> Pretty sure the new ones

New ones? The last 747 rolled off the assembly line in 2023.

For the next Air Force One, the Air Force needs to look at a replacement for the C-17, add a few requirements and order a variant to fulfill the AF1 role. I'm guessing that most of the comms, armor and countermeasures are in the base model already. Throw in a gold toilet seat and call it done.

That, and I can imagine many simple ways an IC could take down an Airplane, based on an RF or Satellite signal. I imagine Boeing vets all contractors, keeps an eye on them, the plane, and tests things out. Getting an Airplane for AF1 from another Country seems really, really stupid to me.

> Pretty sure the new ones aren't going to have in-air refueling capabilities, so scratch that one off the list.

That's discussed in this article, [1]The Next Air Force One Aircraft Will Not Be Able to Refuel in Midair [twz.com] and "The change seems almost entirely driven by the USAF's desire to match one of President Trump's off-the-cuff claims." -- about saving money. It's a pretty interesting read and notes that removing this ability is, basically, stupid and what will have to be done to compensate, like perhaps having an E-4B Nightwatch airborne command post shadow Air Force One in case there's an emergency that may require

[1] https://www.twz.com/14199/the-next-air-force-one-aircraft-will-not-be-able-to-refuel-in-midair

What if a man had an IQ of 156 but was too lazy to give a shit?

You left out the decimal point.

> What if a man had an IQ of 156 but was too lazy to give a shit?

So he's smart to know better but does not care. Would that not make him a terrible human being?

did it ever occur to you, that maybe trump assumes he is going to get assassinated, just like JFK, if he crosses Mossad the wrong way, and there aren't mossad agents embedded in the US government.

Wouldnt that be hilarious? First class accommodation followed by a forced parachute landing over Bikini Atoll. Welcome to your new home.

I've been suggesting since last time around that they build him a model Oval Office with phones and big red buttons and everything and let him get on with his presidenting. Have a team of of folks for him to talk to, "make deals" with, etc.

It would be a bigger effort than past war games, but I'm sure a team could keep him roleplaying for 3.65 more years. He's sundowning, so it'll get easier over time.

> Just tell him "no", let him throw his tantrum, ...

According to the Constitution, Congress has to approve any gifts to the President. From [1]ArtI.S9.C8.3 Foreign Emoluments Clause Generally [congress.gov]:

> Article I, Section 9, Clause 8:

> No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress , accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

That article has commentary about the litigation during the first Trump administration, about related issues like whether the Presidency is an "Office of Profit or Trust" and applies to him, whether gifts are actually gifts..., noting,

> In late 2020, the Supreme Court denied review in one of these cases,4 and—after the end of President Trump’s term in January 2021—instructed two federal appellate courts to vacate their judgments and dismiss the other two cases as moot.

My understanding is that Trump was going to ultimately lose those cases, but he left office before conclusion and the arguments would no

[1] https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S9-C8-3/ALDE_00013206/

No, Don would torment those who took his big gold toy away.

I'd be inclined to gloat over someone giving me $400M too.

I am starting to agree. The plane reminds me of the bunker built for the governor in the 50's behind/below the Hollywood sign in case of nuclear war. It might have been useful for a WW2 era nuke, but a hydrogen bomb would vaporize it. If you need to fly into a war zone, don't do it in a 747, use a military aircraft with countermeasures integrated and an office/sleeping pod loaded in.

He will never own it. Ever.

It is given to DoD, when they are done with it, it joins the African spears, illuminated documents, and other assorted trinkets given to him by foreign powers, in his Presidential Library, which he has no personal control over.

He will likely never fly in it as President, and once out of office it will be owned by his presidential library.

I think this is little more than a grand distraction - what is Trump distracting everyone from noticing while they talk about this stupid, over t

Let us please be able to make that an expression! Then apply it to Darwin Award candidates from that point on in "honor" of dear leader.

I got the vibe most of those guys were retired engineers so maybe they're educated enough that this is grossing them out? Hard to say, but I agree there's been a lot less of them. Maybe it really was all Russian astroturf

That is simple, Russia stopped paying for shills and bots. I remember when Biden managed to freeze Russia's money and the month or two we had where Twitter trends actually didn't reflect the rightwing nutjobs and sycophants seemed to decrease slightly. Remember Tim Poole and other influences were bankrolled by Russia until that was exposed -- now they have to try to make a comeback or have smaller new Russian sources.

I bet Russia paid at least as much as Musk. It is a far better use than having another m

Others are saying 2027 IF no more hiccups. Most likely 2029 or later. And this was the point.

[1]https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/1... [cnbc.com]

[1] https://www.cnbc.com/2025/02/17/boeings-air-force-one-program-could-be-delayed-until-2029-or-later-senior-official-says.html

I agree. He should hot dog around a bit! See if he can buzz the Houthis and give them the finger in the way by

If Israel can make undetectable radio bombs, Qatar can make undetectable airplane parts.

How is the weather in St. Petersburg?

> Qatar is giving the plane to the DoD.

For use by Trump.

> So Trump will never own the plane, will likely never fly in,

Bullshit. If Trump says he flies in it, he flies in it, which he will.

> it will be given to the Trump Presidential Library as a gift in the collection

Which Trump will then have use of by the agreement.

> What is the threshold where Presidents need to get Congressional approval to accept a gift?

The constitution says that the president cannot accept any gift from another government, so anything would require approval.

It is clear to everyone that this is just a bribe to Trump. Your legal excuses do not fool anyone.

The limit for a gift is $480. After that, the government and not the gifted owns it. If they want to keep it, they can pay a fair market value for it. The laws and the constitution are quite clear. Not that the fascist Cheeto cares about the constitution.

Most commercial aircraft are 15-20 years old or older. Those exiting planes log very few hours in the air compared to commercial planes. The age is not a problem.

Air frames have a limited life as the stress in flight eventually weakens the aircraft. You can keep it going but the down time for inspection and maintenance eventually becomes too expensive.