By Nick Gale, WLS-AM 890
(CHICAGO) Bad news for Chicago-based Boeing. Donald Trump wants to cancel a government order for a new Air Force One.
The president-elect said in a tweet early Tuesday that the new Boeing 747 jet that’s being built already costs more than $4 billion and that he wants to cancel the order.
“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!”
Trump was asked by reporters this morning about the tweet.
“Well, the plane is totally out of control. It’s going to be over $4 billion …it’s for Air Force One program and I think it’s ridiculous,” Trump said. “I think Boeing is doing a little bit of a number. We want Boeing to make a lot of money but not that much money.”
The new Air Force One would be a 747-8, rather than the 747-200 which is now in use by President Obama. It has a longer range, can travel faster with a heavier maximum takeoff weight and it gets better fuel economy.
Boeing has built the plane used by every president since Franklin Roosevelt.
