Qatari Jumbo Gift to USA
 

Apologies if posted elsewhere.

Am I the only one scratching their head in disbelief over this? I'm not talking about the acceptance of the gift, it's more that it's been mooted as a replacement for Air Force 1. All I've read is that the Boeing replacement for the current Air Force 1(s) is years and years over budget and behind schedule because of the need for advanced communications and defence kit to be built into the new planes, so how is it that Trumo will be able to fly about in this new plane which presumably has none of the required comms and defence equipment??

Alchad.

If he is permitted to fly onboard a Gulfstream or VH-92A as well, the essential kit can't be that much.

Wouldn't the secret service insist the gift aircraft be torn down and rebuilt from scratch? If so, how much would that cost and how long would it take?

Misleading title
 

It’s a gift for President Trump. If he leaves office he takes it with him. Rather his foundation.

The cost of making it AF1worthy has already been approximated at about a bn. And will take close to 2 years to complete.

It feels like a PR move more than anything. Qatar gets to get rid of something they don't really want and look good doing it while Trump gets to ruffle more feathers.

How do you say, “It’s nothing, really…” in Qatari Arabic?

"إنه لا شيء حقًا..."

He said that it was for the Dept of Defence in a tweet this weekend

Apparently the offer dates back to the Biden administration - and Amadis noted - Qatar no longer wants it.
Some of the reports are that it's not a 'gift' as such as the US will in fact pay for it (although somewhat below market value).

It probably kinda is nothing to the Emir. Keep in mind, he bought three of those things brand new. It looks like he's keeping one (the one that's in Qatar Airways colors), one has long since become Turkey's Air Force One, and then there is whatever will become of this last one...

I seriously doubt this Qatari airplane will ever see service as AF1. If he actually accepts it, he may use it if it belongs to some non-governmental entity of his. But the operating costs have to be eye watering so can even he afford to own/operate it ?

The credible sources are saying it's not a gift to Trump, it's a gift to the US - and not really a gift so much as a below market sale (something I learned during the first Trump administration is to assume at least half of the 'news' you read about Trump is either false or intentionally misleading - much of the media hates the guy with a passion). So it'll never 'belong' to Trump. If it ends up being gifted to the Trump library after he leaves office, it'll be as display aircraft (which was done with other AF1 aircraft gifted to presidential libraries) - not something he can use to replace his private 757.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq855lx87z3o

US accepts Qatari plane into Air Force One fleet

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standar...11e862abc1.jpgImage source, Getty Images Image caption, Trump toured the plane in Palm Beach back in February

Mike Wendling
BBC News

• Published
  21 May 2025

The US has accepted a plane intended for the Air Force One fleet from Qatar, a gift that has sparked criticism including from some of President Trump's biggest supporters.

"The secretary of defense has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar in accordance with all federal rules and regulations," Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement on Wednesday. The plane will need to be modified before it can be used as part of Air Force One - the president's official mode of air transport. The White House insists that the gift is legal, but the announcement of the transfer a week ago caused huge controversy. The plane is a gift from the Qatari royal family and is estimated to be worth $400m (£300m). The White House says that the new plane will be transferred to Trump's presidential library at the end of his term.

How fast can they be now? Wouldn't they need to remove all the cabin and start from scratch with an empty aircraft, installing new custom harnesses and stuff? Everything done under military standards by military TS-contractors. Looking at those Transaero frames, can this be done in time for this term?

There is already a long running thread in the Mil forum, thanks :ok: