The Boeing 747 donated by Qatar will fly as President Trump’s Air Force One this summer.
The aircraft, intended to become the interim Air Force One, has completed modifications and flight tests ahead of delivery by July 4, on the occasion of the United States’ 250th anniversary, a statement from the U.S. Air Force announced.
Currently, the White House occupant uses two modified Boeing 747-200Bs which, when the president is on board, assume the designation Air Force One.
In July 2018, during the first Trump administration, Boeing received a $3.9 billion contract to build two 747-8 aircraft to be used as Air Force One, with delivery scheduled by December 2024. However, the aerospace giant postponed delivery to 2028, towards the end of Trump’s second term.
Already in early 2025, Trump had expressed his disappointment with Boeing over the delays but had ruled out European rival Airbus as an alternative.
Meanwhile, in May 2025 the United States received a Boeing 747 aircraft (worth hundreds of millions of dollars) donated by Qatar. The White House asked the Air Force to upgrade the donated aircraft to use it as Air Force One.
Technically the program is known as VC-25B, since the famous designation “Air Force One” is reserved for when the president is actually on any U.S. Air Force aircraft, not when it is on the ground, much less under construction, notes CNN.
Entrusted to the company L3Harris for the necessary upgrades, the Qatari Boeing 747 is therefore ready to enter service shortly while the Boeing program is four years behind schedule.
All the details.
JET DELIVERY BY JULY 4
An Air Force spokesperson stated: “The aircraft should be delivered by this summer.” The Air Force also announced that the aircraft has completed modifications and flight tests and is now in the painting phase.
The interventions include upgrading communication systems to prevent possible interceptions and installing defensive capabilities to counter potential missile attacks.
The Boeing VC-25B Bridge (the one donated by Qatar, ed.) is currently being painted with the red, white, and blue livery that President Donald Trump initially requested during his first term in 2018, explains the U.S. Air Force press release.
If the program is completed on schedule, President Donald Trump will have a new presidential aircraft in time for the 250th anniversary celebrations of the nation’s founding, emphasizes Reuters.
CONTROVERSY OVER QATAR’S GIFT
The plan has sparked strong criticism from some observers and Congressional Democrats, who raised ethical concerns about accepting such a substantial donation, which would end up in a presidential library within a few years. Critics also questioned whether the aircraft could be adequately and swiftly modified for use.
Trump dismissed accusations regarding the acceptance of the aircraft, a 13-year-old Boeing valued at about $400 million, stating it would be “stupid” to refuse the offer.
BOEING PROGRAM DELAYS
As previously mentioned, it was July 2018, under the Trump administration, when Boeing received a $3.9 billion contract to build two 747-8 aircraft to be used as Air Force One, with delivery scheduled by December 2024.
In 2021 the company had informed the U.S. Air Force that the price of the next-generation presidential aircraft could increase. The contract price was too low for aircraft equipped with military avionics, advanced communications, and a self-defense system to withstand worst-case security scenarios. Not only that, the aircraft manufacturer was also seeking more time to deliver it, citing difficulties due to the pandemic and a subcontractor.
Last December the U.S. Air Force stated that delivery of the first of the two new Air Force Ones under construction by Boeing is postponed by another year, to mid-2028, the latest in a series of delays.
Moreover, in 2025 Boeing appointed Steve Sullivan, a former Northrop Grumman executive who had worked on the B-21 bomber project, to lead the program in an attempt to stabilize it.
AND THE RISING COSTS
Additionally, costs have increased since then: Boeing has charged $2.4 billion in project-related expenses. Boeing’s current cost for building the two new jets is over $5 billion.
Although Trump has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with Boeing’s delays, the U.S. aerospace giant has reiterated its determination to complete the conversion of the 747-8s into VC-25Bs.
Therefore, the president should use the luxury jet donated by Qatar as a temporary solution while awaiting the new VC-25Bs produced by Boeing.
