After waving goodbye to Air Force One in January, Donald Trump isn’t flying as high.
From presidential Boeing 747s and 757s flying as Air Force One and his own notable VIP airliner, Donald Trump was recently spotted boarding a mere run-of-the-mill everyman type private jet. The former commander-in-chief’s ride would still be out of reach for most of us, yet, it’s the type of aircraft where you need to bend your neck if you stand-up. You might even feel your hair brushing up against the cabin ceiling.
An image yesterday in the Daily Mail shows Trump steadying himself as he prepares to climb onto a private jet departing New York City. Unlike the past four years, there were only a few steps to navigate.
The picture features Trump entering what appears to be a Cessna Citation X, a super-midsize business jet. The full aircraft isn’t visible, but tail number N725DT is a 1997 version registered to the Trump Organization.
A Cessna Citation X like the one used by former president Donald J. Trump leaving New York City … [+]
What’s clear is his more famous Boeing 757 wasn’t the ride for this trip. The former airliner was converted into a private jet by the late Paul Allen before being bought by the 45th president,
That aircraft gained notoriety when he barnstormed campaign stops in advance of the 2016 election. Emblazoned with an oversize letter T on the tail and his surname in large, thick capital letters on the fuselage, it has long been an aerial calling card. My jet is bigger and more luxurious than yours. Exceptions include the Qantas 767 converted to a VIP airliner by Google’s founders and the jumbo jets favored by royalty from the Middle East.
In this Jan. 24, 2016 file photo, a man photographs the plane carrying Republican presidential … [+]
Air Trump provided a spacious office, lots of room stretch your legs, a private bedroom, and the perfect backdrop for interviews with journalists or photos of the future POTUS chowing down fast food between stops. It has seats for 43 passengers.
Don’t get your violins out. For those of us who share our airplanes with 150 folks we don’t know, the Citation X would be a welcome sight. Until the Gulfstream G650, it was the fastest private jet, reaching speeds up to 700 miles per hour. When it was launched in 1996, it became a favorite of the jet-set, and its clientele included golfing great Arnold Palmer.
Still, it’s just a regular private jet, more likely to see action on the charter market than as a billionaire’s chariot.
For one thing, at 6 feet, 3 inches tall, Trump isn’t able to stand up straight in the cabin, which has a height of just 5 feet, 7 inches. What’s more, there aren’t any boardroom tables, private cabins or living room-style sofas.
President Donald Trump’s personal jet is parked on the tarmac at Long Island MacArthur Airport on … [+]
The Citation X cabin typically seats just eight passengers, usually configured in two sets of 1 x 1 club chairs facing each other. The tray tables are similar to what you find in international first-class – oversize, but they are not fixed. You pull them out of the sidewall and then stow them for takeoffs and landings.
There’s a lavatory in the rear of the passenger cabin, and it’s probably a tight fit if you are a person of size. Unlike the Trump 757, there is no private shower.
At Joint Base Andrews before the converted 747 would fly Trump as Air Force One on his final trip as … [+]
While it’s unclear the value of Trump’s 757 – most of it is in the unique VIP interior – there’s no doubt that the Citation X is a rounding error for Forbes Billionaires List rivals like Jeff Bezos or Michael Bloomberg.
According to Controller magazine, a 2009 version with 3,231 flight hours is currently on the market for $4.9 million. Another from the same year, but with 3,655 hours, is being offered at $2.7 million. The wide variance likely has to do with upcoming maintenance needs. Trump’s Citation X reportedly has over 10,000 hours.
The cost to charter a VIP 757 similar to Trump’s would run around $25,000 per hour, plus repositioning costs, extra charges for WiFi, catering and various airport fees. The Citation X is much more accessible. Wheels Up and XO offer coast-to-coast flights for around $30,000.
Having promised to hit the road and campaign for preferred candidates and against GOP foes tabbed RINOs – Republicans in name only – only time will tell if the 757 with a huge T on the tail reappears. One thing is for sure. Pulling up to a hangar greeting crowds of supporters, his Citation X will seem very small.