The President of the USA Donald Trump presented this Friday (19) the Boeing 747-8 which will serve as the new United States presidential plane and stated that the aircraft, presented by the government of Qataris “practically twice the size” of the previous model.
“With the extraordinary dedication of many of you here today, this plane has been transformed into a flying White House at a level of luxury that no one has ever seen before,” Trump said in front of the aircraft, inside a hangar at Joint Base Andrews.
The plane — named VC-25B Bridge aircraft by the Air Force — is expected to begin initial commissioning flights, after an adaptation carried out by the United States to adapt the aircraft to government use. The model should function as a temporary solution until the arrival of a new fleet of Boeing planes, scheduled for 2028.
The paintwork is in white, burgundy and navy blue — a marked change from the traditional light blue of the planes that have been in service for decades.
“We painted everything, and these are the new colors: red, white and blue,” Trump said. “We liked the light blue, but it was time for a change. And this is the most elegant design. Everything was very well designed. It was to my taste.”
Trump indicated that a larger hangar will be needed at the military base to accommodate the new, “much larger” models, which have not yet been delivered, in addition to the jet received as a gift. He added that he plans a flyby of the new aircraft on July 4 over the White House and the Capitol.
Trump’s decision to accept the plane from the Qatari government provoked fierce controversy at the start of his second term, raising questions about foreign influence and security, including whether the aircraft could be properly adapted for classified missions and matters.
“I want to thank the emir of Qatar,” Trump said this Friday. “He’s a fantastic guy.”
The US Air Force said in a statement that the aircraft is “safe, secure and equipped with the most advanced technologies necessary to meet presidential mission requirements.”
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“These requirements were carefully crafted to prioritize mission over aesthetics, leaving much of the head of state’s previous internal configuration with minimal changes,” the Air Force said. “No risks were assumed in the safety, security or communications of the mission.”
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said last year that retrofitting the plane gifted by Qatar would likely cost less than $400 million.
Air Force One is one of the main symbols of the American Presidency. There are two large presidential aircraft that perform this function and receive the designation “Air Force One” whenever the president is on board.
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White House officials paid tribute to the earlier version of the plane, identified by tail number 29000, after Trump returned from the G7 summit aboard the aircraft earlier this week in what was his final international trip as Air Force One.
White House communications director Steven Cheung said it was “the last trip,” while deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino posted a short farewell video from the plane.
“It has become the most famous plane in the entire world,” Trump said on Friday, adding that he will probably “put it in a museum.” “Age has finally started to take its toll.”
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The current pair of planes have been in service since the 1990s. The aircraft that Trump’s advisers said goodbye to on Thursday was present at historic moments: it was the plane that President George W. Bush was on board after the September 11 attacks.
It was not immediately clear whether the other 747-200B jet, tail number 28000, had yet made its final international trip. It was also unclear whether the 29000 will still be used for domestic travel.
Earlier this year, Air Force One was forced to return during Trump’s trip to Davos, with the White House citing a “minor electrical issue.” Trump then flew in a smaller plane, which indicated that the second large aircraft was unavailable.
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