US President Donald Trump took his maiden flight on a newly retrofitted Boeing 747-800, gifted by Qatar and valued at approximately US$400 million, which officially joined the Air Force One fleet last month. The aircraft underwent extensive modifications, including security upgrades funded by US taxpayers, before being cleared for presidential use.

Trump used the plane to travel to North Dakota to visit the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. He views the jet as a necessary replacement for the 35-year-old planes that previously served as Air Force One.

The Air Force stated it made minimal changes to the cabin layout and spent less than US$400 million on security enhancements. The refurbished jet features a navy-blue belly with red and gold stripes, replacing the traditional light blue hull, and includes luxury amenities such as plush carpets, lie-flat seats, wood paneling, and presidential seals on the seat belts, reflecting the president's preferences.

Trump expressed pride in the aircraft's luxurious design, stating, “You can do two things: You can low-key it, or you can show it.”

The retrofitted Qatari jet is intended to serve as a transitional aircraft bridging the gap between the aging Boeing jets that have served as Air Force One for the past 36 years and two new aircraft expected to be delivered no earlier than 2028.

Jeremiah Gertler, senior analyst at Teal Group, an aviation and defense consulting firm, noted that the jet's limited communications antennas and other absences suggest it is better suited for domestic flights rather than international missions.

Sources