U.S. Air Force Modifies Qatari Jet for Temporary Air Force One Use

The U.S. Air Force announced late Friday that it has finished modifying and testing a Boeing 747 jet donated by Qatar for temporary use as Air Force One. The aircraft is expected to be ready for use this summer. It is currently being painted in red, white, and blue colors.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accepted the luxury jet a year ago, despite questions about the ethics and legality of receiving an expensive gift from a foreign nation, as well as concerns regarding security and cyber intelligence.

The donated jet will act as a temporary replacement until Boeing delivers two new aircraft, now anticipated in 2028. The current Air Force One planes have been in service for nearly four decades. Boeing is retrofitting 747s originally built for a now-defunct Russian airliner, but the program has encountered delays due to issues including a critical subcontractor's bankruptcy and challenges in finding staff with high-level security clearances.

The new planes are not expected until near the end of the current presidential term. The president has described the situation as a total mess and complained that Air Force One is not as nice as planes flown by some Arab leaders.

The $400 million Qatari plane has been described as a palace in the sky with luxurious accommodations. However, security remains a primary concern for presidential travel. The existing Air Force One aircraft are hardened against nuclear blast effects and include features such as anti-missile countermeasures and an onboard operating room.

It is unclear which specific capabilities were added to the former Qatari jet. The Air Force did not disclose the cost of modifications, though lawmakers suggested last year that they could exceed $1 billion.

“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.”

To prepare, the Air Force leased a 747-8 freighter from Atlas Air between October and February for pilot familiarization. The U.S. has also purchased two jets from Lufthansa for training and spare parts. Boeing ceased production of 747s in 2023. The president has defended the gift as a means to save tax dollars.

The president stated he would not use the aircraft after his term ends and instead plans to donate it to a presidential library, akin to the handling of President Ronald Reagan's Boeing 707. During his first term, the president displayed a model of a new jumbo jet in the Oval Office with a revised paint scheme echoing his personal plane's design.

The two sources agree on the completion of modifications and the summer readiness timeline, but one source emphasizes ethical concerns more prominently.