(Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect additional information received subsequent to publication.) The Air Force this week awarded Boeing a $3.9 billion firm, fixed-price contract to formally launch the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization program's engineering and manufacturing development phase, which was hailed as a win by the White House after months of hashing out a cost estimate. Under the new contract, Boeing will design and deliver two 747-8 jets to replace the three-decades-old pair of VC-25As by...
