The US Air Force Is Buying Abandoned 747-8s for Use as the Next Air Force One
Update 08/04/2017: The Air Force has confirmed that it will indeed convert the two 747-8 aircraft into the next Air Force One, and will disclose the purchase price at a later date.
Air Force One is the pinnacle of American prestige, a universally recognizable symbol of the power of the United States. So it comes as a bit of a surprise that the next incarnation of the iconic airplane will not only be an aircraft bought secondhand by the Air Force, but one that was originally produced for an adversary of the US — none other than Russia.
The current jet for the president is a Boeing VC-25, a 747-200B passenger variant that had been heavily retrofitted to be Air Force One. The current two examples aren't exactly new — they've been in service for almost 30 years. The Obama administration developed plans to replace the aging aircraft, eventually deciding back in 2015 on the Boeing 747-8.
However, with costs climbing beyond $4 billion, President Donald Trump famously tweeted that he was unhappy with it, prompting Air Force officials to seek alternatives.
According to Defense One, the Air Force may have found a good deal by buying a pair of Boeing 747-8 jetliners that have already been built but are currently sitting abandoned in the Mojave Desert. Their intended customer? A now-defunct Russian airline called Transaero, which ceased operations in 2015.
In an email to TPG, Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek said that service officials are "working through the final stages of coordination to purchase two commercial 747-8 aircraft and expect to award a contract soon."
While the specific value of this contract is unknown, the military is expected to get a good deal on the aircraft, as Boeing has been looking for a buyer since Transaero's bankruptcy two years ago.
"We're still working toward a deal to provide two 747-8s to the Air Force — this deal is focused on providing a great value for the Air Force and the best price for the taxpayer," Boeing spokeswoman Caroline Hutcheson said in a statement.
The two aircraft in question, N894BA and N895BA, were ordered by Transaero back in 2013 when it was still Russia's second-largest carrier. Boeing built two of the four 747-8s the airline ordered prior to its bankruptcy, and decided to store them as it looked for alternative buyers. According to FlightAware, the two aircraft have been parked in storage since late February in Victorville, California — a hot and dry location that minimizes corrosion damage to the airframe.
There are a few reasons we think this may be a good deal for both parties. For the Air Force, this deal lowers the airframe acquisition costs, which should be welcome news to the president. Remember, even though these are undelivered aircraft that have been abandoned by an airline, they're brand new jets, which have barely flown save for flight tests. Also, once the transaction is complete, the Air Force can immediately begin retrofitting the planes with the necessary state-of-the-art defense and communications equipment. For Boeing, this represents a quick and easy way to rid itself of two $380 million aircraft which otherwise would just continue depreciating over time.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees