Air Force One’s new refrigerators will cost US taxpayers $24 million

[kscarbel2]

The Washington Post  /  January 28, 2018

Air Force One is upgrading its refrigerators, and the cost to taxpayers will be a cool $24 million.

Under a new government contract awarded to Boeing, the U.S. Air Force will pay Boeing $23,657,671 to replace two of the five chiller units on the plane used by President Trump.

Both of those units, which are used to store food, were installed on the plane when it was originally delivered in 1990, according to the Air Force. Increasingly, however, the plane has needed additional cold food storage space “to support onboard personnel for an extended period of time, without having to restock while abroad,” Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said in an email.

“The [old] units were based on the technology at the time and designed for short-term food storage,” Stefanek said. “Although serviced on a regular basis, reliability has decreased with failures increasing, especially in hot/humid environments. The units are unable to effectively support mission requirements for food storage.”

The new refrigerator units will have nearly 70 cubic feet of storage space, she said.

The $24 million will also cover the cost of testing and certification by the Federal Aviation Administration, according to the contract. Work related to the upgrade will be carried out in Oklahoma City, San Antonio and other cities, and the work is expected to be done by the end of October 2019, the contract stated.

Stefanek said the Air Force was not able to answer additional questions Saturday morning, including whether the upgrades would be performed on only one or both of the identical Boeing VC-25 planes that serve as Air Force One. It’s also unclear whether the Air Force considered other, less expensive alternatives to replacing the two chiller units in question, or whether the replacement would take the plane — or planes — out of commission for an extended period of time.

The high-cost upgrade was first reported by Defense One, which detailed the unique needs of the presidential aircraft — the plane reportedly needs refrigerated storage space for about 3,000 meals — as well as the White House’s and Air Force’s strict requirements for “bespoke equipment” when it comes to Air Force One.

“It’s not a contractor issue; it is a requirements issue,” Richard Aboulafia, a vice president at the Teal Group consulting firm, told the defense and national security news site. “It’s not getting people rich.”

However, Eric Schultz, a former senior adviser to Barack Obama, reacted to the news by tweeting that “we would have been impeached” if the previous administration had carried out such an upgrade to Air Force One.

Air Force One has two galleys where up to 100 meals can be prepared at a time, according to ABC News. An ABC slide show captured an array of “incredible” dishes that have been served on board, from beef tenderloin and lasagna to kebabs and tiramisu. (The president can request pretty much anything, CBS News once reported, with a caveat that Air Force One french fries tend to be “a bit soggy” because of the lack of a fryer on the plane.)

“During international trips, chillers in the belly of Air Force One keep food for daily meals fresh,” ABC News reported. “The crew never procures food overseas to serve on the plane as a safety precaution.”

In 2015, the Air Force announced that two new Boeing 747-8 aircraft would be used in the presidential fleet, replacing the current plane. But Trump, while campaigning for the presidency, criticized the planned purchase for its $4 billion price tag. He even suggested that his personal private aircraft was better and that Air Force One would be a step down for him.

Even after winning the election, Trump pushed back against the expense, tweeting that the United States should cancel an order for a new presidential 747 because “costs are out of control.”

A subsequent fact check by The Washington Post’s Glenn Kessler highlighted some of the inaccuracies in Trump’s tweet. But he continued to make the claim.

“I refuse to fly in a $4.2 billion airplane,” Trump told a crowd last February in Florida. “I refuse.” But at the rally, he also claimed to have negotiated the deal down with Boeing, reducing the cost by $1 billion. (Air Force officials would later say they did not know of any such negotiations or savings.)

Still, it only took a few days in office and a trip on the plane for Trump to change his opinion of Air Force One.

“Beautiful, a great plane,” Trump told reporters on board Air Force One after his first trip. “Terrific.”

[kscarbel2]

$11,828.835.50 for a 35 cubic foot refrigerator???

(I'm led to believe the two units combined have 70 cubic feet of capacity)

Though an exact time for replacing the current Air Force One (built in 1991) is allegedly still being debated, it’s safe to assume it will happen within 5-6 years.

With that in mind, the current units should be spot repaired until the aircraft is purged.

This all takes us back to the Air Force buying $640 toilet seats and $1,868 toilet seat covers.

Rather than spend $12 million of tax payer money on 30 cubic foot refrigerators, the Air Force could go to Lowes (a national building supply and appliance store) and buy two Whirlpool model WFR993FIFM 31.5 cubic foot refrigerators for just $3,329 a piece (on sale thru Feb 7), or a 72 cubic foot Maxx Cold commercial unit (model MXCR-72FD) for $3,800.

The 747s have compatible 115 volt systems. (And even with the newer 235 volt aircraft, a step-down transformer is available for $500).

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Whirlpool-31-5-cu-ft-French-Door-Refrigerator-with-Dual-Ice-Maker-Monochromatic-Stainless-Steel-ENERGY-STAR/1000052269

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Maxx-Cold-72-cu-ft-3-Door-Reach-In-Commercial-Refrigerator-Stainless-Steel/50208711

Why do US taxpayers need to transport and feed the White House Press Corps?

Why should the President be able to request “almost anything” on "the people’s" aircraft?  At the White House I can understand, but certainly not aboard an aircraft.

[Dirtymilkman]

It's been this way for years. I believe the thinking is, if our presidential equipment is cheap or junky, then we arer an inferior nation. Look at our views of North Korea. We see them as very inferior. 

Edited January 29, 2018 by Dirtymilkman

[41chevy]

Did Trump order this or have to sign off on it or is it SOP equipment upgrades through normal Air force channels?

Edited January 29, 2018 by 41chevy

[macks in nigeria]

2 hours ago, 41chevy said:

Did Trump order this or have to sign off on it or is it SOP equipment upgrades through normal Air force channels?

Trying to cut him some slack?

[kscarbel2]

A shameful waste of taxpayer dollars, and further proof that Boeing no longer has any business ethics (since they moved their headquarters from Seattle to Chicago.

[gxbxc]

well I am sure we are over looking some facts  ,a 30 cf ref is not going to hold 3,000 meals .It has to run off the airplanes power ,be EMP protected and not interfere with other electronic devises and counter measures . plus the FAA inspection and testing is probably the bulk of the cost. Of course I agree the FAKE news presscorps should ride cattle cars on hang on and pray airline . or even better get the Sh#t beat out them on united .

[david wild]

Call Walmart, they can do it for less.

[41chevy]

4 hours ago, macks in nigeria said:

Trying to cut him some slack?

Nope. The  President has no say on up grading equipment. It can be requested by him or his staff,  but it still has to be reviewed and  approved and passed by the  DOD and than by the House Appropriation Committee, than on to the GSA  and approved and  monies appropriated for the purchase,  install and certification by FAA. Even Mr Obama did not have that power with his pen and phone.

Edited January 30, 2018 by 41chevy

[kscarbel2]

5 hours ago, gxbxc said:

well I am sure we are over looking some facts  ,a 30 cf ref is not going to hold 3,000 meals .It has to run off the airplanes power ,be EMP protected and not interfere with other electronic devises and counter measures . plus the FAA inspection and testing is probably the bulk of the cost. Of course I agree the FAKE news presscorps should ride cattle cars on hang on and pray airline . or even better get the Sh#t beat out them on united .

What does the FAA know about refrigerators? It's hardly their area of expertise (though they'd never admit it).

[BC Mack]

KSC... the FAA doesn't oversee military aircraft..!! military maintenance is different from civil and rarely accepted by the FAA if demobbed, though I'm sure in the 747 it would be close....

Approvals for civil aircraft would be under the aircraft manufacturer to ensure compliance when installed in a new airframe or an approved repair station and component manufacturer PMA holder to comply for installation through an STC by a DAR.... the airframe manufacturer would be involved if their approved design was altered significantly, the FAA is just there to ensure compliance to paperwork through audit, very rarely through an actual inspection, that responsibility has been unloaded over the years to the manufacturer, repairer or installer under their licences and self audit.

nearly ran out aviation acronyms there..!! 

BC Mack

[kscarbel2]

BC I agree, but the news above states the refrigerators must be tested and certified by the FAA.

[41chevy]

1 hour ago, kscarbel2 said:

BC I agree, but the news above states the refrigerators must be tested and certified by the FAA.

The main testing involve rapid decompression among other thing. Don't think the Lowes unit would do very well at a loss of pressurization at oh say 25,000 ft

[macks in nigeria]

You have a point there, but who feels the pantry is too small and who requested for a new one.We had a similar situation in my country when the current President was a candidate ,he made all the right noise about the Presidential fleet been bloated with about 8 aircraft and 2 choppers with the biggest been  a BBJ which is actually a New Gen 737 and how he will sell off all but two.Today almost 3 years into his Presidency all the aircraft are still in service for the Presidency.Big  difference between been a candidate and been The President.

[Dirtymilkman]

6 hours ago, macks in nigeria said:

You have a point there, but who feels the pantry is too small and who requested for a new one.We had a similar situation in my country when the current President was a candidate ,he made all the right noise about the Presidential fleet been bloated with about 8 aircraft and 2 choppers with the biggest been  a BBJ which is actually a New Gen 737 and how he will sell off all but two.Today almost 3 years into his Presidency all the aircraft are still in service for the Presidency.Big  difference between been a candidate and been The President.

You mean it's not just that way in the USA? Haha. People here have to realize, it's not a total Democrat or Republican thing. It's a politician thing! I saw that Kennedy crying tonight after the state of the union address, what the hell are there any Kennedy's left in government for?! It's not supposed to be a dynasty. Get rid of the Clinton's, Bush's, Kennedy's, any and all relatives of them and start putting term limits on senators. 

[kscarbel2]

The Hill  /  June 1, 2018

The Air Force is not buying two $24 million refrigerators for Air Force One, the service recently told a congressman.

On Monday, Rep. Joe Courtney (D-Conn.) released a letter from Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson saying the Air Force and White House Military Office decided to cancel the purchase out of "prudent fiscal sense."

"While the VC-25A chiller replacement requirement still exists, the progress on the VC-25B program weighed against the cost of the chiller effort makes termination the most prudent fiscal sense for the government," Wilson wrote to Courtney in a letter dated May 29. "The Air Force has notified Boeing of the government's intention to cancel the subject contract."

Boeing was awarded a $23.7 million contract to replace two of the five refrigerators aboard Air Force One. The refrigerators have been on the plane since it went into service in 1990.

The coolers on the presidential aircraft need to have the capacity to store 3,000 meals onboard.

Though the refrigerators have unique requirements, the high price tag raised eyebrows, particularly as President Trump has railed against excessive defense contracts.

Prior to taking office, Trump slammed the cost of building two new Air Force One planes, tweeting the Pentagon should "cancel order!"

The new Air Force One planes are expected to be ready in 2024.

In her letter, Wilson said that steps can be taken to ensure "food security" until the new aircraft are ready.

"While not optimal, mitigation options exist to ensure food security until new aircraft are delivered," she wrote.

Courtney praised the Air Force for canceling the refrigerator contract.

"Clearly, the Air Force is making the right decision cancel the previously announced sole-source contract and hit restart on this process," he said in a statement. "Even with the understanding that the Air Force One mission brings with it unique requirements and challenges, a $24 million sole-source contract just didn't pass the smell test."

[41chevy]

$2195.00  GSA price.  Holds 1200 Big Mac meals, 5650 White Castle sliders or one HRC snack..