What Trump does not want you to know about the Qatari Boeing 747, and why it's a fiasco
Washington D.C.: Converting a Qatar-owned Boeing 747 into a new Air Force One for former President Donald Trump could cost over $1 billion and take years longer than his potential second term, aviation experts told NBC News.
The13-year-old jet, valued at $400 million, would require extensive retrofitting—including classified communications systems, missile defense, and anti-eavesdropping measures—potentially pushing completion into the 2030s.
The plane would need near-total disassembly to remove security risks, followed by installation of advanced tech like midair refueling and electromagnetic pulse shielding. "You’re jacking it up to a very high level," aerospace analyst Richard Aboulafia told NBC News, estimating costs in the billions.
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The project would likely default to Boeing, which is already years behind on a $5.3 billion contract to build two new Air Force One jets, now delayed until at least 2027.
Trump’s plan includes transferring the retrofitted jet to his presidential library by 2029, necessitating removal of sensitive systems—a logistical hurdle. Experts question the rationale, given Boeing’s ongoing work.
A Brief History of Air Force One
The first sitting president to fly was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who traveled aboard a modified Douglas Dolphin amphibious aircraft in the 1930s and later on a C-54 Skymaster called the "Sacred Cow" during World War II. This marked the beginning of purpose-built presidential aircraft, as military advisors sought safer alternatives to commercial flights for the president.
After World War II, President Harry Truman used the Independence, a modified Douglas DC-6. The jet age brought significant changes under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who introduced four propeller-driven aircraft, including two Lockheed C-121 Constellations named Columbine II and III, and two Aero Commander planes for shorter trips.
In 1953, a near-miss over Virginia -- when a commercial flight and the president’s plane shared the same call sign -- prompted the creation of the unique 'Air Force One' designation to avoid confusion.
The first aircraft to officially carry the Air Force One call sign was Columbine II, which Eisenhower used extensively during his presidency. As jet technology advanced, the Air Force replaced propeller-driven planes with jets. In 1959, the Boeing 707 (VC-137) entered service as the first presidential jet.
President John F. Kennedy’s administration introduced the iconic blue-and-white livery designed by Raymond Loewy, which remains a symbol of Air Force One today.
Throughout the Cold War and into the modern era, the fleet evolved to include more advanced jets. The most recognizable Air Force One aircraft are the two Boeing VC-25As (modified 747-200Bs) introduced in 1990 under President George H.W. Bush. These planes feature advanced communications, security systems, and accommodations for the president, staff, and guests, allowing the aircraft to function as a flying command center in times of crisis.