Trump’s personal Boeing 757 was always the crown jewel of his wealth, now it sits in a state of disrepair on an airport ramp in Orange County, New York.
According to CNN, parts of one of the engines are missing and the other is shrink-wrapped in plastic.
Trump loved to show off the aircraft and it became a staple on the 2016 campaign trial, so much so that it became known as ‘Trump Force One’. Even before he officially announced his candidacy he invited reporters on board for an impromptu press conference, then chastised them for almost messing up his baby.
“There’s one guy very dangerous with that one camera. I’m talking and I’m watching that camera which is about this far from the ceiling, knowing that my day is going to be ruined if they ruin the ceiling,” said Trump according to a Des Moines Register report.
But, he’s been flying on his smaller 1997 Cessna 750 Citation X corporate jet since becoming a private citizen, according to CNN. And he does not like it.
“The small jet isn’t his favorite,” a former White House official told CNN. “It also doesn’t have his name on the outside.”
For now, he’s stuck with it, to repair his 757 could cost well into the high six figures. Though his finances aren’t public, his businesses have been suffering as the hospitality industry is one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus.
A source explains that it is a financial strain to operate the large airliner.
“Flying that thing was so expensive,” the source says. “I don’t think people realized that just to get it up in the air and make one stop was literally tens of thousands of dollars.”
CNN aviation analyst David Soucie said it could cost about $15,000 to $18,000 per hour to fly a Boeing 757.
“It’s an older engine and parts availability is becoming a challenge so operating costs go up significantly,” says Soucie. “Most airlines are retiring the 757 since more cost-effective models are now available.”
A standard 757 seats about 228 passengers; Trump’s was customized with a master bedroom, guest suite, dining room, VIP area and galley, customized cream-colored leather seats, gilded bathrooms, the seat buckles layered in 24-karat gold and could only seat 43 people.
