Boeing will build a fleet of three aircraft based on the 747-8 to serve as the next Air Force One, Chris Ziegler reported Wednesday on theverge.com.
The 747-8 is the latest version of the iconic jumbo jet — a design that dates back to the 1960s — with new wings, new engines, and an extended fuselage.
The first new presidential plane will be delivered in 2018.
The current Air Force One is a military variant of the 747-200, which is a very old plane. The last one was built in 1991, and newer aircraft are far more fuel efficient, technologically advanced, and — frankly — better showcases for American industrial might, which the President would probably want to show off on his travels, Ziegler wrote.
For more, including a Washington Post report on how different the new plane will be compared with the original presidential puddle-jumper: http://kenallensforum.blogspot.com/
