun May 11, 2025, 10:17 AM

May 11

Is that the people who build and maintain them have to undergo extensive screening and background checks, which won’t be the case for this plane. As others have mentioned, integrating the communications and security systems into the aircraft is also not trivial nor cheap, which is why it’s taken Boeing so long to produce the new AF1 from aircraft that were already built; it would have been easier and cheaper to build new from the start because the actual cost of the airframe is trivial compared to the upgrades that need to be made.
I’m not seeing how the Secret Service ever lets Trump fly on this thing or would if he were a “normal” President.

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Bengus81 Dock_Yard blah blah woof woof

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Highlight:

Trump administration poised to accept 'palace in the sky' as a gift for Trump from Qatar: Sources [View all] riversedge May 11 OP

May 21st is the anniversary of Orb Day underpants May 11 #1

witchcraft in public view WhiteTara May 11 #60

It's tradition for a new president to make his first foreign trip to our closest neighbor and ally, Canada Rhiannon12866 May 11 #78

Their "our" is different from our "our" underpants May 11 #89

I completely agree with you! Rhiannon12866 May 11 #90

I think it's an offer to the office but ... underpants May 11 #91

This is just wrong. Blues Heron May 11 #2

Word for word, my exact thoughts!! bluestarone May 11 #38

I believe there's a clause in the US Constitution prohibiting Vogon_Glory May 11 #56

I believe thats part of why it's been declared the new Air Force One Stryst May 11 #77

A Royal barge is NOT AF1 with all the security and protection Bengus81 May 11 #3

Isn't Boeing already building AF 1? What happens to that plane? Wasted taxpayer dollars? Lonestarblue May 11 #7

Yeah, but that one's not a bribe. InAbLuEsTaTe May 11 #17

Remember 50+ years ago when we thought Nixon was corrupt to no end?? Bengus81 May 11 #41

Trump gets the big fancy plane after his term. forgotmylogin May 11 #52

You assume there's going to be a next president jmowreader May 11 #72

Yes, I know. forgotmylogin May 12 #97

Trump doesn't get to keep that one after he leaves office. SomewhereInTheMiddle May 12 #95

I wonder if it will be equipped with little robots serving drinks, like R2-D2 on colorado_ufo May 12 #93

A security risk? SARose May 11 #4

That is what I was thinking too. Dem4life1970 May 11 #37

They'd have to gut it and start from scratch including in flight refueling capability Bengus81 May 11 #43

Given my life-long obsession and interest of USAF VIP aircraft... Dennis Donovan May 11 #5

Sickening. For once I can't think of the words to express my disgust. groundloop May 11 #6

For once?! InAbLuEsTaTe May 11 #18

Another crime Trump has normalized: Bribes and payoffs are legal as long as they're accepted publicly. sop May 11 #8

And I'm sure an Executive Order will decree that Presidential Libraries can loan anything to the former president muriel_volestrangler May 11 #9

OH, I do expect that this luxury plan WILL be available for Trump as long as he lives-at some one's else riversedge May 11 #16

His library will be filled with historical artifacts and dioramas jayschool2013 May 11 #30

Hopefully Delarage May 11 #40

Whorehouse in the sky. jls4561 May 11 #10

Memo to press (the stenographers): It's an Emolument Bernardo de La Paz May 11 #11

I seem to remember reading that there's a clause about that somewhere in the Constitution. TheRickles May 11 #24

Agree. They are using a dodge but it is clearly for one person, so I think normally that dodge would fail. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz May 11 #26

They have programmed it to ram tall buildings, like Trump Tower. twodogsbarking May 11 #12

This my friends is what the majority of America wanted - that is the sad reality. walkingman May 11 #13

and I am sure that Karoline Leavitt and other Repugs will shout that from the rooftops day after day. riversedge May 11 #20

No, it's what the plurality of voting Americans agreed to Maeve May 11 #23

No, the one and a half percent "majority" whathehell May 11 #83

"If this were a Democrat..." angrychair May 11 #14

I'm betting it will be pre-loaded with explosives. Mawspam2 May 11 #15

There is one little detail they might want to take into account DFW May 11 #19

And their wheeze is in the article: given to the nation until shortly before Trump's term ends, then to his "Library" muriel_volestrangler May 11 #31

I can remember all the way back to Chump's first term FakeNoose May 11 #67

A foreign regime gifting a jet to a former president. It's bribery in broad daylight. LetMyPeopleVote May 11 #21

This is the stuff they don't bother to hide. Irish_Dem May 11 #58

It's a whore house in the sky. LastLiberal in PalmSprings May 11 #22

May one of the mechanics changing the oil have to go really bad...... Montauk6 May 11 #25

Two Doll Donny Coolgoober May 11 #27

Illegal.Period. Ferrets are Cool May 11 #28

Nope, not the Onion. Buddyzbuddy May 11 #29

One of the reasons presidential aircraft are so expensive VMA131Marine May 11 #32

A good friend from my carpet installation days installed all the carpet on the AF1 now in use Bengus81 May 11 #46

Qatar funded Hamas IbogaProject May 11 #33

Hopefully it goes down with him in it. 🙏🏽 live love laugh May 11 #34

We get Vance then as President which isn't any better to be honest. cstanleytech May 11 #36

It's a start. live love laugh May 12 #94

Bullshit!!! It clearly violates the law if he's taking it with him after he leaves office. cstanleytech May 11 #35

Then his library will get the aircraft?? So we're supposed to believe that $400M 747 will just Bengus81 May 11 #39

You're kidding Cherokee100 May 11 #42

This story needs to go viral in all it's grfting glory. No one will like this obvious bribe and security threat. ms liberty May 11 #44

There could be all kinds of surveillance equipment on that palace in the sky... Trueblue Texan May 11 #45

Will have a lot of gold in it. Sneederbunk May 11 #47

Flying Spy Palace pfitz59 May 11 #48

When i read "tRump Presidential Library", I see this Goat-0125 May 11 #49

We will go back to it being illegal for presidents to accept gifts when the next Democratic president gets an office oldmanlynn May 11 #50

And the 'grift' goes on.. Joinfortmill May 11 #51

Dear Qatar, rubbersole May 11 #53

Isn't their more than one? Mosby May 11 #54

Another case of it's ok if you are republican IOKIYAR kimbutgar May 11 #55

Puts a whole new meaning to the words bluestarone May 11 #57

Air Faust One! taxi May 11 #59

I think the Air Force will have a say in this.... Historic NY May 11 #61

Fully equipped with the most up-to-date surveillance devices Sogo May 11 #62

This is theonly reason he wanted to be President Figarosmom May 11 #63

What does a presidential library want with a jumbo jet? eggplant May 11 #64

The Reagan Library has one of the 707s Ronnie used jmowreader May 11 #73

This can't be used as the official one we currently have. BUT any plane the president is aboard is designated as "AF-1" Cheezoholic May 11 #65

Trojan Horse... ultralite001 May 11 #66

Probably would be riddled with Qatari bugs, step-bugged by Russia. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz May 11 #87

No doubt in my mind whatsoever... ultralite001 May 12 #92

Why Does A Library RobinA May 11 #68

Hopefully the palace in the sky drops like a stone in the water. Buddyzbuddy May 11 #69

Really crappy lawyers Picaro May 11 #70

What is left of America? SupportSanity May 11 #71

Why would a Presidential Library need a huge plane? Norrrm May 11 #74

They don't even hide the graft and corruption anymore Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin May 11 #75

This is not a matter of opinion -- see Article I, Section 9, Paragraph 8 of the U.S. Constitution Pinback May 11 #76

May he fly like icarus Clouds Passing May 11 #79

Rules.. ellise May 11 #80

An emolument and a way for Qatar and the Saudis to spy on mango Mussolini JT45242 May 11 #81

Bondi is the one who signed off on this deal but she has serious conflicts of interest LetMyPeopleVote May 11 #82

Complete with the latest in tracking and listening devices. Oopsie Daisy May 11 #84

I Refuse to pay for a Qatar Jet for American Air Force 1 mkp May 11 #85

Welcome to DU, but the plan (not confirmed by Qatar) is a gift (emolument), not a purchase. . . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz May 11 #86

An then it will cost $4 Billion to modify the aircraft VMA131Marine May 12 #96

Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote May 12 #98

What could possibly go wrong? orangecrush May 11 #88