Qatar Donates Boeing 747 to U.S. Air Force for Presidential Use

The U.S. Air Force has announced the completion of modifications and testing on a Boeing 747 that has been donated by Qatar, making it ready to temporarily serve as Air Force One for President Donald Trump.

As of Friday, the Air Force shared that the aircraft will move into the painting phase, preparing it in red, white, and blue for America’s 250th birthday celebration on July 4th.

Back in 2025, the luxury jet was received by the White House from Qatar, and a request was made for the Air Force to quickly bring it up to presidential standards.

“The aircraft is on schedule to deliver this summer,” an Air Force spokesperson stated.

According to Air Force officials, the aircraft has already undergone modifications and flight testing.

If everything goes as planned, Trump will have the new presidential jet just in time for the national celebrations.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth accepted the jet last year, despite some concerns over security and the ethics of accepting a gift of such value from a foreign country.

While the president has mentioned he wouldn’t fly in the aircraft at the end of his term, he hopes it can be donated to a future presidential library, similar to the Boeing 707 used by President Ronald Reagan.

The current Air Force One jets have been in use for around 40 years, and Trump has been advocating for their replacement. Still, Boeing’s project to convert 747-8 aircraft into the next presidential jets is running about four years behind schedule.

With the new planes expected to be ready close to the end of his term, Trump has expressed dissatisfaction, calling the situation “a total mess,” and noting that some planes flown by Arab leaders are nicer than Air Force One.

The Qatari jet, valued at $400 million and featuring luxurious accommodations, has been likened to a “palace in the sky.”

This former Qatari aircraft will act as a temporary solution until Boeing delivers a pair of new planes projected for 2028, as per Air Force officials.

The specifics regarding the enhancements made to the former Qatari jet remain unclear, and the Air Force did not provide the cost of the modifications. However, lawmakers previously estimated those costs could approach $1 billion.