USAF acquires two 747-8s for $400 million to accelerate Air Force One training.
Key Points
- 1USAF acquired two Boeing 747-8 jets for $400 million to support training and sustainment for the future presidential fleet.
- 2The jets will be used for crew training and as a critical source of spare parts, necessitated by the end of 747-8 production in early 2023.
- 3Delivery of the two training aircraft is scheduled for early 2026, accelerating preparations for the transition from the aging 747-200 fleet.
- 4The primary VC-25B Air Force One modification program remains delayed, with the first operational jet now expected to be delivered in mid-2028.
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) announced the acquisition of two Boeing 747-8 jumbo jets for $400 million, earmarked to establish a vital training and sustainment program for the future presidential airlift fleet. This purchase is intended to accelerate the transition from the aging VC-25A (based on the 747-200) to the newer, larger VC-25B (based on the 747-8). Officials stated that the aircraft will be primarily utilized for crew training and as a dedicated source of spare parts, a necessity given the significant differences between the two 747 variants.
The acquisition was deemed critical because Boeing ceased active production of the 747-8i model in early 2023, making new airframes unavailable. The first training aircraft is anticipated to arrive in early 2026, with the second delivery scheduled before the end of that year. While the Air Force did not disclose the seller, published reports suggest the jets may have been acquired from Lufthansa, one of the few passenger carriers to operate the 747-8. A spokesperson for the German carrier declined to comment on the reports.
These two training jets are distinct from the main VC-25B modification program, which involves two other 747-8i aircraft currently being heavily customized by Boeing to serve as the next generation of Air Force One. That primary program, which has faced significant delays and cost overruns since the 2018 fixed-price contract, recently saw its delivery timeline pushed back another year, with the first operational VC-25B now expected in mid-2028. Furthermore, the USAF confirmed these training assets are separate from a 747-8i previously gifted to the United States by Qatar.
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