US EditionQatari-Donated Plane to Be Used as Air Force One to Arrive This Summer: Report
The donated Boeing 747 will serve as a temporary Air Force One to address delays in new VC-25B jets, with modifications costing under $400 million, Air Force said.
- Earlier this week the U.S. Air Force said the Qatar-donated Boeing 747 was accepted as the VC-25 bridge aircraft and is expected by summer 2026.
- With the VC-25As aging rapidly, Boeing's two replacement VC-25Bs have been pushed years behind schedule to 2028–2029, creating urgency for an interim aircraft.
- Defense contractor L3Harris is reportedly militarizing the donated 747, and Air Force Secretary Troy Meink estimated retrofitting would cost less than $400 million, covered by the U.S. government.
- Lawmakers warned that the donation prompted bipartisan criticism and questions about the Foreign Emoluments Clause, while reports of the plane transferring to President Donald Trump's presidential library intensified scrutiny as Trump defended it as saving taxpayers money.
- Because some conversion work is classified, the Air Force One jet will have hardened defenses, encrypted communications and midair refueling capability, with reports noting a special paint scheme for U.S. 250th birthday celebrations.
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11 Articles
Qatari-donated plane to be used as Air Force One to arrive this summer: Report
The Boeing wide-body luxury jet that Qatar is donating to the White House for use as Air Force One is slated to arrive this summer, according to The Wall Street Journal. The report indicates that President Donald Trump wants the plane’s exterior painted in red, white and blue, potentially to coincide with America’s 250th birthday celebrations in July. Air Force confirmation of delivery In a statement to the WSJ, the U.S. Air Force confirmed the …
Qatari-Donated Air Force One to Begin Flying Trump Soon
“The Qatari-donated plane being overhauled to become a new Air Force One jet is on track to be delivered to President Trump this summer,” the Wall Street Journal reports. “While the exact delivery date hasn’t yet been determined, it is possible the plane, painted in the red, white and dark-blue scheme favored by the president, could be part of the July festivities celebrating the country’s 250th birthday.”
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