Trump refuses to have new Air Force One plane

LAHORE: In what could be dubbed a step aimed at displaying austerity, the otherwise spendthrift American President-elect Donald Trump, renowned for his lavish lifestyle, has urged his country’s government to cancel the purchase of Boeing Company's new Air Force One plane for him, arguing it was ‘ridiculous and too expensive, writes Sabir Shah.

This is what Trump, who takes office on January 20 next year, wrote in his most recent Twitter message on Monday: “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!”

The 165-year old London-based British news agency “Reuters” states: “Speaking shortly afterward to reporters in New York, Trump said, "The plane is totally out of control. I think it's ridiculous. I think Boeing is doing a little bit of a number." It quoted Trump as saying: “We want Boeing to make a lot of money but not that much money."

The “Reuters” adds: “Boeing did not immediately return a request for comment. The Air Force first announced in January 2015 that Boeing's 747-8 would be used to replace the two current Air Force planes used to transport the US president. Air Force One is one of the most visible symbols of the United States. Details about the total value of the new contract have not been released, but the Air Force has previously said that it had earmarked $1.65 billion for two replacement jets.

The US Air Force awarded Boeing Co an initial contract worth $25.8 million in January. The US presidents have usedBoeing plane's since 1943, according to the company's website. The 747-8 planes, 240 feet long (73 meters) long with a wing span of 224 feet (68 meters), can fly direct from Washington to Hong Kong 1600 km farther than the current Air Force One.”

Features of the modern Air Force One: President Obama's Boeing 747-200B is capable of functioning as a mobile command centre in the event of an attack on the US. The exactly 100-yerar old Chicago-based Boeing Company, which has a production output of 745 aircraft and 10 satellites, had recorded revenues of $ 96.114 billion in 2015, a net income of $5.176 billion and total assets of $94.408 billion.

Obama’s 232-foot long Air Force One is capable of refueling midair - as seen in the Harrison Ford film, Air Force One - it has unlimited range. It has 4000 sq ft of floor space over three levels, including an extensive suite for the president.

The plane, having 26 crew members, can accommodate 76 passengers at one time. Its “Situation Room” is fitted with a Plasma TV that can be used for teleconferencing. Overall, there are 20 television sets and 85 phones in this aircraft.

While the Beige-coloured phones are secure lines, the white ones are for unclassified use. Obama’s Air Force One has a wingspan of 195-feet and is 63 feet tall. President’s suite includes sleeping quarters, shower, lavatory, double-sink and a small gym.

The body of this plane can withstand a nuclear blast from the ground and all its windows are armoured.

While the modern Air Force One is equipped with the Mirror-ball defence technology in the wings that scrambles infra-red missile guidance systems, it has the ability to jam enemy radars too.

In its March 4, 2015 edition, the “Business Insider,” which is a German owned American news website that also operates international editions in Australia, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Italy and the United Kingdom since February 2009, writes: “Embellished with the American flag, the presidential seal, and the words United States of America, the world's most famous plane is as tall as a six-story building and gives an undeniable authoritative presence wherever it flies.”

Based in New York City and recording an average monthly traffic of around 70 million unique visitors, the “Business Insider” maintains: “The three-leveled "flying Oval Office" is a custom Boeing 747-200B that has 4000 square feet of interior floor space, including a conference room, dining room, private quarters for the president, offices for senior staff members, a medical operating room (a doctor flies on every flight), press area, two food-preparation galleys that can provide 100 meals, and multi-frequency radios for air-to-air and air-to-ground communication. President Barack Obama's Air Force One is the most expensive to operate, costing taxpayers $206,337 every hour it is in flight, according to a Freedom of Information Act.”

History of Air Force One: Research conducted by the “Jang Group and Geo Television Network” shows that although President Theodore Roosevelt became the first US President to fly in an aircraft on October 11, 1910, while he was no longer in office, the idea of designating specific dedicated military aircraft to transport the US presidents arose in 1943, after American security agencies had become concerned with relying on commercial airlines to transport the country's heads of state.

However, special presidential aircraft were designed for Presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who was the first American head of state to fly in an airplane while in office. His successor Harry Truman, President Dwight Eisenhower was the first US president to travel in an “Air Force One" in 1953.

The presidential aircraft in President Franklin Roosevelt’s use was called the “Dolphin,” which was modified with luxury upholstery for four passengers and a small separate sleeping compartment. This aircraft remained in service as a presidential transport from 1933 until 1939. After Roosevelt's death in April 1945, Harry Truman had signed the legislation that created the US Air Force One.