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Posted on 09/16/2025 3:44:48 AM PDT by fluorescence
The Air Force has started modifying a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar for “executive airlift,” a spokesperson said Sept. 15. President Donald Trump has said he wants to fly the jet as “Air Force One” since new presidential transports, held up by delays, won’t be ready until after his term is over.
“As directed by the Secretary of War, the Air Force is modifying a Boeing 747 aircraft for Executive Airlift support,” the Air Force spokesperson said in a brief statement to media outlets. “Details related to the contract are classified.”
The spokesperson declined to answer further questions from Air & Space Forces Magazine, offering no details on either the contract, the contractor, or the scope of work.
The Pentagon officially accepted the 747-8 jet from the Qatari government in May, and Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the Air Force at that time to start planning the necessary modifications to enable it to be a suitable presidential transport, Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink told lawmakers in June.
Meink said the cost of the “retrofit of that aircraft is actually probably less than $400 million,” but critics in Congress countered the cost will approach $1 billion. With the contract classified, actual costs remain a public mystery.
While the Air Force has not identified the contractor for the retrofit, multiple media outlets have reported that L3Harris got the job.
Trump has suggested he could fly on the temporary Air Force One as soon as February 2026. The goal at a minimum is for him to do so before his term ends in January 2029.
Boeing won a $3.5 billion contract in 2018 to deliver two 747s adapted for presidential requirements in the VC-25B program. But upgrading the two pre-owned, but never-operated 747-8s has dragged on. Boeing has incurred $2 billion in losses on the fixed-price deal, and cites the struggle to find skilled labor with the clearances needed to work on such a highly classified project. Supply chain issues have also contrbuted to delays.
How the Pentagon can get the 13-year-old ex-Qatari jet adapted and flying faster than the VC-25B program, is not clear, but the use of the “executive airlift” label, as opposed to “presidential transport,” could suggest a different set of requirements.
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Why did Trump accept this Spy infested plane from our enemy Qatar ?
Who is running the WH ?
That was exactly my concern with that. It’s a flying Trojan horse / spy listening device.
I’ve got it, Trump just needs to declare that until he flys in the ordered new AF1, he will stay in office! If Boeing can have delays, I guess so can Trump!
Trump is looking at this from a businessman’s point of view. But I see it as a sign of weakness. A country as great as the United States cannot provide a suitable aircraft for its president? We have to go to Qatar?
Better to make do with what we’ve got, than have to do that.
Then there’s the spy/sabotage angle you mentioned. I’m sure the plane will be throughly sweeped. But can any sweep be 100.00% efficient?
Unless they replace every single bolt, nut, and fastener, completely gut the plane of every wire and electrical component,totally X-ray every inch of the fuselage, and replace the engines and fuel tanks. They are idiots. It would be more economical to just build a new plane and a certainly lot safer.
“Why did Trump accept this Spy infested plane from our enemy Qatar ?”
Because it is big and shiny.
Publicly accepting with great fanfare doesn't insult Qatar.
Neither does quietly repurposing it to fly democrat senators...
IMO the plane should have been given to ICE.
i find that real strange .
Qatar is not anyone but terrorists friend .
Hamas is hiding out there .
The Terror propaganda site Al Jezzara is headquarters there . Qatar is the enemy of the west .
“Since 1990, the presidential fleet has consisted of two highly customized Boeing 747-200B (VC-25A) aircraft.[6] The USAF has ordered two Boeing 747-8s to serve as the next presidential aircraft, designated VC-25Bs and expected to enter service no earlier than 2026.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_One
Why not just rebuild the wings of the existing two planes?
No argument there.
That plane will be stripped to the bones before the restoration. You two think Trump is stupid. Look to yourselves.
Interesting. One wonders why they were so interested in providing an airplane for the leader of The Great Satan to use?
Have to wonder if Qatar did not place a super-well-hidden explosive on this plane to secretly detonate when Trump is aboard in the future......
I would never trust it.......
and the largest American military base in the Middle East is also located there
Why are you calling Qatar an enemy? Aren't they a recognized ally of the United States and don't they host a large US military base strategically vital to our interests?
As to the "spy infested" plane, I'd rather have our security agencies going over this plane with a microscope than Boeing's DEI infested group building it. ;)
.
C-130 gun ship plane would be safer.
Options good
Mr. GG2 used to work on Air Force One at the Seattle/Everett WA facility. He has a DOD clearance you could only dream of. Boeing did have trouble getting enough employees who could pass the clearance or would agree to the vetting process. And that was years ago.
In order to even approach Air Force One you have to go into a room, take off all your clothes and put on a jump suit. Then the Secret Service guys who are there with the plane wand you. Then you walk over to where the plane is serviced and pick up a special tool box and start work. When you’re finished every tool has to be put back just so and checked by the Secret Service guys and then you walk back to the changing room, put on hour clothes and leave.
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