It takes Boeing twelve years to develop a new Air Force One.
Posted by The Daily Beast Podcast, Checked
- Sources
- 3 support4 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 55%
The Daily Beast PodcastSep 8, 2026
The sources support roughly twelve years from the program's start to its 2028 delivery target: design contracts began in January 2016 (Defense One timeline) and Boeing says it remains on track for 2028 (Reuters, July 2026).
The guest raises this as a question. Shown here; not scored.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… Well, it doesn't seem very smart to take a plane, even if you're taking it to your own golf course, Dunbeg, in Ireland, when you know that it's not secure. That said, why does it take Boeing twelve years to come up with a new Air Force One? I mean, Trump ordered two new Air Force Ones in 2017, and they've said they won't be delivered before 2029, at which point he'll be out of office. …
The Daily Beast Podcast · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. Boeing's Air Force One work began with design contracts in January 2016, and the 747-8 was selected in 2015 (Defense One timeline; Air University).[2][3]
Supports. Boeing says it remains on track to deliver the two new jets in 2028, which puts the development span at about twelve years from 2016.[1]
Context. The GAO reports that it takes more than 12 years, on average, to field new Pentagon systems, which is a program-wide figure rather than a Boeing-specific one.[4]
Context. The program is years behind its original 2024 target and now carries cost overruns, so the duration reflects delays and is not a planned norm.[5][6][7]
Sources
7 sources: 1 fact-checker, 1 primary, 5 not rated
- 1Boeing on track for 2028 Air Force One delivery, costs risereuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2Presidential Aero Queen - Air Universityairuniversity.af.edu · primary source · cited for: supports
- 3Air Force One savings, explained; Upgraded C-5s sit idledefenseone.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 4Boeing's Port San Antonio Air Force work is years late and over budget, federal watchdog saysexpressnews.com · not rated · cited for: context
- 5The new Air Force One just got a big update - and price tagus.cnn.com · not rated · cited for: context
- 6Why It Takes So Long To Build New Air Force One Planes - BGRbgr.com · not rated · cited for: context
- 7New Air Force One will officially deliver 2-3 years latebreakingdefense.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
- Boeing stated that the new Air Force One planes will not be delivered before 2029.False
- The two new Air Force One aircraft ordered in 2017 will not be delivered before 2029.Mixed
- Donald Trump ordered two new Air Force One aircraft in 2017.True
- The United States presidential aircraft used prior to the acquisition of the new 747 were 35 years old.True
- The United States government received a 747 aircraft as a gift from the Amir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.True