Boeing 747-8i aircraft to support training and spares for Air Force One

The US Air Force has selected two Boeing-made 747-8i aircraft from Lufthansa to support training and spares for the VC-25B presidential airlift program. The two jets are valued at $400 million and will be delivered in early 2024 and before the end of 2026. The Air Force has emphasized that the two aircraft are additive to the VC-25B program and will be used for training and spares. This purchase comes as the Air Force continues to work on the VC-25B program, which has been delayed in the past. The effort to militarize a luxury 747 airliner gifted by the Qatari government has been criticized by Democrats and ethics groups.