Converting a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar into a new Air Force One for former President Donald Trump would pose major challenges in terms of both cost and time, aviation experts said, and the aircraft would lack critical capabilities of the current Air Force One and pose serious security risks.
The Trump administration plans to buy a luxury 400-747 jet worth about $8 million from the Qatari royal family, which it intends to use as Air Force One for the remainder of his term, ABC News reported on Sunday. 1 It was reported that the Air Force would take over the 13-year-old aircraft, make it suitable for presidential use, and transfer it to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation by the end of 2028. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that L3Harris had been tasked with converting a Qatar 747 aircraft in Texas into an interim Air Force One aircraft to be completed by the end of this year.
Richard Aboulafia, a military aircraft expert and general manager of AeroDynamic Advisory, said that considering such an aircraft as Air Force One would be problematic for a number of reasons, not to mention ethical concerns. “The whole thing is based on a shameful misunderstanding of what Air Force One is supposed to do. If it’s a gold-plated palace in the sky and nothing more, then go ahead. If it’s a real tool for the worst-case scenario [like nuclear war], then this is not it,” Aboulafia said.
Boeing was originally scheduled to deliver two new Air Force One jets under the VC-25B program in 2024. But that date has been repeatedly postponed due to pandemic complications, supply chain issues and other challenges to the company. The Air Force first announced in 2015 that a pair of 747-8s would be the new presidential jets. But the costs did not please Trump, and his first administration engaged in harsh negotiations with Boeing to lower the price. Trump has grown impatient with Boeing’s delays and has expressed his displeasure with the company. The new Air Force Ones may not be ready until 2029 after Trump leaves office, but an Air Force official told lawmakers last week that changes to the requirements were being considered that could allow the jets to be delivered in 2027. Boeing and L3Harris declined to comment, and the Air Force referred questions to the White House.
Trump addressed the potential 747 deal in a post on Truth Social on Sunday evening, claiming that “the Department of Defense got the plane for FREE.”
Air Force One not only transports the US president around the world, but is also designed to be a flight situation room that allows the commander-in-chief to direct the US military and government during a major disaster such as World War III. These aircraft are equipped with capabilities such as secure communication systems, military-grade power systems, and covert self-defense systems to protect the president and medical facility from possible enemy attack.
Doug Birkey, executive director of the Mitchell Institute for Aeronautics and Space Studies, said Air Force One has “one of the most perfect communications suites on the planet.” “It functions as a command and control center [in the most challenging conditions] [you can imagine]. Just in everyday life, this thing is extremely connected,” Birkey said.
Aboulafia said past Air Force One aircraft were built with redundancy to ensure critical systems could continue to operate in the event of a problem and to remain operational during a nuclear war. “If [Trump] wants all the capabilities and features of Air Force One, that would be a step backwards,” Aboulafia said. “They’re going to have to start over with what they’ve been working on with the other 25-747s under the VC-8B program.”
Aboulafia said upgrading the 747 from scratch with those capabilities could take until the 2030s and cost “billions and billions” of dollars. “Even the ability to communicate and manage encrypted communications with military forces around the world — that’s a very expensive endeavor,” Aboulafia said. “The other 747-8s [planned for the VC-25B program] are ongoing, they’ve been ongoing for years. It’s going to take a lot longer to start over with the same airplane.”
Air refueling was a feature found on previous Air Force One aircraft but not on the modified Qatari 747. The capability was also available on the VC-25B. Air Force One is also likely to have the highest level of information security on the planet, as the president could use it to run the country in the event of a nuclear war. Aboulafia said the provision of a plane for the Qatari royal family is a huge concern and that the aircraft should be thoroughly vetted and scanned for listening devices. He said that would likely require a deep dive into its inner workings. “That would be a huge security concern,” Aboulafia said.
Asked if it’s possible to upgrade a 747-8 to Air Force One in a few months — the current VC-25B jets have been in development for about a decade — Birkey said it depends on the military and the administration deciding what needs to be put on the aircraft. “That timeline really depends on the scale and scope of the requirements,” Birkey said.
