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'He will not go to sleep': White House staffers reportedly dread foreign trips with Trump aboard Air Force One, where he holds meetings at odd hours and constantly watches Fox News

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trump air force one

  • White House officials dread flying with President Donald Trump on long foreign trips, according to CNN
  • Five current and former officials who have traveled aboard Air Force One described a restless president who spends a lot of time watching cable news and reviewing media coverage.
  • "It's like being held captive," an official said. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Trump's latest foreign flight to Japan was likely an unpleasant experience for the White House staffers flying with him. 

CNN's Kaitlan Collins and Kevin Liptak spoke to five current and former officials who described such transatlantic voyages aboard Air Force One as grueling. Staffers once vied for a spot on foreign trips. But three years into Trump's administration, they now do their best to stay home, the report said.  

The officials described a restless president who spends a lot of time watching cable news and reading boxes of newspapers.

"He will not go to sleep," an official told CNN, adding that the president once summoned a meeting with an aide who was trying to catch a few hours of sleep before landing. The discussions at these meetings range from Trump's upcoming agenda in the country he's visiting to recent media coverage. 

"It's like being held captive," an official said. 

For staffers who are able to sleep, comfortable spots are hard to come by on the 4,000 square-foot aircraft. That's because Air Force One is not loaded with lie-flat seats like private jets typically are. While Trump has a bedroom, staffers have to make do with office chairs, leather benches on the sides of the plane, and yoga mats, according to the report.

Donald Trump Air Force One

The report painted a picture of life aboard Air Force One that resembles other portraits of life on ground in the White House.

Televisions on board are constantly showing Fox News, the cable channel that Trump reportedly spends much of his "executive time" watching and live tweeting on a regular day. According to CNN, he spends hours watching cable news footage on a TiVo-like device while in the air.

Also, the president often complains about media coverage he doesn't like and uses meetings to strategize how to respond to unfavorable stories.

Read more:I spent 2 days flying with Trump aboard Air Force One. Here's what it's like on the president's plane.

Trump Robert Kraft Air Force One

Officials described a president who is averse to foreign travel in general, picky about the hotels he sleeps in, and concerned over whether he's the sole guest of honor. Trump did not travel internationally during his first 100 days as in office. By comparison, President Barack Obama visited nine countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, and France — all key US allies.

After Trump returns from his Japan trip, he will head to the United Kingdom in June and meet the Queen during a state visit.

Head over to CNN for the full story. 

SEE ALSO: A key weapon that helped the US economy recover from the Great Recession could soon wreak havoc on financial markets — and the Fed just confirmed the risk

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NOW WATCH: Fox News pundits are using white supremacist language tied to 'The Great Replacement' conspiracy theory


Here's how Trump reportedly spent $3.6 million on his 'convenient' two-day visit to Ireland

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donald trump

  • President Donald Trump made a stop in Ireland after a three-day state visit in the United Kingdom. 
  • The president's hasty stop drew attention when he spent time at his golf resort in Doonbeg, which is his latest trip to one of his golf properties. 
  • Though Trump insisted the choice of location at the resort was "convenient," his stay at the resort prompted ethics concerns and his travel back and forth to France added hundreds of miles to his trip.
  • Presidential travel comes with some inherent steep costs, but Trump's stop in Ireland racked up a $3-million cherry on top of his expensive golf trip track record. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump spent two nights in Ireland after a three-day state visit to the United Kingdom. 

The president's hasty stop drew attention when he refused to visit Dublin, the country's capital, insisting he would stay at his golf resort in Doonbeg. 

The stop was the latest in Trump's regular visits to his golf courses, which have sparked ethics concerns since he took office for their exorbitant cost to taxpayers and promotion of his brand. 

A report released by the Government Accountability Office in February says four trips in 2017 to Trump's private club Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida cost taxpayers $13.6 million, or approximately $3.4 million each.

Much of a president's travel costs come from the dozens of White House staffers who accompany the trip, and that number multiplies for international trips. 

Read more: The president and first lady travel in an 'imperial bubble' where the US government books entire floors of hotels, closes down airports, and shuts down highways. Here's what it's like.

The president's trips can cost taxpayers millions of dollars because of the use of Air Force One and the expenses of the Secret Service, the Air Force, local sheriff's departments, the Coast Guard and other agencies.

A report from the Huffington Post picked apart Trump's travel costs on the quick trip, see why his choice of itinerary raised eyebrows.  

SEE ALSO: 45 photos of Melania and Donald Trump's historic state visit with Queen Elizabeth II

Trump's trips came with some built-in travel costs, including $206,000 an hour to operate the Boeing plane known as Air Force One.

The Huffington Post found the State Department had filed for contracts weeks ahead of Trump's travel, including $1,023,940 to rent cars and limos, $10,866 to install temporary phone lines, and $16,325 to rent golf carts for the Secret Service agents protecting Trump on the golf course.

The contracts reportedly totaled $1.5 million.

Though the costs were within the usual purchases for presidential travel measures, Trump's insisting the trip to Doonbeg was because the resort was "convenient" was confusing because it added hundreds of miles to his travel, the Huffington Post noted. 

Trump was staying in London before he traveled 370 miles to Doonbeg. His trip to Normandy meant retracing his flight 440 miles east and then flying another 440 miles west back to Ireland hours later. 



Trump kept his work engagements to one meeting that was held in the Shannon Airport after Trump's request to hold it at his golf course was denied.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar met Trump at an airport lounge after reportedly rejecting Trump's wish for the two leaders to meet at his Doonbeg golf course.

The Irish Times reported in May that Trump was pushing for the meeting to be held at his course, but Irish officials were "reluctant" to meet there.

Trump was asked by a reporter on the trip if the purpose of his Ireland trip was to promote his golf course, which, according to the Irish Times, has never made a profit. Trump dismissed the connection. 

"I really wanted to do this stop in Ireland," Trump said. "It was very important to me because of the relationship I have with the people and with your prime minister."

Ireland's Minister of State Pat Breen told the Irish Times that Trump discussed golf and his resort at their meeting. 

"We talked about the important role that the resort in Doonbeg plays in local economy,"Breen said of meeting Trump. "He said he was looking forward to playing a round of golf." 



Trump's not the first president to run up a $3 million bill on a quick trip.

In October 2016, the Government Accountability Office released a report that tracked a three-day golf and work trip taken by then-President Barack Obama to Chicago and Florida and found it cost $3.6 million.

The trip reportedly racked up costs for operating Air Force One and Marine One in addition to transportation, lodging, and meals for agents from departments including the Coast Guard and the Secret Service. 

Such trips act as lightning rods for lawmakers, usually from the other party, to criticize a president's spending. 

Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming said at the time that Obama displayed "such little disregard for the taxpayer that he spent millions of dollars to play golf with Tiger Woods." 

In Trump's case, it's not just the price tag that has watchdog groups concerned. It's the frequency of his stops and the gray area between work and personal trips. 



The report says that Trump's jaunt in Ireland brought the total costs of his golf trips to $105.8 million.

Trump visited his golf clubs more than 150 times in his first official year in office, and at least 77 times in his second year in office, according to analysis from NBC News.

Though both figures are difficult to pin down because exact numbers and travel details aren't required for public release, The Huffington Post said Trump's golf tab totals nearly $106 million since he took office in early 2017. 

Trump's tendency to host world leaders at his club and his vested interest in the success of the properties complicates his connections to the resorts. The connection leads to unfair publicity opportunities and incidents like the Doonbeg course posting promotional videos of the president teeing off and arriving in the Marine One helicopter only to delete them after backlash from publications and an ethics watchdog. 

 



Democrats want to make it so Trump has to get Congress' permission to give Air Force One a makeover

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trump air force one

  • A proposal included by Democrats in the House Armed Services Committee's mark-up of the annual defense bill would require legislative approval of any changes to Air Force One's design.
  • The measure comes after President Donald Trump said he wants a new paint scheme for the aircraft, but lawmakers say they just want to have proper oversight on the plane's procurement process.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump would have to get congressional permission before giving Air Force One a makeover, under a proposal advanced by House Democrats on Wednesday.

In a party line vote in the House Armed Services Committee's mark-up of the annual defense authorization bill, the panel's Democrats adopted restrictions on the presidential aircraft's "paint scheme, interiors and livery" without legislative branch approval.

Republicans on the panel called the move a political shot at the commander in chief, unfairly restricting his ability to make even minor decisions.

But supporters of the measure said look of the plane is more significant than just an individual president's design preferences.

Air Force One

"The Air Force One plane is iconic," said Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif. "It is known throughout the world. It has been the representation of the United States, the power of the president. It is used in diplomatic and international relations as (a statement) that the United States has arrived.

"If someone wants to change its appearance, it's scheme, we ought to have a say in it … If somebody wants the fixtures to be gold-plated, come back here and tell us why it ought to be that way."

Last year, in an interview with CBS, Trump said the next iteration of the Air Force plane would include all the colors of the American flag instead of the past light blue and white paint scheme.

"Air Force One is going to be incredible," he said. "It's gonna be the top of the line, the top in the world. And it's gonna be red, white and blue, which I think is appropriate."

Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., insisted the move was not designed to counter those comments from the president, but instead to make sure the lawmakers have proper oversight on the procurement process for the new planes.

Under a deal announced by the White House in early 2018, the government will pay Boeing about $3.9 billion for replacement aircraft to be delivered in late 2024. "So this president is not going to fly on these planes," Smith said.

The language in the authorization bill must survive both the full House and Senate, as well as gain approval from the president, before it can become law. That process is expected to take most of the summer and fall.

SEE ALSO: Step aboard the SAM 26000 — the first jet-powered aircraft ever built for the president of the United States

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NOW WATCH: 9 things you didn't know about Air Force One

Trump just unveiled his plan for Air Force One's new paint job, and it looks a lot like his private jet

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Trump's plans for Air Force One look a lot like his private jet

  • Trump revealed his big plans for a patriotic redesign of Air Force One in an interview with ABC News.
  • His plans for the presidential redesign toss the light-blue color scheme introduced in the 1960s in exchange for red, white, and dark blue.
  • The new design and color scheme look suspiciously like those of Trump's private jet.
  • Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories.

President Donald Trump is planning a big patriotic paint job for Air Force One, and the radical redesign looks a lot like his private jet.

"There's your new Air Force One," Trump told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in the Oval Office as he unveiled four red, white, and blue mock-ups with American flags on the tail. He explained that each design is "slightly different."

The redesigns would be a major change from the light-blue colors that were first introduced in the 1960s during the Kennedy administration.

Trump's plans for Air Force One

Perhaps the most striking thing about the president's plans is that the redesign, especially the new color scheme, bears an uncanny resemblance to his private jet, a Boeing 757 with Trump's name written across it in big bold letters.

Donald Trump's private jet

The biggest difference between the Air Force One design and the president's private jet is that the colors are inverted.

Trump stressed that he is doing this for future presidents, not himself.

If Congress approves the changes, which is not guaranteed, the new design could be applied to two Boeing 747s that are being converted into VC-25s, the military variant for presidential transport, in San Antonio, The Drive reported.

The White House struck a $3.9 billion deal with Boeing in February 2018 for the new Air Force One aircraft. While the planes were expected to be delivered in 2024, Trump made a request for an expedited 2021 delivery. Speaking with ABC News, the president boasted that he managed to knock $1.6 billion off the final price.

The president said the new Air Force One aircraft, while still technically a 747 airframe, would be a "much bigger plane" with a "much bigger wingspan."

The current Air Force One design and color scheme

"We added things," he said, refusing to disclose any secrets about the plane.

Trump first confirmed his plans for a new paint job for Air Force One in July. "Air Force One is going to be incredible," the president told CBS News at the time.

"It's going to be the top of the line, the top in the world. And it's going to be red, white, and blue, which I think is appropriate," Trump said.

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Trump's July 4th celebration will have Air Force One fly over the National Mall

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air force one landing

President Donald Trump plans to add a military component to July 4 celebrations with an Air Force One flyover and "military demonstrations" on the National Mall, amid concerns from lawmakers about the event's potentially exorbitant costs and strain on local and national resources, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.

After a failed attempt at a military-heavy Veterans' Day celebration last year, the administration plans to hold a similar patriotic event, which it is calling the "Salute to America" at the capital. Trump was enthralled by a Bastille Day parade he attended in France in 2017, and has expressed his desire to stage a similar event in the US. The Washington Post reported earlier in June that Trump plans to speak at the Lincoln Memorial, a National Parks site. But the plans for a military flyover on the National Mall were previously unknown.

A US official with knowledge of the flyover confirmed to INSIDER that Air Force One was scheduled to fly that day. The Washington Post reported that other military aircraft would join Air Force One, but the official did not immediately confirm the presence of other aircraft to INSIDER.

The Washington Post reported that the president would not be aboard Air Force One as it made the flyover.

It is unprecedented for presidents to attend the nation's July 4 celebration, The Washington Post reported earlier in June, due to security concerns at such a massive event. 

The Veteran's Day event planned for last year was postponed due to the high estimated cost — $92 million — of the event. The Department of Defense directed INSIDER's request for comment on the July 4 event to the White House. The White House stated that it did not have any details to share about the event.

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat from Washington, DC,  and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, wrote to the Senate and House appropriations committees on Tuesday, noting that the District of Columbia's Emergency Planning and Security Fund (ESPF) will run out of funding in July, and that the current budget does not have spending details for the administration's planned celebration factored in.

"It is important to note that the spend rate does not factor in the substantial unanticipated costs for President Trump's July 4th speech and activities at the Lincoln Memorial.  Since the July 4th program has not yet been set, those costs are still unknown," the letter reads.

The legislators will be requesting additional funding in the 2020 fiscal year to make up for that event, if provisional funding is not supplied.

SEE ALSO: British Army marks US Army's 244th birthday with a cheeky tweet referencing their 'rocky start'

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Trump says he's lost all his friends because they have 'respect for the office of the presidency'

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Donald Trump G20 summit

  • President Donald Trump at a campaign rally on Wednesday jokingly bemoaned his lack of friends after becoming the commander-in-chief, saying "they've choked."
  • Trump claimed people in his orbit acted differently because they "have such respect for the office of the presidency."
  • "I lost all my friends! They've tightened up," Trump said. "They've choked. You know what that is? They've choked. They can't breathe."
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump at a campaign rally on Wednesday jokingly bemoaned his lack of friends after becoming the commander-in-chief, saying "they've choked."

"I have guys, I have wonderful friends," Trump said at a rally in Greenville, North Carolina. "I have poor guys, middle of the road, and rich guys, it doesn't matter."

Trump offered an anecdote of an exchange he had with "Richard," who Trump said changed his demeanor after he became president.

"Rich guys call up, 'Uh, Mr. President? How are you, sir? Uh, it's Richard," Trump recalled of a conversation.

Trump said he replied, "Oh good, Rich. Hey, Richard, loosen up."

"I said, 'Richard call me Donald like you always did,'" Trump said, adding that "two minutes later, 'Mr. President it's been so great ...'"

Trump claimed people in his orbit acted differently because they "have such respect for the office of the presidency."

Read more:Inside the once-close relationship between Trump and his 'pit bull' lawyer Michael Cohen, who paid Stormy Daniels, said he'd 'take a bullet' for Trump, is testifying before Congress today

"I lost all my friends! They've tightened up," Trump said while making a choking gesture. "They've choked. You know what that is? They've choked. They can't breathe."

"They have respect for our country again," Trump added. "Our country is respected again."

His former personal attorney and "fixer," Michael Cohen — who once said he'd 'take a bullet' for Trump — became one of his most outspoken critics and was sentenced to (and is serving) three years in prison for campaign finance violations related to Trump's 2016 campaign, and tax fraud.

On the topic of friendship, one business associate in 1987 claimed that friendship was "not part of [Trump's] agenda," according to Newsweek.

"I hate to have to rely on friends," Trump said in Newsweek at the time. "I'm not a trusting guy. I want to rely on myself."

"He'd love to be president, but only if he were appointed," another friend reportedly said.

SEE ALSO: Retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal says if his soldiers were 'forced to come on a holiday' to 'stand in the sun' for Trump's military parade, he would've stood with them

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The cost of Trump's new Air Force One has skyrocketed nearly $2 billion from the original estimate

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Trump Air Force One

  • The new Air Force One will cost the Pentagon $5.2 billion, according to the Defense Department's first formal acquisition report for the aircraft.
  • In 2016, it was estimated that the new aircraft would cost $3.2 billion. A year later, President Donald Trump said he negotiated the planes' cost down by $1 billion.
  • The converted Boeing 747s are set to be delivered in 2024, although Trump has requested that they be delivered in 2021. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

According to Air Force Magazine, President Donald Trump's new Air Force One fleet will cost a total of $5.2 billion, up from the 2016 estimate of $3.2 billion. 

Two Boeing 747-8s are being converted into VC-25s, the model used for VIP transport. They will serve as the "flying White House" starting in 2024, although Trump requested that they be ready for use in 2021.

Trump had boasted that he struck a deal with Boeing to lower the cost of renovating the jets, which were originally built for a now defunct Russian airline, by $1 billion. Boeing will be paid $3.9 billion to build the jets for the White House. The additional $1.3 billion comes from associated costs, like building hangars for the new jets. INSIDER reached out to the Air Force for comment on the new budget estimate but did not receive a response by press time. 

Read more: Trump is holding a massive July 4 military parade — here's what it looked like the last time Washington hosted one

The new estimate is the first time the Pentagon has actually provided a complete budget for the project; the number was included in its first formal acquisition estimate for the project, Air Force Magazine reported. 

While Trump has said his new designs for Air Force One were for the benefit of future presidents, there's been little discussion about what the upgrades actually are, besides a new paint job.

In a June interview with George Stephanopoulos, Trump showed off four variations of the same red, white, and blue paint jobs for the new Air Force One, departing from the baby-blue color scheme that has been in use since the Kennedy era.

INSIDER previously reported that the new paint job looks quite a bit like the one on Trump's personal jet, a Boeing 757. 

"It's going to be the top of the line, the top in the world. And it's going to be red, white, and blue, which I think is appropriate," Trump said. 

In the same interview, Trump said the new Air Force One "is going to be incredible."

"We added things," he said, without elaborating. 

SEE ALSO: Trump's July 4th celebration will have Air Force One fly over the National Mall

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The Japanese Air Force One is up for sale for a cool $28 million — take a look inside

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Japan Air Force One

  • A Boeing 747-400 used as Japan's Air Force One was recently listed for sale on aviation website Controller.
  • It's no normal 747, though — the jumbo jet is outfitted with an incredible assortment of VIP features, like a bedroom, a shower, and an office.
  • Take a look below for a photo tour of the $28 million jet.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

If you're one of the very few people in the market for a private, VIP-configured jumbo jet, now might be your time to buy.

That's because an incredibly unique plane is available for sale — the plane that, until recently, served as Japan's Air Force One.

The Boeing 747-400 jet is available for sale on aviation website Controller for $28 million. According to CNN, the plane has flown Japanese Prime Ministers, the country's emperor, and other VIPs around the world.

The Boeing 747 has been altered to include luxurious features like a bedroom, an office, a lounge area, and even a shower. 

In addition to the luxurious areas for the primary passenger, the plane is outfitted with banks of business class and economy style seats, although it has a much lower capacity than most 747s — it seats just 85 people, while commercial 747-400s are configured to carry anywhere from about 416 in a typical three-class layout, to more than 650 passengers in a dense all-economy setup.

Read more: A man posted video of his 'private jet' experience when he was the only passenger on his Delta flight

Although the plane was built in 1991, it's seen relatively little flying time, with just 16,332 flight hours recorded, according to the listing.

According to the Japanese Air Self Defense Forces, two versions of the planes existed — one served as a spare. Both were retired and replaced with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. According to Planespotters.net, the jet that's for sale was transferred to US-based CSDS Aircraft Sales and Leasing in July.

Take a look below for photos of the rare and luxurious Japanese Air Force One that's available for sale.

SEE ALSO: A man posted video of his 'private jet' experience when he was the only passenger on his Delta flight

Here's the Boeing 747-400 that served as Japan's Air Force One



The plane was originally built in 1991. But it's no ordinary 747.



It's outfitted with a bedroom with a shower facility ...



... A lounge ...



... An office ...



... And more, including a meeting room for support staff.



The plane also has business class and coach-style seating.



It can only carry 85 passengers, compared to the 416 that a normal 747-400 could carry in a three-class configuration.



The plane is available for "just" $28 million, so if you're in the market, now is the time to buy! Check out Controller to see the listing.




Trump tweeted a photo of a lightning strike very close to Air Force One, calling it 'amazing!'

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trump air force one

  • President Donald Trump tweeted out a photo of a lightning bolt striking behind Air Force One during a Monday night trip to North Carolina for a campaign rally. 
  • "Departing MCAS Cherry Point in North Carolina for Fayetteville, North Carolina. This is amazing!" Trump wrote. 
  • The picture was taken by CNN politics producer Steve Brusk, who tweeted that the lightning struck shortly after Trump touched down in Fayetteville.
  • The president was scheduled to tour storm damage in North Carolina caused by Hurricane Dorian, which landed in the state late last week and pummeled it with winds of up to 90 miles per hour. The tour was cancelled as a result of thunderstorms. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

President Donald Trump tweeted out a photo of a lightning bolt striking behind Air Force One during a Monday night trip to North Carolina for a campaign rally. 

"Departing MCAS Cherry Point in North Carolina for Fayetteville, North Carolina. This is amazing!" Trump wrote alongside the dramatic photo. 

The picture was taken by CNN politics producer Steve Brusk, who tweeted that the lightning struck shortly after Trump touched down in Fayetteville. The angle of the photo makes it look like the bolt struck the plane, but Brusk explained that the lightning hit behind the aircraft. 

The president was scheduled to tour storm damage in North Carolina caused by Hurricane Dorian, which landed in the state late last week and pummeled it with winds of up to 90 miles per hour.

The tour was cancelled as a result of thunderstorms, and Trump spent the evening at a campaign rally on the eve of a special House election in North Carolina's 9th congressional district. 

Last week, Dorian sat over the Bahamas for three days, devastating the island. While the official Bahamian death toll is 50, local media is reporting that thousands were killed by the storm. At least 70,000 Bahamians have been left homeless in the aftermath of the storm. 

Read more: Joe Biden scrambles to defend his climate record at 7-hour CNN town hall

 

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Dorian updates: After making landfall in North Carolina, the storm is moving up the coast. At least 30 people have died in the Bahamas.

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Inside the US military's $223 million 'doomsday plane,' capable of surviving a nuclear blast

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  • If there ever were a nuclear war and all US military ground communication was destroyed, the US Air Force keeps a E-4B "Nightwatch," nicknamed the "doomsday plane," on alert 24/7.
  • The $223 million militarized Boeing 747 is designed to survive a nuclear blast and would become the command and control center for the US military's most senior officials, including the US President, Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  • Originally designed in 1973, the E-4 series planes were thought to be the best way a president during the Cold War might survive a nuclear explosion.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. 

Following is a transcription of the video:

Narrator: If there ever were a nuclear war and all US military ground communication was destroyed, this $223 million plane would become the command and control center for the US military's most senior officials. This is the E-4B "Nightwatch." It's basically a flying war room designed to withstand a nuclear blast.

Ryan Pickrell: I like to think of the E-4B as kind of like a flying backup Pentagon. Potentially more secure than the Pentagon. If you're seeing it at its maximum capability, which hopefully we never do, yeah, you're looking at an apocalyptic scenario, which is why it's affectionately known as the "doomsday plane."

Narrator: Four E-4Bs make up the National Airborne Operations Center. And the US Air Force is responsible for the operation of all four of them out of Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha, Nebraska.

The retrofitted Boeing 747s were made for war. Originally designed in 1973, the E-4 series planes were thought to be the best way a president during the Cold War might survive a nuclear explosion. And since their inception, one of the doomsday planes has stood on alert 24/7.

Edward Garcia: Because we're a 24/7 ops mission, we are not a non-deployable unit due to our proximity to the president and all other key assets at one time. But, day to day, it is highly important because we can assume the role of a primary command center, much like the Pentagon is, much like strat-com can be. We can assume that role in the air as well.

Narrator: In the immediate aftermath of a nuclear blast, the president, the secretary of defense, and the joint chiefs of staff would all be safe aboard the E-4B. From there, they could order nuclear strikes or execute emergency war orders.

And while the majority of the E-4B's capabilities are classified, we do know a few things. The plane has three decks and can hold a crew of up to 112 people. With four massive engines, the E-4B can fly for 12 hours straight without refueling, though with aerial refueling capabilities it could theoretically fly for several days.

It costs nearly $160,000 per hour to fly the E-4B, making it the most expensive airplane the Air Force operates. And it's built to survive a nuclear blast. To prevent radiation, the windows have a wired mesh, similar to what you'd see on the window of a microwave. Equipment and wiring on board are hardened to survive an electromagnetic pulse. There's also thermal and nuclear shielding and direct-fire countermeasures.

Aboard the plane, space is broken down to optimize war coordination. At the front of the plane, executive quarters house the senior military officials. The upper rest has 18 bunks available for the Air Force crew. They work 24-hour, seven-day shifts and sleep on board. Beneath that is the secure conference room, where the joint chiefs, president, and secretary of defense can give war orders. The briefing room is where officials can update the traveling press, or battle staff, on strategy and coordination efforts.

In the center of the plane, officers from every branch of the military will hammer out a strategy in the event of a crisis. This base is known as the battle-staff room. And all outside communication happens at the back of the aircraft from the communication and technical control room. From here, operators can communicate with virtually anyone in the world, in any situation.

Scott McCandless: It's designed that, in the most austere environments, during or after a nuclear war, it survives and can communicate, from the most cutting-edge communications technology to old, antiquated communications technology. We have the ability to endure and communicate with fielded forces and the rest of the US government.

Narrator: That bubble on top of the E-4B is where all the communication technology is held. It's called the "ray dome," and an estimated 67 satellite dishes and antennas are kept here. The E-4B has more communication capabilities than Air Force One. There's even a 5-mile-long "tail" that can be extended behind the plane to allow for communication with submarines that are underwater.

But even with all the fancy communication tech, you'd be surprised at how old-school the rest of the technology on board is. There's no digital, and there's no touch screens. Everything is analog. And that's on purpose. That vintage vibe continues throughout the airplane.

Pickrell: The E-4B doesn't really have windows, and it's actually really drab on the inside. You're looking at kind of a beige color that looks like it came straight out of the 1970s or '80s, which it did.

Narrator: The doomsday plane's utilitarian nature is completely intentional to keep the focus on the job at hand: preparing for the worst. But hopefully we'll never have to see the doomsday plane at its full capacity. During peacetime, the E-4B's main job is to transport the secretary of defense on foreign trips, and one always follows the president in Air Force One on overseas visits.

Garcia: The mission is very tedious, it is, no kidding, one of the most arduous things that you could possibly do, but it's so rewarding in the sense of, every day you know that you're doing something or you're preparing for the worst.

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Trump carries a wad of cash for tipping people in his back pocket instead of a wallet

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Trump money

  • US President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday that he carried cash instead of a wallet in his back pocket.
  • An eagle-eyed photographer snapped a shot of the president's pocket money as he was boarding Air Force One at Moffett Federal Airfield in Mountain View, California, on Tuesday.
  • In response to queries about the wad of cash, Trump said: "I don't carry a wallet because I haven't had to use a credit card in a long time."
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday told reporters that he didn't carry a wallet because he hadn't "had to use a credit card in a long time" and instead kept a wad of cash in his back pocket.

The Washington-based photo journalist Tom Brenner caught a sneaky shot of Trump as he boarded Air Force One in California on Tuesday.

Wind blew Trump's suit jacket as he was climbing the stairs of the jet, revealing what appeared to be a stash of $20 bills in his back pocket.

Read more: Trump signed his $147 million replacement border wall with a Sharpie

At a press gaggle on Wednesday, curious reporters asked the president why he kept his cash in such a precarious place.

"Do you carry cash in your back pocket?" a reporter asked.

"I do! I do!" he responded, pulling out a "large wad of cash" from his back right pants pocket, according to a pool report.

Trump explained that he hadn't used the cash "in a long time" but liked to carry "a little something" for tipping hotel staff.

"I do like leaving tips to the hotel," he said. "I like to carry a little something. I like to give tips to the hotel. I'm telling you, maybe a president's not supposed to do it, but I like to leave a tip for the hotel."

He also said he preferred not to carry a wallet.

Trump was in California for a two-day trip to raise money for his 2020 reelection campaign.

He capped off the visit to the US-Mexico border wall and signed the $147 million replacement wall in Otay Mesa, California, with a Sharpie, calling it "amazing."

SEE ALSO: Here's how the Trump family spends their billions, from a $15 million beachfront estate in St. Martin to a $32 million fleet of private helicopters and airplanes

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NOW WATCH: Why the US border facilities are 'concentration camps,' according to historians

The Pentagon revealed the new paint scheme for Air Force One, and people say it looks like Trump's private jet

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Donald Trump Boeing 757

  • A new presidential aircraft is in the works to replace the aging planes in service today, and it is expected to get a new paint job with the upgrade.
  • The Pentagon's fiscal year 2021 budget request was released on Monday and featured a rendering of the future Air Force One with a red, white, and blue paint scheme.
  • The paint scheme appears to match plans Trump showed off last summer, which observers said resembled his private "Trump Force One" jet.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Pentagon's latest budget request features a rendering of President Donald Trump's plans for a new patriotic red, white, and blue paint job for Air Force One, a paint scheme some observers say looks a lot like that of his private jet.

Buried in the pages of the Pentagon's $705.4 billion fiscal year 2021 budget request is a rendering of the future Air Force One with a red, white, and blue paint job rather than the iconic light-blue color scheme introduced in the 1960s during the Kennedy administration. The image is accompanied by information on the VC-25B Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization program.

Rendering of the future Air Force One in the FY 2021 budget request

In last year's budget request, the accompanying image was in-line with the current paint job.

Rendering of the future Air Force One in the fiscal year 2020 DoD budget request

The inclusion of the new paint scheme in the budget request suggests this is the planned design at this point in time.

In February 2018, the White House struck a $3.9 billion deal with Boeing for a new VC-25B aircraft, a modified Boeing 747-8, to replace the VC-25A aircraft, a modified Boeing 747-200, used by the president.

That summer, Trump told CBS News that the new plane was "going to be red, white, and blue" and revealed his plans for a new paint job.

In a conversation with ABC News in June, the president showed off mock-ups of the new plane with its red, white, and blue paint scheme.

Trump's plans for Air Force One

"There's your new Air Force One," Trump told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in the Oval Office.

At the time, observers were quick to say the president's plans for the new paint job looked similar to his private passenger jet but with the colors inverted.

Trump has a Boeing 757-200 that's nicknamed "Trump Force One."

Donald Trump Boeing 757

The blue in the Pentagon photo appears a little bit lighter than the hue on Trump's aircraft, but the color scheme does appear similar.

The new Air Force One is expected to be delivered in 2024.

According to the Department of Defense, it will "provide the President, staff, and guests with safe and reliable air transportation at the same level of security and communications capability available in the White House."

SEE ALSO: Trump obsessively hunts 'celebrity' terrorist targets and ignores other threats to the US, former CIA officer says

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NOW WATCH: Check out the Boeing airliner President Donald Trump is trading in for Air Force One

The US military operates a fleet of modified civilian Boeing and Gulfstream VIP private jets — here's what they do

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Air Force One West Palm Beach

  • The US military operates a fleet of VIP civilian aircraft converted to military use in addition to its warfighting, troop transport, and cargo planes.
  • The most notable user of the fleet is the President of the United States who flies on a modified Boeing 747 under the call sign Air Force One when the president is on board.
  • Other aircraft include modified Boeing, Gulfstream, and Bombardier aircraft that fly high-ranking officials in the government and military. 
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Private aircraft are often tools of the rich and famous to travel the world luxuriously without hindrance, but they also have a major role in the United States Armed Forces

In addition to its warfighting, troop transport, and cargo aircraft, the military operates a fleet of converted civilian aircraft for use by VIP government officials, military leaders, and in combat zones.

The most notable user of the fleet is the President of the United States, who flies primarily in a modified Boeing 747 that bears the name Air Force One when the president is on board, though that represents a fraction of the private jets currently enlisted in military service. 

On the home-front, the fleet is accessible by cabinet secretaries, top military officials, and even high-ranking elected officials. Private travel on these aircraft is often the most convenient and secure way to transport government officials as they are often outfitted with communication suites providing a vital link to the outside world should an incident occur.

On the battlefield, the aircraft serve as lifelines to troops fighting on the front line, with some providing vital intelligence and others relaying critical communications. 

Take a look at the private jet aircraft converted for military use. 

SEE ALSO: The US Air Force recently acquired a new $64 million Gulfstream private jet for VIP government officials — see inside

Read More: WeWork's $60 million private jet is now on the market — see inside the ultra-luxurious Gulfstream G650ER

The most notable converted civilian aircraft in the military's fleet is a VC-25 used by the president of the United States, known to many as Air Force One.

The most iconic aircraft to currently roam the skies, the VC-25 is used exclusively by the president and operated under the famous call sign when the commander-in-chief is onboard. It's the military variant of the Boeing 747-200, used primarily as a passenger liner in its peak and can now be seen flying cargo around the world. 

Though its full amenities and capabilities are classified, the aircraft has a private office for the president, a conference room, passenger seating section, medical suite, and a communications hub upgraded after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to the Air Force. The modified 747 can also be refueled while in the air to remain flying for as long as the Air Force can keep it fueled and until the food runs out. 



The aircraft features the blue-and-white livery with a gold cheatline that is the hallmark of the US Air Force's VIP fleet.

The unmistakable livery has even gotten the aircraft in trouble, with a plane spotter photographing the plane while it was flying over the UK and ruining the president's surprise trip to Afghanistan.  With the words "United States of America" emblazoned on both sides in all caps and two American flags on the tail, there's no question of what the plane represents. 

The Air Force has two of the aircraft in its fleet to ensure the president can always access his flagship plane. The two VC-25s are identical on the inside and travel together frequently on presidential missions. 



When the VC-25 is too big for the mission, the next largest jet in the military's stable is the VC-32A, a modified Boeing 757-200 aircraft.

Similarly dressed in blue-and-white, the VC-32 occasionally flies the president but is one of the aircraft of choice for high-ranking government officials. Though not as iconic as the VC-25, the modified Boeing 757 is frequently tasked with high-profile missions as it frequently flies the vice president and secretary of state around the world. 

The president will typically use the VC-32 when the modified Boeing 747 is too big for the task. President Obama used the aircraft to visit smaller cities during his re-election campaign and President Trump used the aircraft for a quick hop between the Indian cities Delhi to Agra when touring the Taj Mahal during his visit.

Though the aircraft doesn't feature all the same amenities as Air Force One, the VC-32 does feature a stateroom for its primary flyer, communications suite, and a range of 5,500 nautical miles, according to the Air Force



The baby Boeing in the Air Force's fleet is the C-40 Clipper, a modified version of the popular Boeing 737-700 aircraft.

The C-40 Clipper is seldom used by the president and vice president, with cabinet secretaries, military leaders, elected officials, and other high-ranking government officials using the aircraft instead. The military offers two variants of the aircraft, the C-40B for use by military combatant commanders and the C-40C for use by government officials, according to the Air Force

The range of the aircraft is 4,500-5,000 nautical miles, according to the Air Force, which is comparable to the VC-32, and it can over 100 passengers depending on the configuration. The C-40B is known for its extensive communications apparatus and is referred to as an "office in the sky" by the Air Force

Not all Clippers are painted in the iconic blue-and-white livery as some as painted in less noticeable colors, ideal when traveling to destinations where a low-profile helps mitigate safety concerns. Large congressional delegations frequently use the aircraft because of its capacity. 



The United States Navy also operates the C-40A variant, though not in the blue-and-white livery.

The aircraft are mixed-use cargo and passenger aircraft with changeable configurations depending on the needs of the mission, according to the Navy. The aircraft seldom carry VIP government officials as they are largely based outside of Washington, though the secretary of the Navy may use them.



Multiple branches of the military also operate modified Gulfstream aircraft for VIP transport.

The current aircraft type used by most branches is the C-37, which features two variants including the C-37A and C-37B. The C-37A is a modified Gulfstream V and the C-37B a modified Gulfstream 550.

The C-37A is an older model which costs $37 million, according to the Air Force, with a range of 5,500 nautical miles. The C-37B is a newer aircraft produced by Gulfstream in the early 2000s, which has a unit cost of $64 million, according to the Navy.

The Air Force operates multiple Gulfstreams, some are painted in the blue-and-white livery and others are painted more low-profile. While most branches of the military use the Gulfstreams to fly officials within the branch, the Air Force uses its Gulfstreams to fly officials throughout the US government including cabinet secretaries and others in the presidential line of succession. 



Other branches that operate Gulfstream aircraft include the Coast Guard and Navy.

The US Coast Guard's C-37A aircraft is primarily used for transporting leaders such as the secretary of homeland security and the commandant of the Coast Guard. Though a branch of the military, the Coast Guard is under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security and does not have its own cabinet secretary, unlike the Army, Navy, or Air Force. 

Unlike other VIP military transport aircraft, the Gulfstream jet is parked at Ronald Reagan National Airport, where the Coast Guard maintains an air station. The aircraft is an unmistakable Coast Guard aircraft, with the branch's racing stripe and emblem located on the front of the aircraft with "United States Coast Guard" emblazoned on the fuselage. 



The US Navy and Marine Corps also have their own Gulfstreams, including the C-20G.

The military variant of the Gulfstream IV business jet, the C-20G is used by the Navy and Marines for the transport of military leaders, government officials, and other dignitaries. The aircraft almost half the cost of the larger C-37 with a unit cost of $37 for the C-20G and can fly around 5,100 nautical miles, according to the Navy



The US Navy and Marine Corps do also maintain a fleet of the larger C-37s, used for VIP transport.

The secretary of the Navy is one of the primary users of the aircraft, which is utilized for official travel and visits to bases and combat zones. Along with the Coast Guard, the aircraft do not feature the blue-and-white livery found on Air Force jets, but rather a low-profile paint with "Department of the Navy" written on the fuselage of some aircraft. 



Some of the military's private jets are used for more than just VIP transport, such as the E-11A.

A modified Bombardier Global Express aircraft, the E-11A is a communications node that acts as a flying repeater and facilitates communications between various forces. The aircraft is particularly useful in allowing forces to communicate with their base when separated by mountainous terrain or other obstructions. 

The small fleet of three aircraft is solely based in Afghanistan, far from the other converted private jet aircraft based in Washington. One Air Force E-11A recently crashed in Afghanistan, with the cause of the incident still unknown. 

While no converted civilian jet aircraft are equipped with weapons, the Air Force called the plane "as essential to mission success as bullets." 



Matt Gaetz ended up sleeping in a Walmart parking lot after potentially exposing Trump to the coronavirus

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Matt Gaetz

  • Rep. Matt Gaetz's whirlwind of a day after he learned he was exposed to the coronavirus ended in a Walmart parking lot, according to the Pensacola News Journal.
  • The Florida congressman was initially skeptical of the virus — going so far as to wear a gas mask on the House floor — but he was forced to self-quarantine aboard Air Force One after sitting next to President Donald Trump on the ride over.
  • On the plane, Gaetz learned he had posed for a photo with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19. 
  • To take maximum precautions, Gaetz reportedly slept in a Walmart parking lot "somewhere off [Interstate] 85" on his drive back to Florida from Washington, DC.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

When he sported a gas mask on the House floor last week, critics questioned how seriously Rep. Matt Gaetz was taking the coronavirus outbreak. 

But following his self-quarantine aboard Air Force One on Monday after he had been in close contact with President Donald Trump — in the same car on the way to the flight — Gaetz hit the road and skipped staying in a hotel, electing instead to spend the night in a Walmart parking lot. 

"I slept in a Walmart parking lot somewhere off [Interstate] 85," Gaetz told the Pensacola News Journal from his car as he completed the drive to Florida on Tuesday.

Gaetz told reporters that he planned to spend the remainder of his 14-day self-quarantine at home in Okaloosa County, Florida.

The Florida congressman was exposed to the virus when he posed for a photo at the Conservative Political Action Conference forum with someone who later tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. 

In his interview with the regional paper, Gaetz said lawmakers should take precautions because of how much they interact with the public on a day-to-day basis. 

He also reflected on the gas-mask stunt. 

"I wasn't making light of the situation," Gaetz told the Pensacola News Journal. "I only wish I had worn the gas mask at CPAC."

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NOW WATCH: A law professor weighs in on how Trump could beat impeachment

Manuals for Trump's new Air Force One cost almost as much as an F-35 stealth fighter

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A model of the new Air Force One design sits on a table as President Donald Trump, right, meets with Colombian President Ivan Duque in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, March 2, 2020, in Washington.

  • The instruction manuals for the new Air Force One aircraft President Donald Trump purchased cost $84 million, according to an Air Force contracting announcement first reported on by The Drive.
  • The US Air Force is paying Boeing around the cost of an F-35 to "modify commercial manuals," specifically update them "with VC-25B-specific information and deliver integrated manuals for the VC-25B system."
  • The total cost of the program to convert two Boeing 747-8 aircraft to serve as VC-25Bs, replacements for the VC-25A, a military variant of the 747-200 that serves as Air Force One, is approximately $5.3 billion.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The new instruction manuals for President Donald Trump's new Air Force One cost $84 million, close to the cost of a F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.

The US Air Force is paying Boeing $84 million to "modify commercial manuals," specifically update them "with VC-25B-specific information and deliver integrated manuals for the VC-25B system," an Air Force contracting announcement first noticed by The Drive and posted Wednesday reads.

In February 2018, the White House struck a $3.9 billion deal with Boeing for a new VC-25B aircraft, a modified Boeing 747-8, to replace the VC-25A aircraft, a modified Boeing 747-200, currently used by the president. The costs are especially notable because Trump has said he personally negotiated lower prices with Boeing.

The program is actually a bit more expensive, as Defense One learned last year.

"The total VC-25B acquisition cost … is $5.3B and encompasses all costs associated with fielding the system," an Air Force spokeswoman told the outlet. "The additional costs beyond the $3.90B are for standard work outside of the Boeing contract scope for two aircraft." 

The higher price figure, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told Defense One Thursday, includes the cost of the new instruction manuals.

As The Drive notes, military technical documentation is costly. For example, a new structural repair manual for the P-8A Poseidon Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft set the Navy back more than $30 million.

The Air Force announced last month that the modification of two Boeing 747-8 aircraft for the VC-25B program is already underway at a Boeing facility in San Antonio, Texas. The service revealed that the future Air Force One, as compared to the commercial variants, will feature "electrical power upgrades, a mission communication system, a medical facility, executive interior, and autonomous ground operations capabilities."

According to the Department of Defense, it will "provide the President, staff, and guests with safe and reliable air transportation at the same level of security and communications capability available in the White House."

The new planes are not expected to be put into service until at least 2024, and the instruction manuals are not required to be complete until 2025.

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Whoever wins the 2020 presidential race will be the first to use the new Air Force One – here's what we know about the new $5.3 billion aircraft

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  • The current Air Force One aircraft are scheduled to be upgraded with the replacements to soon be delivered to Andrews Air Force Base for use by the president and his staff. 
  • The Boeing 747-8i aircraft will be replacing the aging models first used by President George H.W. Bush in the early 1990s.
  • Despite cost-saving efforts by President Donald Trump, the replacement program is still estimated to cost $5.3 billion.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The most recognizable plane in the world is getting an upgrade, but it won't be ready for a few years. 

While Air Force One is just a callsign for any Air Force carrying the US president, the term is often used to refer to the pair of iconic blue and white Boeing 747s with "United States of America" emblazoned on the side. From Hollywood to cable news, the current aircraft known as Air Force One have been made famous through frequent appearances when accompanying presidents on most of their trips. 

After serving only five presidents for nearly three decades, the current modified Boeing 747s that fly the commander-in-chief – known in the Air Force as VC-25As – are on their way out. In the same way passenger airlines are retiring their older Boeing 747s, it's time for the flying White House to enter the new jet age with a next-generation aircraft to fly the president, the Boeing 747-8i.

Designated as the VC-25B, the new jet is larger and more efficient than its predecessor. But bigger, in this case, doesn't necessarily mean better as the new Air Force One will actually be lacking some key features compared to its predecessor, despite the sky-high price tag.

Here's what we know about the highly-confidential program to replace the current Air Force One. 

The entire program is costing over $5 billion

Despite a concerted effort on the part of the Air Force and President Donald Trump's administration, the total program is slated to cost $5.3 billion, according to DefenseOne. That price includes the aircraft purchase – around $800 million if purchased new, which they weren't – as well as the interior completion, special modifications, and a new hangar at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. 

Trump had gotten the price of the program down from $4.4 billion to $3.9 billion, DefenseOne also reported, but that didn't include everything. 

Boeing is keeping the exact cost of the jets a closely guarded secret, according to DefenseOne. The last program to replace the Air Force One aircraft, which began under President Ronald Reagan and was completed during the George H.W. Bush administration, only cost $660 million, the LA Times reported.

The two 747s were supposed to go to a bankrupt Russian airline

Boeing won't be building the new Air Force Ones from scratch and in fact, the Air Force will technically buying the aircraft secondhand. As part of the cost-saving efforts, Boeing sold the government two 747-8i aircraft that were built and intended to be delivered to a now-defunct Russian airline, Transaero, a Boeing spokesperson confirmed to CNN

"We got a really good deal," former Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson told Bloomberg in an interview.

The jets – which were selling for $390 million at the time of the deal, according to DefenseOne– were stored in California awaiting new owners. They were later flown to Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas, according to The Drive

Boeing presented four alternate options to save costs

The replacement program began under President Barack Obama but his successor would have the most say in the acquisition process. In 2016, a newly-elected Trump publicly complained about the high cost of the replacement program, which he stated was over $4 billion. 

"Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion," Trump said in a 2016 tweet. "Cancel order!"

Then-Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg met with then-President-Elect Trump at Mar-a-Largo in Palm Beach, Florida to discuss potential alternatives to lower the cost of the program with four options, according to DefenseOne. A $4.2 billion alternative was to purchase two new 747-8i jets but only install the presidential configuration on one and a standard VIP interior on the other while a $3.88 billion option involved only buying one new 747-8i and keeping one of the existing 747s.

Less expensive alternatives also included buying two new 747-8i aircraft but eliminating some of the Air Force's requirements or just installing VIP interiors instead of the presidential configuration demanded by the Air Force. All proposals were flatly rejected by the service branch, according to DefenseOne.

Expect a new paint job

Air Force One is the most recognizable plane in the world thanks to its stunning blue and white paint job but the new jets will be getting a makeover thanks to Trump, who first expressed his desire to repaint the planes in a 2018 CBS News interview. The new design features more red, white, and blue compared to the current model.

Trump keeps a model of the jet with the new design in the Oval Office for visitors to see. It's unclear whether the other VIP Air Force jets painted in the timeless blue and white livery will be updated.

The owner's manual alone is costing $84 million

The Air Force announced in April that Boeing will develop the owner's manual for the new VC-25B aircraft and the service branch is paying $84 million for it, DefenseOne reported. The manual will reportedly contain over 100,000 pages and won't even be ready at the time of the jet's estimated delivery to the Air Force, with DefenseOne reporting that it will arrive in January 2025.

The $84 million is included in the $5.3 billion project cost.

They'll last for around three decades

Like most aircraft, the new planes will only last between 20 to 30 years, according to DefenseOne. The current VC-25A aircraft are scheduled to be replaced just over three decades from their first flights with Bush in 1990 and 1991. 

With Boeing reportedly ending the 747 program, the timing is in line with when most Jumbo Jets will be retired from passenger airlines and cargo carriers around the world. If the manufacturer stays the course and doesn't develop a new two-level, four-engine plane, the next flying White House may be a downgrade to a smaller jet like the Boeing 777X.

It can fly nonstop to nearly every populated continent from Washington but can't refuel in-air

US Air Force Boeing 747 refueling

The new VC-25Bs will have a range of 5,900 nautical miles, which is both less than some private jets from Gulfstream and Bombardier and the current Air Force One's range of unlimited miles. That's because the VC-25As have the capability of air-to-air refueling that allows them to fly for as long as the president desires while receiving top offs from airborne fuel tankers.  

It's an impressive capability that can keep the president flying should there be no place to land, like in the event of war. But the feature has never been used, Air Force sources told DefenseOne, except in the Hollywood movie "Air Force One."

The 5,900-nautical mile range, however, should allow the president to fly nonstop from Washington to far locales like Tokyo, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv.  

It's bigger but more efficient

One of the staples of the Boeing 747-8i is its next-generation engines for General Electric that are more fuel-efficient than the aging engines on the current Air Force One aircraft. Flying the new aircraft will save the Air Force $1.9 billion, according to DefenseOne, despite the larger square footage that the 747-8i provides. 

Despite the larger size, however, the VC-25Bs will have the same passenger capacity of 71 passengers, according to The Drive. That means more room for non-passenger spaces like the president's office, communications bay, medical suite, or the private bedroom. 

Trump may not be the first passenger

The jets are scheduled to enter service in 2024 meaning that the winner of the 2020 election will be the first commander-in-chief to fly aboard the new Air Force One. Despite all his input and efforts to keep costs down on the project, Trump may never step foot on it unless he wins the 2020 general election in November.

Should he succeed in the re-election effort, Trump will also have just a few months before the 2025 inauguration of his successor to fly on the plane before it takes him home to Florida on January 20. 

SEE ALSO: See inside the the world's largest private jet: a Boeing 747 with an interior so large it took 4 years to design and build

DON'T MISS: The US military has a fleet of modified Boeing and Gulfstream VIP private jets — here's what they do

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An aerospace startup just won a contract to develop an Air Force One jet that can travel at Mach 5. Here's an early look at the engine that could rocket from New York to Paris in 90 minutes.

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Hermeus Air Force One concept

  • An aerospace startup called Hermeus just won a US Air Force contract to develop a presidential jet that can travel at Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound.
  • The hypersonic Air Force One, which could be able to fly from New York to Paris in 90 minutes, is at least 10 years away from reality.
  • The government is set to take delivery of new Boeing 747-8 jets to replace the presidential fleet next year.
  • Hermeus successfully tested a prototype of its engine in March, paving the way for developing a test aircraft.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The Air Force One of the future might be getting a major speed boost.

An aerospace company called Hermeus on Thursday announced a contract with the US Air Force and the Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate to develop a hypersonic aircraft for the presidential fleet.

While the next Air Force One, a modified 747-8, is due to be delivered by Boeing next year, the Hermeus contract looks toward its eventual replacement.

Hermeus said it won the contract after designing, building, and successfully testing a prototype of an engine capable of propelling an airplane to Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound — about 3,300 mph. Mach 5 represents the delineation between supersonic and hypersonic speeds.

The company completed those tests in March, Aviation Week reported.

Hermeus plans to build a demonstrator vehicle over the next five years, with commercial aircraft envisioned in about a decade, Skyler Shuford, its cofounder and chief operating officer, said in 2019. A press release announcing the Air Force contract said part of the project would focus on integrating Air Force requirements into the airplane's designs.

Hermeus emerged last year, announcing plans to develop a Mach 5 aircraft that could fly from New York to Paris in about 90 minutes. Ars Technica reported in May 2019 that the company raised an initial round of funding, led by Khosla Ventures, which it used to develop the prototype. Hermeus said it would use a turbine-based combined-cycle engine for the propulsion system, according to the report.

The company's cofounders are alumni of SpaceX, Blue Origin, and the aerospace company Generation Orbit.

Hermeus Test Engine Prototype

At the time, Hermeus said it planned to use mostly existing technology and materials to achieve hypersonic travel.

"We can make a vehicle fly that fast with today's technology," Glenn Case, a cofounder and the chief technology officer, said in a video published this spring.

"We aren't getting into anything too miraculous," Shuford told Ars Technica last year. "We want to do engineering, not science."

As of Thursday, the company listed about 10 open positions, including for airframe and propulsion engineers.

SEE ALSO: The 747 jumbo jet ushered in the modern era of air travel, but it won't be around for the industry's recovery — Boeing will cease production in 2022

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The Air Force is moving forward with a plan to build a supersonic Air Force One

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Supersonic Air Force One

  • The Air Force's Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate awarded a $1 million contract to start work on a new "low boom" supersonic aircraft for the president.
  • The contract requires the company to create the future aircraft's specifications, including its "power, weight, dimensions, communication systems, cabin layout," and a virtual-reality model of the aircraft cabin space.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The US Air Force has taken initial steps to begin prototyping a supersonic aircraft that could someday carry the president around the world in half the time.

Last month, the service's Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate awarded a $1 million small business innovation research (SBIR) phase II contract to Exosonic, a start-up aerospace company, to begin the design and development of a low-boom executive airlift concept.

The 24-month contract for the plane called "Air Force One" when the president is on board requires the company to create the future aircraft's specifications, to include "power, weight, dimensions, communication systems, cabin layout" and a virtual reality model of the aircraft cabin space, Air Force Materiel Command told Military.com on Tuesday.

"Low-boom allows travelers to fly at supersonic speeds without generating disruptive booms for those on the ground," said AFMC spokesman Daryl Mayer.

Air Force One

Separately, Exosonic is building a 70-seat passenger aircraft intended to fly at Mach 1.8 speeds "supersonically overland and overwater with a muted sonic boom," according to the company's website. A prototype roll-out for that project is expected in 2025, Mayer said.

The Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate contract, sponsored by the Air Force Research Lab, "will support Exosonic's efforts to develop and modify the company's commercial supersonic airliner to serve as an executive transport vehicle," the company said in its own release. "These modifications will include reconfiguring the aircraft cabin to include the required accommodations, communications equipment, and security measures that allow U.S. leaders and their guests to work and rest onboard the aircraft."

The latest contract follows another awarded to Hermeus Corp, another start-up developing Mach 5 commercial aircraft, traveling more than five times the speed of sound. The Georgia-based company successfully tested a Mach 5 engine prototype earlier this year, according to a company release.

Last month, the Air Force awarded Hermeus a $1.5 million Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Phase II contract for the company to begin research on how it could modify its commercial prototype toward the military's VIP fleet.

Meanwhile, the replacement for the current aging Air Force One platform has yet to be delivered — or even fully modified.

Air Force One VC-25

In 2016, the Air Force awarded Boeing Co. a contract to begin preliminary work on the VC-25 Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization program, better known as PAR. Earlier this year, the VC-25B program — a follow-on from the current VC-25A — began modification on the first of two Boeing 747-8 aircraft.

The first phase of aircraft modification involves "cutting out large skin and structure areas in both the forward and aft lower lobes of the aircraft and then installing two newly manufactured superpanels," according to a release from Materiel Command. The superpanels contain structural upgrades "and cutouts for the VC-25B lower lobe doors including internal airstairs for mission requirements," the release said.

The two 747-8s were originally ordered for the Russian airline company Transaero in 2013, DefenseOne reported in 2017. Boeing never delivered the jets to the now-defunct airline and instead put them in storage.

Boeing spent 2019 removing the aircraft's commercial interior, engines, auxiliary power units and "numerous secondary system components," officials said.

Additional updates to the aircraft include "electrical power upgrades, a mission communication system, a medical facility, executive interior, and autonomous ground operations capabilities," Material Command said.

The aircraft passed its critical design review in the spring, according to Defense News.

— Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

SEE ALSO: The Air Force has a new training center to prepare pilots for war with China and Russia

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The Boom Overture jet is vying to become the first supersonic Air Force One — here's an early look

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Faster-than-sound travel is the way of the future for the US government.

Aerospace company Boom Supersonic this week announced a contract with the US Air Force to develop a supersonic plane for transporting diplomats and high-ranking government officials.

The contract will fund research into building new, mission-appropriate configurations of its conceptual supersonic passenger plane, called Overture.

Boom has designed the Overture, which is still in development, as a single-aisle business class plane, with seats laid out in a 1-1 configuration. With the new funding from the Air Force, Boom plans to explore ways to customize the plane — both inside and out — for government work.

"By cutting travel times we make it possible for US diplomats and executive leaders to connect more frequently in person, meeting challenges and defusing potential crises with a personal touch," Boom founder and CEO Blake Scholl said in a press release.

"We are extremely excited to team with [Boom] as we work to shrink the world and transform the future of executive airlift," Brigadier General Ryan Britton, who directs the Presidential and Executive Airlift Directorate, added.

Boom plans to introduce a demonstrator airplane, XB-1, later this year, with flight tests beginning in 2021. Once the technology and engineering is proven safe and efficient, the company said it will begin test flights with the larger Overture airliner. Those flights are expected to begin in 2025, with final certification of the plane targeted for 2029.

Boom Supersonic Overture

According to Boom, the plane can succeed in a space where the only previous commercial option, the famed Concorde failed, thanks to improved economics achieved through newer, more efficient technology. Boom says the plane should be able to operate more safely, quietly, and cost-effectively than the Concorde, while cutting trans-oceanic travel times in half compared to today's passenger jets. 

Boom also says that passenger fares on the Overture can be lower than on the Concorde, due to the lower operating cost — tickets are expected to cost about on par with today's long-haul business class tickets.

Boom is not the only company that the Air Force has tapped to develop faster-than-sound travel. Last month, the Defense department awarded a contract to another startup, Hermeus, to develop a new Air Force One that can travel at hypersonic speeds, or Mach 5.

SEE ALSO: An aerospace startup just won a contract to develop an Air Force One jet that can travel at Mach 5. Here's an early look at the engine that could rocket from New York to Paris in 90 minutes.

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The Trump campaign has cut travel on Air Force One for its staff as it copes with a spending crisis

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The Trump campaign has stopped flying almost all of its staff on Air Force One with the president as it tries to salvage an operation beset by wild spending, advisers to the reelection effort told Insider.

Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien cut the flights for staff after he took control in July as part of a broader review of the runaway spending under his predecessor, Brad Parscale. Stepien and senior media strategist Jason Miller are the only staffers now flying regularly on Air Force One. 

Too many campaign staffers were catching rides on Air Force One, an expensive flight compared to flying commercial, one Trump adviser said. The campaign has to reimburse the government for each of its employees  who ride on the presidential jet. The bills can add up quickly with frequent travel to rallies.

Before Stepien took control, staff including Parscale, then-campaign press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, and an entourage of six to eight other employees would often fly Air Force One to Trump's rallies. Now they're required to book the cheapest commercial flights available.

The decision to drop Air Force One travel comes as the campaign is both ramping up its work in the remaining six weeks of the presidential race and still bailing out from spending under Parscale, who was demoted in July to senior adviser for data and digital operations. 

Insider reported in July that the Trump campaign had launched an internal review of its spending under Parscale who became known for his extravagance. He drew the ire of Trump and the president's supporters earlier this year after making flashy purchases of a waterfront condo in Florida, a new boat, a Ferrari, and a Range Rover.

Bill Stepien Trump Air Force One

'The burn rate is enormous'

"They've tried to cut back on the margins," the Trump adviser said of the campaign. "They've spent a lot of money; the burn rate is enormous." 

The "burn rate" refers to the amount of money being spent compared to how much the campaign is bringing in. Excessive spending famously cut short former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's 2016 bid for president after only a few months. 

Since Trump took office, his campaign, the Republican National Committee, and other affiliated groups have paid at least $4.7 million in travel expenses to the government, according to a search of FEC reports.

Conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, which has tracked spending on Air Force One, received public records putting the average cost of flying Air Force One at about $142,000 per hour. It determined that an August 2017 trip by Trump to Arizona cost about $1.5 million.

Few people fly free on the highly customized jet that boasts 4,000 square feet of floor space, and the best meals in the air. News organizations also must pay for their reporters who travel with the president on Air Force One. Permanent medical staff and government-provided security personnel necessary to protect the president are exempt from reimbursing for their trips.

The White House referred questions to the Trump campaign, which did not return requests for comment about its Air Force One spending. 

"For the president, you pay a per-hour fee for how much it costs, and it is wildly expensive," said Jim Messina, campaign manager for Obama's 2012 reelection bid. "For staff, you pay the equivalent of a first-class ticket for every staffer who travels."

And that can include guests, which helps to shoot up the costs, he added.

Under Stepien, the campaign recently dropped off the air in battleground states such as Michigan, and has cut into its digital advertising budget. It also nixed plans to buy advertising on a NASCAR vehicle and on a blimp, and canceled Parscale's use of a personal driver, Trump advisers said. 

Stepien accepted a significant pay cut when he took over as Trump's campaign manager, they noted. According to The New York Times, the Trump campaign burned through hundreds of millions of dollars under Parscale on expenses that included highly paid consultants, pricey Super Bowl ads, and even on magnetic pouches for storing cellphones during fundraising events to prevent attendants from secretly recording and leaking Trump's remarks.

Air Force One

'It all adds up'

The move to end Air Force One campaign staff travel is a stunning turn for Trump, who has raised more than $1.1 billion for his re-election and is still pulling in historic amounts of campaign contributions. 

Despite concern among Trump advisers, the president is still awash in money — much more than he had at this point in 2016. Trump's campaign ended July with $120 million in the bank, compared to Biden's $99 million. And the Republican National Committee, a powerful auxiliary of the Trump campaign, ended that month with $110 million in the bank. 

Trump said earlier this month that he may give $100 million of his own money to his campaign. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg later also announced he was spending $100 million of his money to give Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden an edge in Florida. 

Republican donors have been fretting for months that Trump was being outraised by Democrats and have complained privately about the efforts of Trump's de facto super PAC, America First Action. 

Trump's cash advantage looked daunting earlier in the year before former Biden locked in the Democratic nomination. But the Democratic nominee has been regularly beating Trump in monthly fundraising hauls since the summer. Trump advisers fretted when Biden and the Democratic National Committee reported together collecting $365 million in August beating Trump and the RNC's haul of $210 million that month

Top Trump donors, including Home Depot founder Bernard Marcus and casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, plan to give heavily to a new super PAC, Preserve America, run by veteran Republican operative Chris LaCivita, Politico reported this week.

Travel costs of a few million dollars may seem trivial when viewed alone, but when taken as part of a serious effort to rein in spending, they matter, said a second Trump adviser.

"It all adds up," the second Trump campaign adviser said. "The blimp, the NASCAR sponsorship, saving money on TV — it's not one thing that gives you a ton of money, it's doing them all that adds up."

 

 

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