Air Force says Qatar-donated 747 could be delivered for Trump use by summer 2026

The Air Force said it expects to deliver the Boeing 747-8 jet donated by Qatar no later than summer 2026, raising the possibility that President Trump could begin flying on the aircraft later this year. The service has been working since September to upgrade the luxury plane to meet the security needs of transporting the president.

It remains unclear whether the jet will receive the full suite of Air Force One security upgrades. Industry experts and Pentagon officials have estimated the necessary modifications could cost as much as $1 billion and take up to two years, while Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told Congress the modifications would run “probably less than $400 million.” One person familiar with the project, speaking anonymously, said the plane would be painted to Mr.

Trump’s liking and luxury amenities installed by the summer but that not all security measures would be completed; that official expected Mr. Trump to sign off because he wants to start using it. The Air Force said it was “committed to expediting delivery” and had worked with “appropriate government entities to ensure the appropriate security measures and functional mission requirements are met.” Lawmakers have voiced concern about the expedited timeline.

Senator Tammy Duckworth said she was “deeply troubled by how quickly the Air Force is pressing this aircraft into service,” warning that cutting corners could threaten national security.

Key Topics

Politics, Qatar, U.s. Air Force, Donald Trump, Troy Meink