U.S. President Donald Trump shared his excitement for the inaugural flight of the new Air Force One, a luxury jet donated by the government of Qatar, saying the United States “couldn’t build a plane like this.”
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews ahead of his flight to North Dakota for an America 250 celebration, the president praised the craftsmanship and features of the heavily modified aircraft.
The president remarked that the aircraft had just been completed and tailored appropriately for executive travel. He noted that the security integration and the various complex features put on the plane made it an impressive feat of aviation engineering.
Trump, who is expected to use the plane until a new, permanently modified U.S. fleet is finished in roughly two years, claimed there has never been a plane quite like it.
He stated that the U.S. would not normally be willing to spend the massive amount of money necessary to construct a jet to this specific standard, adding that the Qataris spent top dollar on its initial design. Trump previously unveiled the jet at Joint Base Andrews, describing it as the world’s most luxurious plane.
The introduction of the new aircraft follows recent social media farewells from White House officials to the heavily modified Boeing 747-200 fleet, which has flown under the Air Force One callsign since 1990.
The Qatari-gifted Boeing 747-800 is designated to serve as a temporary bridge to alleviate pressure on the aging fleet while Boeing finishes building and retrofitting two long-delayed, purpose-built VC-25B presidential aircraft. Those permanent replacements are not expected to be fully delivered to the Air Force for another two years.
