Originally Posted by
Asturias56
Aren't the "presidential" 747 ex - the Russian Transaero order and therefore are already built?
Sort of - considerable cutting up and modification required:
"For example, the two airstair doors, one forward of the wing and one behind the wing, did not come as part of the commercial airliner configuration, according to USAF acquisition documents released in July 2018. The retractable airstairs are to allow the aircraft to emplane passengers and crew without needing to rely on ground-based staircases."
"The commercial 747-8s have been stripped of many of its typical components as well, says the USAF."
“Boeing prepared the two aircraft for modification start by removing the commercial interiors, engines, auxiliary power units, and numerous secondary system components,” says the service. “Additionally, Boeing placed a sophisticated jacking and crib mechanism under each aircraft to reduce structural stress for the initial modification phases.”
https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-w...137197.article
Comparison 747-200 vs 747-8
https://www.boeing.com/defense/air-force-one/index.page