Qatar-donated aircraft will be ready as Air Force One for Trump this summer - US Air Force
Kyiv • UNN
The US Air Force has completed the preparation of the Boeing 747 donated by Qatar for Trump. The aircraft will begin flights this summer as a temporary Air Force One in a new livery.
The U.S. Air Force has completed modifications and testing of a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar for temporary use as the presidential aircraft Air Force One, and expects it to be ready for operation by U.S. President Donald Trump this summer, the department announced Friday evening, UNN reports citing AP.
Details
The aircraft is currently being repainted in red, white, and blue, according to a U.S. Air Force press release.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth accepted the luxury aircraft a year ago, despite questions regarding the ethics and legality of accepting an expensive gift from a foreign nation, as well as security and cybersecurity concerns. Trump defended the gift, arguing it was a way to save taxpayer money.
Trump stated that he will not fly on this aircraft after his term ends. Instead, he said, the plane will be handed over to a future presidential library, similar to how the Boeing 707 used by U.S. President Ronald Reagan was decommissioned and displayed as a museum exhibit.
U.S. Air Force officials stated that the former Qatari aircraft will serve as a "transitional" option until Boeing is ready to deliver a pair of new aircraft, the delivery of which is now expected in 2028.
The two aircraft currently used as Air Force One have been in operation for nearly four decades, and Trump is eager to replace them. During his first term, he displayed a model of a new giant aircraft in the Oval Office with an updated livery that echoed the red, white, and blue design of his personal plane.
The $400 million Qatari aircraft is described as a "palace in the sky" with luxurious accommodations and first-class finishes.
It is unclear what capabilities have been added to the former Qatari vessel. The U.S. Air Force did not disclose the cost of the modifications, but lawmakers suggested last year that it could exceed $1 billion.
Addendum
The iconic Kennedy-era colors for Air Force One are being abandoned in favor of the Trump design.