Qatari 747 might be able to fly as Air Power One this summer season : NPR

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Matt Rourke/AP The U.S. Air Power has completed modifying and testing a Boeing 747 jet donated by Qatar for non permanent use as Air Power One and expects to have it prepared for President Donald Trump to make use of this summer season, the service introduced late Friday.

The jet is at the moment being painted crimson, white and blue, the Air Power stated in a information launch.

Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth accepted the posh jet a 12 months in the past regardless of questions concerning the ethics and legality of accepting an costly reward from a overseas nation, in addition to issues about safety and cyber intelligence. Trump has defended the reward as a strategy to save tax {dollars}.

Trump has stated he would not fly round within the plane when his time period ends. As an alternative, he stated, the aircraft can be donated to a future presidential library, much like how the Boeing 707 utilized by President Ronald Reagan was decommissioned and placed on show as a museum piece.

Air Power officers stated the previous Qatari jet will function a "bridge" till Boeing is able to ship a pair of latest plane, which is now anticipated in 2028.

The 2 planes at the moment used as Air Power One have been flying for almost 4 many years, and Trump is raring to interchange them. Throughout his first time period, he displayed a mannequin of a brand new jumbo jet within the Oval Workplace, full with a revised paint scheme that echoed the crimson, white and darkish blue design of his private aircraft.

Boeing has been retrofitting 747s initially constructed for a now-defunct Russian airliner. However this system has confronted almost a decade of delays from a sequence of points, together with a essential subcontractor's chapter and the problem of discovering and retaining certified workers who might be awarded high-level safety clearances.

The brand new planes aren't as a consequence of be completed till close to the top of Trump's time period, and he is out of endurance. He has described the scenario as "a complete mess," and he has complained that Air Power One is not as good because the planes flown by some Arab leaders.

The $400 million Qatari aircraft has been described as a "palace within the sky," full with luxurious lodging and top-of-the-line finishes.

However safety is the first concern with regards to presidential journey. The present Air Power One planes have been constructed from scratch close to the top of the Chilly Battle. They're hardened in opposition to the results of a nuclear blast and embody a spread of security measures, corresponding to anti-missile countermeasures and an onboard working room. They're additionally outfitted with air-to-air refueling capabilities for contingencies, although they've by no means been used with a president on board.

It isn't clear which capabilities have been added to the previous Qatari jet. The Air Power didn't reveal the price of the modifications, however lawmakers steered final 12 months that they may prime $1 billion.

Air Power officers stated they leased a 747-8 freighter from Atlas Air between October and February so pilots might get aware of the most recent variant. The U.S. has additionally bought two jets from the German provider Lufthansa for coaching and spare elements. Boeing stopped constructing 747s in 2023.