Donald Trump has a 25-year-old jet that works just fine. He bought his used — it was once owned by Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen for what Trump claims was $100 million. So when the President-elect tweeted that Boeing is taking the US to the cleaners in building two new state-of-the-art Air Force One jets for what Trump says is $4 billion, he has at least shopped in this aisle before. In fact, Trump has repeatedly said his 25-year-old jet is “better than Air Force One.” Trump said he wants to cancel the Boeing Air Force One order, saying it’s “out of control.” Trump’s plane, of course, and Air Force One don’t have the same capacity and protections — Air Force One is military grade. But is it money wasted?
Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2016
CNN reports that the “Air Force has allocated $2.9 billion through 2021 for two new Air Force Ones” — which won’t be ready until 2022. (That means that to fly in one of the new ones Trump would have to win a second term.) Below is a video about Trump’s plane, which features gold seatbelt buckles. Trump’s plane, tail number N757FA, was first sold in May 1991 and was bought by Trump in 2010, used 757 typically cost around $10 million. He is at least its fourth owner.
