The U.S. Air Force says a Qatar-donated Boeing 747 has completed modifications and testing and is expected to be ready this summer for temporary use as Air Force One. The jet is being repainted in red, white and blue and will serve as a "bridge" until two newly refitted aircraft are delivered, now projected for 2028. The $400 million gift raised ethics and security questions, and officials have not disclosed which defensive systems or the final modification costs.
Qatar-Donated Boeing 747 To Serve As Temporary Air Force One This Summer
President Donald Trump boards Air Force One at Ocala International Airport, in Ocala Fla., Friday, May 1, 2026, after speaking at an event in The Villages, Fla. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The U.S. Air Force announced late Friday that it has completed modifications and testing on a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar and expects the jet to be ready this summer for temporary use as Air Force One.
Repainting and Preparations: The aircraft is currently being repainted in a red, white and blue livery. Air Force officials describe the plane as a short-term “bridge” solution until two newly refitted presidential aircraft are delivered, now projected for 2028.
Gift, Cost and Controversy: Defense officials accepted the luxury jet about a year ago amid questions about the ethics and legality of accepting a high-value gift from a foreign government and concerns about security and cyber risks. The aircraft is valued at roughly $400 million; lawmakers have estimated total modification costs could exceed $1 billion, though the Air Force has not released a definitive figure.
Security Questions Remain: Security — not luxury — is the primary requirement for presidential air travel. The current Air Force One aircraft were custom-built near the end of the Cold War and include hardened structures, anti-missile countermeasures, an onboard operating room and air-to-air refueling capability. It remains unclear which of those defensive or specialized systems, if any, were installed on the former Qatari jet.
Training and Logistics: To prepare crews for the newer 747 variant, the Air Force leased a 747-8 freighter from Atlas Air for several months so pilots could train on the model. The U.S. also purchased two 747s from Lufthansa for training and spare parts. Boeing ended production of the 747 in 2023, and a lengthy retrofit program for replacement presidential aircraft has suffered nearly a decade of delays due to subcontractor bankruptcy and staffing and clearance challenges.
Future Plans: President Donald Trump has framed the donation as a taxpayer-saving measure and has said he would eventually donate the plane to a future presidential library after his term, similar to how Ronald Reagan’s Boeing 707 was retired and displayed. Meanwhile, Air Force leaders say the Qatar-donated 747 will keep presidential airlift operational until the new jets arrive.
Bottom line: The plane is slated to be service-ready this summer as a temporary Air Force One, but key security upgrades and the final cost of modifications remain undisclosed.
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