this post was submitted on 21 May 2025
271 points (98.9% liked)

United States | News & Politics

3003 readers
1277 users here now

Welcome to [email protected], where you can share and converse about the different things happening all over/about the United States.

If you’re interested in participating, please subscribe.

Rules

Be respectful and civil. No racism/bigotry/hateful speech.

Post anything related to the United States.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
all 21 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 59 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Pretty sure they could afford it, but would prefer not to

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Yeah, also giving it away costs them as much as just letting it rot. Yeah sure they get some brownie points but the value of those is hard to ascertain

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

But probably in the billions.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Not that it's new information, but it's still disheartening that not only is Trump corrupt, but he's also too stupid to even be corrupt well.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

he also too stupid to get rich the easy way too, he has to come up with scams all the time. if he had invested in his inheritence he would be pretty close to 100bn rricher.

[–] Album 19 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

No one really flies a 747 in a modern world because 4 engines are less efficient than 2 engines...and gas is really expensive so it increases your ticket price inordinately compared to a 777 which can hold less people but get those people there cheaper. Think dollar cost per seat.

You have some 747 cargo jets still which can get away with it due to it still being one of the best for moving a large number of heavy goods.

Basically...it's a white elephant. Now they own a depreciating asset that they cant get rid of and has a massive upkeep cost or a high cost of fuel.

DJT said it's the DOD's...but the DOD doesnt need a 747. Maybe they can make it into a new AF1. Keep in mind the current AF1 looks like a 747 but it's really a VC-25 - a military variant. There's already an open contract with Boeing to replace it with the new VC-25b since the current plane is 25-30 years old.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

They can make it the new AF1, but they can't do so securely. There's a million nooks and cranies, moving parts, and it would be a waste of time to try to secure it all. And that's before you even get to the software, which is its own nightmare.

Not that I'd be complaining if this lead to Trump and some of his cronies discovering the meaning of "Don't Look Up", but the whole concept is just stupid.

[–] Album 11 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

They estimated it would take to 2028 to overhaul it into a plane as secure as the current AF1. The new AF1 (VC-25B) is expected to be ready 2027.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

If we somehow get through this and get a Democrat elected in 2028 the first fucking thing they do should be to test some fucking cruise missiles on that plane, regardless of how far Trump gets it upgraded. Destroy it immediately.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 weeks ago

why not test our upkeep of your nuke missiles.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago

aybe they can make it into a new AF1

Much of the reason it's expensive is the interior, which would need to be completely stripped to retrofit with what AF1 needs, and why would you reinstall the old stuff instead of new?

It's a terrible decision for so many reasons but trump has talked it up so much and no one can explain the downsides to him, so he's just going to keep barreling thru it.

Nothing he's spending is his money, he doesn't give a fuck.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

how is trump going to maintain the upkeep of the plane after he leaves office? he surely is no used to putin or billionaires anymore so they arnt paying him any BRIBING money.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

The more I hear about this “gift”, the more it makes me laugh… and the more it makes Trump look like the gullible moron that he is.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

Guess who's going to pay for the maintenance

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

Oh, I abandoned any hope of a fair or responsible government long ago.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Didn’t recent news come out that it was actually a purchase, or was that disinformation?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

I’ll take it.