President Donald Trump could be about to take to the skies in style, and while we already knew the current Air Force One models (VC-25As) are due to be replaced by Boeing's VC-25Bs in 2027, a surprise gift from the Qatar royal family could be hitting Americans hard in the pocket.
Donald Trump is used to making a statement with his transportation choices, and when not driving around in the heavily armored Cadillac known as 'The Beast', you might find him flying above us in one of the infamous Air Force One planes.
The Commander-in-Chief is currently in the Middle East, and after getting fighter jet support to chaperone Air Force One into Saudi Arabia, he's also marked out stops in Doha and the United Arab Emirates. While that's not quite up there with the air miles of Taylor Swift or Jeff Bezos' private jet pumping out emissions, there's still some controversy surrounding Trump's decision to accept a $400m Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet that's tipped to become a 'palace in the sky'.
Advert
Trump has said that only a 'stupid person' would turn down the gift, but according to NBC News, retrofitting the jet into becoming the next Air Force One could cost $1 billion. Experts told the outlet that accepting the 13-year-old jet would cost hundreds of millions and soar past its current $400 million value due to installing 'top-secret' systems. More than this, it's said that it wouldn't even be ready in time for the end of Trump's term in 2029, after which, Air Force One is expected to be given to Trump’s presidential library foundation.
Discussing the aviation overhaul, Richard Aboulafia, an analyst and consultant on commercial and military aviation, explained: "You’re taking a 747, disassembling it, reassembling it, and then jacking it up to a very high level."
This isn’t too surprising when you remember Air Force One is considered the most complicated aircraft on the planet and has to serve as a mobile communications center. Air Force One requires everything from missile defense to midair refuelling capabilities, and in times of emergency or war, it even has to include the ability to command and control nuclear weapons.
If the jet were to become the new Air Force One, it would have to be stripped to check for listening devices before adding in the government's own secure systems, as well as living quarters for the POTUS, White House medical staff, and the Secret Service.
Considering Boeing is already well into its multiyear mission to convert a pair of 747s to replace the current fleet of Air Force One planes at a cost of $5.3 billion, it also makes no financial sense because the contract for the Qatar jet would also likely go to Boeing.
Aboulafia continued: "Since you’re also disassembling and reassembling the jet for security reasons, you’re probably going to go with the people who know it better. If you have to rip the plane apart, that’s more of a Boeing job."
Qatari officials have said no official decision has been made on transferring the 747-8 for use as Air Force One, while the White House didn't respond to NBC's request for comment.