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A red, white and blue paint scheme for the presidential
aircraft, known as Air Force One when the president is on board,
was proposed by Donald Trump when he was president, but was
scuttled after a study showed it would create too much heat.
The current "robin's egg" blue will be slightly "deeper", the
engines will be a darker blue and the belly will not be polished
metal because the jet's alloy does not allow that, the Air Force
said.
The contractual decision for a Air Force One paint job "was not
required until this year," the Air Force said.
The Boeing Co 747-8s are designed to be an airborne White House
able to fly in worst-case security scenarios, such as nuclear
war, and are modified with military avionics, advanced
communications and a self-defense system.
Last summer, the Air Force said Boeing was set to deliver the
next-generation Air Force One 747s in 2026 and 2027, the latest
delay. The Air Force said Friday they are now projected to be
delivered in 2027 and 2028.
Boeing has racked up $1.9 billion in losses on the $4.3 billion
program that is now at least three years behind schedule.
Back in 2018, Boeing received a $3.9 billion contract to build
two 747-8 aircraft for use as Air Force One, to be delivered by
December 2024. Boeing is heavily modifying a pair of 747s for
the project.
(Reporting by Mike Stone and David Shepardson in Washington;
Additional reporting by Valerie Insinna; Editing by William
Mallard)
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