MOGUL DOESN’T LIKE THE 787’S BATTERIES …
|| By FITSNEWS || So what do you talk about when you find yourself standing shoulder-to-shoulder with a billionaire aboard his $100 million private jet?
If you’re our founding editor, you ask him why he hasn’t upgraded …
“When are you gonna buy a Dreamliner?” our very own Will Folks asked real estate mogul and reality television star Donald Trump during a visit aboard “Trump Force One,” the latter’s custom Boeing 757.
Folks’ question referred, of course, to the Boeing 787 – the much-maligned next generation passenger plane produced by the Chicago-based aerospace giant.
“You know they make them down in Charleston,” Folks said.
“That’s right,” Trump responded. “I guess I do need an upgrade – although you know that might be a downgrade.”
Wow … clearly “The Donald” knows all about this plane’s troubled history …
“In fact that would actually be a step down,” Trump continued. “I don’t like those batteries. And for what? To save forty pounds?”
We checked the math and wouldn’t you know it … “The Donald” was absolutely correct about the 787’s controversial lithium ion batteries, which have led to several safety issues (including a 2013 global grounding of the entire Dreamliner fleet).
Had the company opted for a safer battery for the 787, it would have added an estimated forty pounds to the plane’s 502,500 pound maximum takeoff weight.
Color us impressed …
Of course in a state where establishment politicians worship Boeing (usually), we suspect Trump’s eminently sensible comments will be panned.
21 comments
Donald Trump: Engineer
I’m sure that little comment of his just garnered him 10’s of thousands of votes….
Don’t diss The Donald. He might not be our next President, but he ain’t stupid.
He just knows how to dupe those who are.
You’re wrong about that 40 pounds. To replace the lithium ion battery with a somewhat less flammable (but still dangerous) nickel cadmium battery with the same capability would require a much bigger battery – it’s not a like-for-like swap. A NiCad can’t charge as fast or discharge as fast, so you need more battery to do the same job. The comparable Airbus A350 carries 4 batteries vs. the 787’s 2, as example. You won’t find a NiCad in your phone for much the same reasons.
Besides, most aircraft already carry lithium ion batteries for emergency systems. The only difference in the Boeing 787 is that the big main batteries are also lithium ion.
Please stop with thee facts. It messes up Sic Willie’s little stories and his agenda.
It’s pretty obvious that Folks wants Boeing out of South Carolina and a return to the old glory days of the impoverished south.
I think someone is a little star struck by The Donald, this is the 3rd article about The Donald’s private jet. One would have been more than enough.
Really though what else is there to do at a Tea Party convention?
Talk with the kooks?
Don’t forget how star struck Sic Willie was with T Rav. Trump is just his latest.
lol…appears he sees something in Haley’s daughter that gives him hope.
Trump will be old news soon and FITS can cover her prom and stalk her date.
What do you talk about when you find yourself standing shoulder to shoulder with Jimi Hendrix,the most important musician since,John Coltrane ? Music.Money doesn’t impress,but genius does.
I don’t think you talk, you just continue to decay.
I saw you perform in 69,but didn’t get a chance to meet.You were OK,but not one of the ‘greats’…
Sorry to hear about your recent demise.RIP
Boeing is trying hard to find better batteries as well.
Badger-Head can’t afford a Dreamliner ! Yeah, why would he want a wider, faster, better pressurized jet that has nearly the same fuel consumption as a 757 ???? I’ve piloted the Dreamliner since 2012 without a problem. If he’s really worried about the batteries I’ll give him a nomex tampon to wear !
Soooo…is the naked selfie from the cockpit or at a stewardesses place?
Naked, nobody is naked.
Used 757 purchased from a Microsoft CEO – $100,000,000
New 787 Dreamliner cost from Boeing – $250,000,000
Trump couldn’t afford one. The Dreamliner is 30 knots faster at cruise and has twice the range – mostly because it is far more efficient (read lighter). The battery issue (caused by a contractor btw) has long since been repaired.
So how much is da’ Donald’s 757 written off out of po’ impov’ished sharecroppers pockets? Just askin’. Course trumping this is the fact that we can’t fire him, we never hired the head cracka’ of th peanut gallery.
What? No one remembers Trump Airlines? In 1988, for $365 million, Trump bought an air shuttle service that for 27 years had run hourly flights between Boston, New York City and Washington, D.C. Trump fancied up the 17 Boeing 727s and in 1992 Trump defaulted on his loans and the airline was bust.
Lighter batteries, yes. But also deliver more current, I think. Might want to check on that, too.