President Donald Trump on Friday confirmed off the brand new Air Power One, a formerly Qatari-owned jumbo jet that has been converted into the official U.S. presidential aircraft.
The brand new plane eschews the Kennedy-era robin’s egg blue exterior of the previous airplane for a bolder look, with the underbelly of the airplane painted navy blue with a pink stripe above it. The airplane’s left facet, the place the president boards, options the presidential seal, whereas the tail of the plane has an enormous American flag on it.
“The workmanship of this airplane is, whenever you see it, you gained’t imagine it,” Trump stated from inside the large Andrews Air Power Base hangar, as a pair hundred assembled Air Power personnel appeared on. He spoke after stepping off the brand new airplane in a dramatic flourish, as his signature tune “God Bless the USA” performed.
The reward from Qatar is serving as a so-called “bridge” plane to hold the president till the brand new planes ordered instantly from Boeing arrive. That’s at present slated for 2028.
The administration formally accepted a luxurious Boeing 747 jet from Qatar final 12 months for use because the presidential airplane, regardless of questions in regards to the ethics and legality of accepting such an costly reward from a international nation. Trump has insisted previously that he wouldn’t fly round within the Qatari jet as soon as he leaves workplace and stated it will as a substitute be donated to a future presidential library.
The Air Power has stated previously that safety modifications to the jet would value lower than $400 million.
Trump’s efforts to reimagine the presidential airplane date back to his first administration, when he directed that an incoming fleet of latest jets would undertake a coloration scheme that was almost similar to that of his private airplane. Then-President Joe Biden reversed the decision in March 2023 as an Air Power evaluate advised that the darker colours might improve prices and delay supply of the brand new jets, however as soon as Trump returned to workplace, he returned to his desired colours for the airplane.
Different authorities jets that carry different high administration officers can even use the same pink, white and navy coloration scheme, the Air Force said earlier this 12 months.
An Air Power spokesperson, who spoke on situation of anonymity to debate delicate plans, informed The Related Press that the 2 present planes, often known as VC-25As, won’t be retiring. As an alternative, they may stay within the fleet till the brand new Boeing planes, known as VC-25Bs, come into service, the spokesperson stated.
It’s unclear how the older jets will probably be used however the spokesperson stated that each the Qatari jet in addition to the VC-25As will probably be obtainable to be used and “the Presidential Airlift Group will choose the suitable plane for every mission primarily based on operational necessities.”
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Kim reported from Washington. Related Press author Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report from Washington.
