Boeing Eases Air Force One Technical Snags, Keeping 1st Jet on Track for 2028

Q: With billions in overruns, what is the full taxpayer cost for the delayed Air Force One program and its separate interim aircraft?

The broadest defensible taxpayer total is about **$7.034 billion**, though part of the interim-aircraft spending remains officially opaque. The main Air Force One replacement program for the two VC-25B aircraft is now estimated at roughly **$5.7 billion through fiscal 2031**, according to the figures cited in the supporting material. That is well above the original **$3.9 billion** fixed-price Boeing contract signed in 2018, even though Boeing has absorbed about **$2.4 billion** in contract losses itself. On top of that, the government has incurred costs tied to stopgap and support aircraft because of the delays. The most scrutinized piece is the separate interim “bridge” 747-8. The aircraft itself came from Qatar and was not a taxpayer purchase, but its conversion cost has not been fully disclosed. Public estimates range from **under $400 million** to as much as **$934 million**, with the higher figure tied to a reported classified funding transfer. There is also about **$400 million** for two former 747-8s acquired for training and spare parts support for the aging presidential fleet, a cost generally treated as outside the core VC-25B program but still part of the overall Air Force One financial burden. Using the most complete figures provided, the total exposure comes to **$7.034 billion**: **$5.7 billion** for the delayed VC-25B program, **$934 million** for the interim aircraft conversion, and **$400 million** for the training and parts aircraft.

3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 2

GAO said Boeing has reduced some of the technical problems that have delayed two modified Air Force One jets, with the first aircraft now likely to be delivered by 2028.
Boeing made progress on the environmental control system design, resolved cabin decompression issues and improved hiring and retention of qualified mechanics, according to the auditors' annual weapons-program review.
The update points to incremental improvement on a high-profile presidential aircraft program that has faced repeated delivery delays and engineering challenges.