Air Force: Qatar 747 Ready as Interim Air Force One This Summer

The U.S. Air Force announced Friday that a Boeing 747-8 jet donated by Qatar last year will be ready for service as a temporary Air Force One this summer. The aircraft, accepted by the Defense Department in May 2025, has completed modifications and flight testing and is now undergoing painting in a red, white and blue livery selected by President Donald Trump.

The plane serves as an interim presidential aircraft while the Air Force awaits delivery of two new Boeing 747-8s, delayed until mid-2028 due to technical issues. The service began seeking a stopgap 747 in December 2024 amid ongoing problems with the long-term replacements, originally contracted for 2024.

Modifications, costing around $400 million and handled by L3Harris Technologies, focused primarily on security upgrades. Workers installed top-secret communications equipment and disassembled interior sections to check for surveillance devices. Arabic-language signs and some artwork were removed, and U.S. presidential seals were added, but the luxurious features from its Qatari service remain largely intact, including oversize leather seats, plush couches and faux library bookcases.

"By and large, the airplane that we're...