Boeing 747-8 to Be New Air Force One Plane: USAF Put Aside $1.6B for Research on President's Airplane

The president is getting a new plane. The Air Force has chosen a new Air Force One, the plane on which the U.S. president travels, and Boeing will manufacture it.

The Air Force announced in a press release at the end of January it had selected Boeing's 747-8 to replace the current two Air Force One planes.

The Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Frank Kendall announced their choice.

"The presidential aircraft is one of the most visible symbols of the United States of America and the office of the president of the United States," Sec. James said. "The Boeing 747-8 is the only aircraft manufactured in the United States (that), when fully missionized, meets the necessary capabilities established to execute the presidential support mission, while reflecting the office of the president of the United States of America consistent with the national public interest."

The Air Force decided on the 747-8, the newest model of the well-known jumbo jet, because of its wide body and four engines. The other contender was Airbus's A380 built in France. However, the Air Force opted for the American plane, but their announcement is not a new contract but shows USAF's intent to purchase.

The Air Force still needs to finalize the rest of the engineering and technological details as well as costs. The new aircraft are expected to be in use for 30 years.

According to Reuters, the decision to use the 747-8 comes just in time, as Boeing has slowed down production of the jet airliner. Production has dropped from 1.5 a month to 1.3.

Bloomberg reports the Air Force has put aside $1.6 billion for research into the new presidential plane through 2019. Bloomberg adds the plane will not likely enter service until 2023.

This is normal procedure when ordering new presidential planes. Defense One reports that traditionally a president orders a new Air Force One during his second term. If Congress rejects the budget we will have to wait another six years until the government can budget another aircraft, by which time the current planes will be past their sell-by-dates.