Qatari 747-8I as 'Bridge' VC-25B replacement

I'd say they should kill it and start with a 777-9 but Boeing being Boeing. . .
 
Let's see in regards to Boeing and their problem child programs: KC-46, VC-25B (the original two 747-8 aircraft), possibly now B-52J, T-7 (might be back on track?), F-15EX (seems good), MQ-25 (seems good), F-47 (wait and see). The USG/USAF should be beating up Boeing regarding the VC-25B but to take a new 747-8 from a previous owner then upgrade (bad idea) and if my math is right, now we will potentially have 3 VC-25Bs (some day) or the USAF has introduced a lot of scope creep regarding the two original VC-25Bs?
 
I feel that ultimately this airframe might end up being used as a source of spares for the existing fleet or end up as an addition to the new E-4 fleet which would be a much better use. No way would the USAF and Secret Service allow this jet to be used for presidential missions with minimal upgrades.
 
alberchico said:
I feel that ultimately this airframe might end up being used as a source of spares for the existing fleet or end up as an addition to the new E-4 fleet which would be a much better use. No way would the USAF and Secret Service allow this jet to be used for presidential missions with minimal upgrades.
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No, it will be used as AF1 because the POTUS wants the luxury. And he can simply order the DoD to make it so, even if it takes his full term to complete.
 
alberchico said:
I feel that ultimately this airframe might end up being used as a source of spares for the existing fleet or end up as an addition to the new E-4 fleet which would be a much better use. No way would the USAF and Secret Service allow this jet to be used for presidential missions with minimal upgrades.
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Have they solved the impasse yet that Qatar wanted it back at the end of his presidency and only considered it a loan, while he considered it a gift that would go to his presidential library and then he would still be able to use it for personal flights after leaving office?
 
WatcherZero said:
Have they solved the impasse yet that Qatar wanted it back at the end of his presidency and only considered it a loan, while he considered it a gift that would go to his presidential library and then he would still be able to use it for personal flights after leaving office?
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There is no impasse; Trump wants it and Congress will not stop him.
 
NMaude said:
Apparently the Qatari 747-8I is not new at 13 years old and also that they had been trying to sell it for the last five years, the question is how much air-mileage does it have and when it has been stored as it in a climate-controlled hanger with regular inspections and preventative maintenance.
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Can't find the post on the first page that had the sales data, but it was a single digit thousand hours which is very low for a jet of that age. All of the required checks were done up until 2020, after none of the rest were done, but the only flights at that point were to keep the bare minimum of flights to keep it airworthy. As others have said, the jet will get stripped down to bare metal and get a very thorough check for the mod.
 
Scott Kenny said:
As far as I know, the USAF has not added anything to the original -Bs in terms of equipment since the contract was signed.

It's just that freaking huge a job.
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It's the under the radar stuff. Case in point, the PIM who sat next to me still did a lot of VC-25B work. He spent several weeks working with the interior team to design an ADA compliant lav in the A/C. Then there's the training piece, but I digress...
 
Josh_TN said:
No, it will be used as AF1 because the POTUS wants the luxury. And he can simply order the DoD to make it so, even if it takes his full term to complete.
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The Qatari interior will be long gone. It will be standard US Presidential. Since I've been on the current A/C let me explain. Real wood, not exotic, but durable hardwood. Nice leather, durable, not exotic. Nice carpet, durable, not opulent. The only decoration that will be all over the A/C is the presidential seal. No gold plating, unless it's necessary for the EMP protection.
 
Can the President or the SecDef provide an order that these checks and changes won't happen? In a theoretical sense even if that wouldn't happen in actuality.
 
Kind of shocking that the Secret Service is going to permit this hastily converted jet with minimal security modifications to be used for presidential missions. You would think if a president wanted to undertake something that poses a legitimate security risk, they would have the legal right right to veto it.

Just out of curiosity, did this jet carry any defensive equipment while under Qatari ownership ? I would imagine if the aircraft is already modified for that kind of hardware, this job might become a bit easier.
 
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I'm impressed, the aircraft is to this stage, Boeing was taking forever and cost kept on rising, needed to be wrangled and some outside the box thinking required. I don't blame the USG using the Qatar aircraft and probably not a hasty modification, possibly just very efficient.
 
Hydroman said:
I'm impressed, the aircraft is to this stage, Boeing was taking forever and cost kept on rising, needed to be wrangled and some outside the box thinking required. I don't blame the USG using the Qatar aircraft and probably not a hasty modification, possibly just very efficient.
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Big Safari and the folks in Greenville did the mods for Speckled Trout. Back in 2009 I signed MOUs with them to use Trout to develop technology for the replacement AF1. Had to also sign all kinds of acquisition precompetitive RFI paperwork to pledge not to share anything competition sensitive...

All that to say, the folks in Greenville are really, really good. I'm not surprised they delivered.
 
Well, that looks much better than the Liberian AF lookalike. Has somebody had a word?

Chris
 
Well, I had my hopes up, but looks like I can blame denoise and vibrancy settings for that.

May I quote Mr Kurtz.

Can someone please explain how the dynamic camouflage scheme on this 747 works and how it can change the underside of the aircraft from pale blue to red.

Chris
 
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NMaude said:
And no doubt once the Trump regime is out of power it will revert to the original paint job.
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If another Republican wins in 2028, the livery will stay the same.
 
Hydroman said:
If another Republican wins in 2028, the livery will stay the same.
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Maybe but I suspect that they would want to distance themselves from Trump and his legacy so I suspect that in this case it would still go back to the original paint-job.
 
I have never understood this Liberian Air Force tribute act. There must have been hundreds of ideas for designs and there are plenty of inspired schemes out there. The Vespina Voyager, Canada's A330 and the European nations' VIP types all sport modern, stylish schemes rather than something seen on any airport ramp in the 70s.

Chris

(Readers might be wondering why I'm banging on about VIP schemes. I covered such types in They Also Serve and have become quite fascinated. I also think Putin's Camber looks good.)
 
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Hydroman said:
If another Republican wins in 2028, the livery will stay the same.
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I would have to double check but IIRC the plan is in 2028 this aircraft will transition to civilian service.
 
IIRC, this VC-25B 'Bridge' is not intended to operate in contested airspace or land in combat zones, unlike the VC-25A with former POTUS. That's why it doesn't have countermeasures systems.
 
quellish said:
I would have to double check but IIRC the plan is in 2028 this aircraft will transition to civilian service.
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I checked and yes, in 2028 the aircraft will be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation.

If they did not install defensive systems I wonder where the $728m they spent on modifying it went. I also wonder if it will be demilitarized before transfer to civilian ownership.
 

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