Air Force One, so Trump’s men went in search of the new jet (in Qatar). To make it safe you need over 1 billion
Of the 8 « suitable » specimens to replace the presidential aircraft uses the choice fell on that used by the Doha’s royal family. The motion appears to block the « gift »
A billion dollars to make the Qatar Boeing 747 suitable for becoming an Air Force One. Another 134 million, per year, of expenses for use, just under the real value of the quadimetor aircraft. In the background the question becomes more and more political and delicate. With the leader of the democratic senators, Chuck Schumer, who – writes the site Axios – He wants to block parliamentary the use of a foreign aircraft as a state plane. While details are emerging on how the Trump administration ended up opt for the Doha’s royal family quadimator.
The search for the substitute
In two articles, Cnn And New York Times They explain that more than a « gift » of Qatar, the Boeing 747-8 Middle Eastern-more modern version of the two 747 used by the White House as Air Force One-was chosen after international research by men close to the American president. There were only 8 aircraft in circulation with the desired characteristics. But it was decided to focus on that Qatarino for the intense relationships with the country and the personal ones between Trump’s special envoy in the Middle East, Steven Witkoff, and Doha.
The chosen aircraft
The Boeing 747 of the royal family, registered P4-HBJ- as the Courier in recent days – He came out of the Boeing plants of Everett, near Seattle, just over thirteen years ago. Its market value, given the VIP configuration, is around $ 150 million, being a specimen that is halfway through its life cycle. According to the aeronautical registers, the giant of heaven in December 2023 went from the royal family to Global Jet of the British island of Man.
The movements of 747 Qatarino
Trump had the opportunity to inspect the aircraft in person when he was at West Palm Beach international airport. According to tracking sites, 747-8 landed in Florida on February 15 last. The New York Times He writes that the US President went to see him around 10 in the morning, staying struck. On February 16 he returned to Doha, also flying over Italy. The day after the jet he reappeared in the USA. Then on March 30 he flew to Paris-Charles de Gaulle. On April 2 he landed in Bangor, Maine. On April 3 in San Antonio, Texas. And from there he has never moved.
Boeing delays
Trump’s haste is also the result of Boeing’s continuous delays in deliveries. The United States signed an agreement in 2018 – worth 3.9 billion dollars – to receive two 747 new ones to be used starting from 2024 as the new Air Force One. Now those aircraft could arrive when Trump has already finished the second term. Unless – as they asked from the American aeronautical giant – some procedures are not lightened and then Boeing can deliver the planes already in 2027. However too late for the republican president.
The protection systems
To make the 747-8 of Qatar really a presidential plane-that is, with the requested safety standards-two years of work could be served and over a billion dollars of expenditure. Each of the Air Force One currently on duty is equipped with different infrared systems capable of deviating air-air and terra-air missiles. To these are added the countermeasures to « confuse » an incoming rocket like the « chaff » and « flare ». The two presidential jets are also equipped with ultraviolet sensors that detect and follow the threats by identifying the thermal trace of a flight rocket.
Telematic equipment
The Boeing fuselage is also strengthened with shielding coating that protects it from electromagnetic damage caused by different explosions. While on an electronic level the communication lines are encrypted and « protected » by disturbers capable of blocking the radar systems of any close aircraft during the time of dangerous air spaces. The 747 presidentials can fly 14-15 hours, but can be supplied in flight through the muzzle.
Daily management
But how much does it cost to manage an Air Force One? The Pentagon document calculate that every year the operational expenditure is 134 million dollars, over $ 367 thousand a day. Of these $ 37.7 million only for staff, 27 million for maintenance, almost 17 million for continuous improvements to systems. In fact, the Qatar plane would cost how much it would be paid for thirteen months of managing one of the current presidential aircraft.
