Qatar-Gifted Boeing 747 Completes Testing, Set for Summer Presidential Use

A Boeing 747 jet, gifted by Qatar, has completed its modification and flight testing, with the U.S. Air Force announcing late Friday that the aircraft is now being painted and is expected to be ready for President Donald Trump’s use this summer. The Air Force’s VC-25B Bridge aircraft will serve as a temporary Air Force One until new aircraft are delivered in 2028, near the end of Trump's current term. The luxury jet was accepted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth a year ago.

Qatar originally gifted the Boeing 747 to U.S. President Donald Trump in May 2025 during his visit to Doha. President Trump told reporters on May 12, 2025, "I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer." The U.S. Air Force confirmed the completion of testing for the VC-25B Bridge aircraft, stating it "is on schedule to roll out in a new red, white and blue livery this summer." The current Air Force One planes have been in service for nearly four decades.

Presidential Aircraft Background

The current Air Force One fleet, consisting of Boeing 747s, dates back nearly four decades to the administration of President George H.W. Bush. These planes were built from scratch near the end of the Cold War. Boeing, which manufactured these aircraft, stopped building 747s in 2023. Reports indicate that the current Air Force One planes are hardened against the effects of a nuclear blast and include various security features, such as anti-missile countermeasures and an onboard operating room. The aircraft are also equipped with air-to-air refueling capabilities for contingencies, though these have never been used with a president on board, according to officials. The call sign "Air Force One" was first used unofficially in 1953.

Gift and Modifications Details

The Qatar-gifted Boeing 747 is on schedule to roll out in a new red, white, and blue livery this summer, according to reports. General Dale White stated that the jet’s interior remains largely unchanged despite its new presidential designation. White noted, "By and large, the airplane that we’re getting is in the same condition from an interior perspective." He also contrasted the approach, saying, "The level of detail that the foreign nations put into their head-of-state airplanes are very different than the approach that the United States uses, which is a lot more utility focused."

The $400 million Qatari plane has been described as a "palace in the sky." Donald Trump, who called the planes he previously used "old," described the gift from Qatar as a "great gesture" and has defended it as a way to save tax dollars. During his first term, Trump displayed a model of a new jumbo jet in the Oval Office, featuring a revised paint scheme that echoed the red, white, and dark blue design of his personal plane. Boeing has been retrofitting 747s originally built for a now-defunct Russian airliner to fulfill various contracts. President John F. Kennedy became the first U.S. President to fly in a jet specifically built for presidential use.

Future Use and Timeline

Donald Trump has stated he would not use the aircraft for personal travel after his presidential term concludes. Reports indicate the plane is slated for donation to a future presidential library, mirroring the decommissioned Boeing 707 used by President Ronald Reagan, which became a museum exhibit. The overall program has encountered nearly a decade of delays, and last year, lawmakers suggested modifications to the former Qatari jet could exceed $1 billion. Air Force officials leased a 747-8 freighter from Atlas Air between October and February to allow pilots to familiarize themselves with the latest variant of the aircraft. Additionally, the United States acquired two jets from German carrier Lufthansa for purposes of training and spare parts.