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The USA’s fleet of 2 “VC-25” 747-200 derivatives is unique in several respects. It’s more popularly known as the latest incarnation of the “Air Force One” fleet that transports the President of the United States around the world, though the planes themselves only acquire the “Air Force One” call sign when the President is on board. The VC-25 can also serve as a secondary command post, thanks to a suite of advanced communications and electronics gear that’s both highly encrypted, and protected from the Electro-Magnetic Pulse effects of nuclear detonations. The 89th Airlift Wing operates them from Andrews AFB, MD.
During the Cold War, if humanity’s time on earth had been cut short, at least one of the orders would almost certainly have come from a 707-based “VC-137” predecessor. The 747-based VC-25s were ordered in 1985, and added to the fleet in 1990, where they continue to serve in the same roles, flying an average of nearly 200,000 miles per year. Of course, maintenance and upgrades are still required, such as the 2002/2003 upgrades that let the President address the nation from on board, new defensive systems, etc…
Contracts & Key Events
FY 2012 – 2021
Wichita plant closure; USAF considers replacement; Various R&D and upgrades.
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The 89th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Andrews, MD flies the VC-25s. Unless otherwise noted, all contracts are issued by the 727th ACSG/PKB at Tinker Air Force Base, OK to Boeing in Wichita, KS. Eventually, Boeing’s move out of Wichita also moved these services to Oklahoma City, OK.
September 28/21: Spares Phase 1 Boeing won a $158.3 million contract modification for VC-25B Spares Phase 1 – Long Lead Parts. This contract modification is for the VC-25B initial spares with a production lead time of greater than 12 months that are required for the initial support period, which is the first 18 months beginning at initial operational capability. VC-25B, the next “Air Force One,” is a program to design, modify, test, and deliver two aircraft replacing the current VC-25A and will serve as a flying White House for the next thirty years. Work will take place in Maryland. Estimated completion date is January 15, 2025.
April 24/20: Hangar Complex Clark Construction Group won a $78.2 million contract modification, which provides for the construction of the VC-25B hangar complex at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The VC-25B, the next Air Force One, is a program to design, test and deliver two aircraft replacing the current VC-25A. The V-25B is to be retrofitted so that the president of the USA can run the federal government, including commanding and controlling the US military, while in flight. As such, detailed information about the aircraft’s components and capabilities are classified or tightly controlled. The aircraft also is likely to include missile warning systems and defensive technologies, such as chaff dispensing systems and directional infrared countermeasures. Work will be performed in Camp Springs, Maryland, and provides for the construction of a hangar complex, an aircraft access taxiway/parking apron, associated lighting, engine run-up pads and a hydrant refueling system with storage tanks. Additional requirements include, but are not limited to, site preparation, wetland/stream mitigation, storm water management, a parking lot, and a fire detection and suppression system. Expected completion will be by April 2022.
Oct 31/14: R&D. Boeing Aerospace Operations in Oklahoma City, OK receives a $9.3 million cost-plus-incentive-fee modification under the VC-25 Avionics Modernization Program. Boeing will actually subcontract the support necessary to provide one-time engineering services, and associated hardware, in support of this research and development effort.
Work will be performed at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by May 30, 2018. Fiscal 2014 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $9,261,602 are being re-aligned at the time of award from funding previously obligated under the contract. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity (FA8106-07-C-0001, PO 0212).
Aug 14/14: R&D. A $6.666 million contract modification for a VC-25 fuel tank Nitrogen Generation System Study, in order to comply with FAA Final Rule FAA-2005-22997 concerning fuel tank flammability. The total cumulative face value of the contract, including the referenced modification is now $316.9 million. All funds are committed immediately, using FY 2014 USAF O&M funds.
Work will be performed at Oklahoma City, OK, and Long Beach, CA, and is expected to be complete by May 11/15. The USAF Life Cycle Management Center/WLKLA at Tinker AFB, OK manages the contract (FA8106-07-C-0001, PO 0148).
Sept 13/13: Upgrades. Boeing Aerospace Operations Inc. in Oklahoma City, OK receives an $8.5 million contract modification to work on upgrading 1 of the 2 VC-25As, in order to bring it into compliance with Federal Aviation Agency Airworthiness Directive 2008-23-09. All funds are committed immediately.
Basically, they’re going to replace the aircraft body’s AN-26 thermal/acoustic insulation layer, which falls short of fire resistance requirements in the FAA’s judgement. This contract involves any design and manufacture of the replacement. Installation will happen concurrently with heavy maintenance efforts under a separate contract.
Work will be performed at Oklahoma City, OK and San Antonio, TX, with an expected completion date of Oct 31/16 (FA8106-07-C-0001, P00135). See also: FAA Airworthiness Directive 2008-23-09.
Sept 9/13: Replacement. The USAF Life Cycle Management Center releases a sources sought survey regarding potential replacements for the VC-25.
It isn’t the first time. Back in 2007, USAF Air Mobility Command issued a similar solicitation, which included Airbus’ A380. The difference is time. The VC-25s are expected to hit their planned flight hour service life figures in 2017, and so the question is becoming more urgent. The USAF’s goal at this stage is a new plane in service by 2021, but they’ll need to issue the development contract within a couple of years if they want to make that happen. Sources: Gannett’s Air Force Times, Sept 9/13.
Jan 31/12: Support. Boeing in Wichita, KS receives a $47.9 million firm-fixed-price, time-and-material cost reimbursable and cost-plus-incentive-fee contract modification for VC-25 Option Year III support. The work was performed in Wichita, KS until Dec 21/11 (FA8106-09-C-0005, PO 0039).
Jan 4/12: Wichita lineman, farewell. Boeing confirmed it’s going to close its Wichita, KS plant by the end of 2013. Some of the 2,160+ Wichita jobs will be moved; others will be cut, beginning in Q3 2012. Future aircraft maintenance, modification and support work will be placed at the Boeing facility in San Antonio, TX, which currently handles KC-135 and KC-10 maintenance and upgrade work. Boeing | NY Times | Congressman Mike Pompeo [R-KS-4, not happy].
Wichita closure
FY 2010 – 2011
How much to upgrade 1 aircraft? Support contracts; Dept. of ‘Don’t do this again’.
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Sept 30/11: Support. L-3 Link Simulation & Training in Arlington, TX receives an $8.2 million firm-fixed-price contract modification for the for the option III, IV, and V periods in support of the C-20B (Learjet III) and VC-25A Mission Communication System (MCS), which allows for ground and airborne, secure and non-secure communications between aircraft and ground stations.
Work will include program management, systems engineering, technical support for configuration management, review of service reports, requests for technical information, preliminary engineering investigations, field technical representatives, systems integration lab support and operation, and the requirement to maintain drawings and technical data files. This contract also provides for a 24-hour contact for in-flight emergencies, emergency inquiries, on-site support and operation of the test benches located at Andrews AFB including requests for software, firmware, and hardware changes including development and test, engineering feasibility studies, analysis and investigations of Material Deficiency Reports and mishaps; and requirements for technical orders, preliminary engineering change proposals, modifications, upgrades and enhancements including design, testing, integration, kit purchases and spares. The OC-ALCIGKSKB at Tinker AFB, OK manages this contract (FA8106-08-C-0005, PO 0065).
Jan 31/11: Deep maintenance. A $134 million contract modification for the heavy maintenance for 2011 VC-25 aircraft 9000 at Andrews AFB, MD. At this time, $86.8 million has been committed. This announcement has a different modification number, but looked like it could be a duplicate or revision of the Nov 30/10 award. On Feb 23/11, the USAF got back to DID with a clarification:
“We checked this question with the contracting folks — These are two modifications to the base-line contract. Each happen to be valued $134M. When combined, these two modifications are valued at $268M.”
Plus the initial $35.6 million award (q.v. Oct 29/10), makes $303.6 million for in-depth work on 1 aircraft. That’s slightly more than an airline would pay for a new 747-8 (FA8106-09-C-0005, PO 0023).
Jan 25/11: Support. A $13.2 million contract modification to provide Option Year II support for 1 of 2 VC-25 special air mission aircraft at Joint Base Andrews, MD. At this time, the entire amount has been committed (FA8106-09-C-0005, PO 0022).
Nov 30/10: Deep maintenance. A $134 million contract modification, covering the 2011 heavy maintenance effort scheduled for VC-25 tail number 92-9000. At this time, $19.4 million has been committed (FA8106-09-C-0005, PO 0020).
Oct 29/10: Deep maintenance. A $35.6 million contract to provide “heavy maintenance for the 2011 VC-25 aircraft 9000,” with all funds committed (FA8106-09-C-0005, PO 0019).
Jan 28/10: Support. A $35.4 million contract to continue providing contractor support for the USAF’s fleet of 2 VC-25A aircraft. At this time, $8.2 million has been committed (FA8106-09-C-0005, PO 0005).
May 27/09: Bad idea. Well, that didn’t go as planned. The White House wanted an updated picture of a VC-25, with New York in the background. They told some local officials – but not the mayor, or the citizens. Who saw a jumbo jet flying low with fighter jets behind it, and thought it was another 9/11 style terrorist attack. NBC New York:
“A Pentagon official confirmed that while the Presidential Airlift Group, which is based out of Andrews Air Force Base, did inform the FAA and New York City officials about this morning’s aerial photo op, they also told both agencies not to inform the public about it.The NYPD confirmed that statement.”
Louis Caldera, Director of the White House Military Office, ends up losing his job over the flyby. Cost for the photo shoot? $328,835. See also CNN Politics.
NY State of Mind
Additional Readings
Readers with corrections, comments, or information to contribute are encouraged to contact DID’s Founding Editor, Joe Katzman. We understand the industry – you will only be publicly recognized if you tell us that it’s OK to do so.
* Fox News (March 24/10) – Pentagon Develops Plan to Buy New Air Force One Fleet
* DID (Oct 21/07) – USAF Talking to Airbus About A380 Air Force 1, C-5 Replacement? Airbus bowed out, leaving Boeing to decide between its 747-8 and 787 as a future bid.
