The US Air Force has revealed the new colors of the presidential jet used by the US president, confirming that Joe Biden has abandoned the colors chosen by his predecessor, Donald Trump.
Biden chose the classic light blue and white colors that JFK had chosen over 60 years ago for the two aircraft under construction.
Donald Trump, who left office in January 2021, wanted to change the colors of two future aircraft to red, white and navy blue, and displayed a model aircraft in those colors on a table in the Oval Office.
Trump wanted to draw a red line down the middle of the plane and paint the underside of it navy blue, referring to the American flag.
The new colors created technical challenges for engineers, and an Air Force statement on Friday expected delays and trials to achieve the desired navy blue.
But after Biden drops Trump’s colors, the new Air Force 1 will resemble the current aircraft, although the blue color will be “a little newer” and there will be no polished metal on the fuselage, because “the skin of modern commercial aircraft does not prevent this” .
The term “Air Force One” is used to refer to two different presidential aircraft.
In an airplane, the president can exercise all his powers while in the air, including delivering a nuclear strike.
The two aircraft are equipped with the latest navigation and defense systems, such as an anti-missile system and an anti-blast hull, and also have a medical unit.
The two new aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2027 and 2028, with the winner of the 2024 presidential election to board first.
The statement said the two aircraft currently in service will continue to operate until that date despite high maintenance costs and old parts.
Source: AFP.
