Aviation

Air Force One subcontractor countersues Boeing

GDC Technics, an Air Force One subcontractor, filed a countersuit against Boeing on Friday, seeking at least $20 million in damages after Boeing canceled contracts for work on the plane that transports the president of the United States.

GDC, based in Texas, failed to complete interior work on the two heavily modified 747-8 Air Force One aircraft, according to Boeing’s lawsuit, which was filed on April 7. GDC is “roughly one year behind schedule in fulfilling its contractual obligations,” according to Boeing.

GDC’s counterclaim claims that “Boeing’s mismanagement of the completion of two Air Force One presidential aircraft has caused a delay in the completion of those aircraft, not delays caused by GDC.”

According to GDC, Boeing opted to use existing aircraft rather than new planes for the two replacement Air Force One planes.

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“Boeing has fallen behind schedule on the aircraft project due to technical and program management issues, as well as financial difficulties. “Boeing used GDC as a scapegoat to justify its poor performance on the aircraft to the United States Air Force,” GDC said, adding that Boeing’s “false” claims have harmed the Air Force’s and the aviation industry’s reputations worldwide. According to Boeing’s lawsuit, GDC’s delays “have cost Boeing millions of dollars in damages and threaten to jeopardize critical work.”

Boeing has received a $3.9 billion contract in July 2018 to manufacture two 747-8 aircraft for use as Air Force One, with delivery expected in December 2024. On April 8, a Boeing spokeswoman said that the planemaker was committed to meeting the Air Force’s delivery schedule.

The Boeing 747-8s are modified with military avionics, advanced communications, and a self-defense system to function as an airborne White House, capable of flying in worst-case security situations such as nuclear war.

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Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.