Air Force says former Qatari 747 will be ready to fly as Air Force One this summer
Source: NPR/AP
May 2, 2026 1:49 AM ET
The U.S. Air Force has finished modifying and testing a Boeing 747 jet donated by Qatar for temporary use as Air Force One and expects to have it ready for President Donald Trump to use this summer, the service announced late Friday. The jet is currently being painted red, white and blue, the Air Force said in a news release.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accepted the luxury jet a year ago despite questions about the ethics and legality of accepting an expensive gift from a foreign nation, as well as concerns about security and cyber intelligence. Trump has defended the gift as a way to save tax dollars.
Trump has said he wouldn't fly around in the aircraft when his term ends. Instead, he said, the plane would be donated to a future presidential library, similar to how the Boeing 707 used by President Ronald Reagan was decommissioned and put on display as a museum piece.
Air Force officials said the former Qatari jet will serve as a "bridge" until Boeing is ready to deliver a pair of new aircraft, which is now expected in 2028.
Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/05/02/g-s1-119866/trump-new-air-force-one
REFERENCES
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143451460
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143457165
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143457596
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143457656
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143457694
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143457740
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143457921
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143458014
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https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143459314
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https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143463142
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143473164
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143502542
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143503209
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143505232
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143509906
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143603062
rurallib
(64,774 posts)or maybe "Power for Sale'
twodogsbarking
(19,184 posts)IronLionZion
(51,491 posts)after the damage they got from the Iran conflict
lonely bird
(3,002 posts)Trump most certainly will fly around in it after he leaves office.
Vinca
(54,235 posts)to keep the interior which is, of course, gold, gold and more gold. Then, of course, if he ever leaves he'll take it with him. I don't know how that's legal, but legal has never been a big problem for him.
Americanme
(527 posts)modifying, testing, and painting a 747 that will no longer belong to our government in a few years? And what will the next president use for Air Force One?
Submariner
(13,408 posts)to Mar A Epsteinville further inviting Iranian terror attacks on the country.
pfitz59
(12,862 posts)Emoluments? Anyone?
Sneederbunk
(17,589 posts)sakabatou
(46,240 posts)and millions more for anything else.
cstanleytech
(28,561 posts)Bengus81
(10,309 posts)to do the retrofit. This is outrageous shit..........
RedWhiteBlueIsRacist
(2,178 posts)City Lights
(25,985 posts)RedWhiteBlueIsRacist
(2,178 posts)City Lights
(25,985 posts)eppur_se_muova
(42,314 posts)LilElf70
(1,615 posts)of unauthorized tax payer dollars just went down the toilet. I don't recall anyone being consulted on this transaction.
It's not like we really don't need the money. Just think of how many more people could have been fed and healthcare given to citizens? Totally irresponsible. Yep, it's all about him. AGAIN!!!!
electric_blue68
(27,129 posts)😑😑😑
moniss
(9,128 posts)IzzaNuDay
(1,319 posts)there is NFW that plane can be hastily modified to the AF-1 standards.
Its his own damn fault that he told Boeing to modify two mothballed 747s (albeit new for commercial use) for the replacement AF1s. On a fixed price contract: pay for stripping out the commercial interior and structure then build to AF-1.
At the time Boeing had room on their assembly line to make 747s. Not to mention every time the requirements change, thats additional cost.
And Im gonna guess the livery gonna have that dark blue paint. Duh, airplanes use lighter colors that do not absorb heat.
Why do I smell a clusterF?