Air Force One, the US accepted as « gift » Boeing 747 of Qatar: the confirmation of the Pentagon
The quadimotor jet must now be subjected to interventions to make it safe and suitable for the transport of the US president: over a billion dollars the expected expenditure. Trump wants to fly already in 2025
The « mystery » on the fate of the Qatar Boeing 747 is now officially resolved after days of discussions. The United States agrees to receive as a gift from the royal family of Doha the quadimetor and then transform it into the third aircraft which will be added to the fleet of the presidential Air Force One. It is the Pentagon that confirms it in a note. The aircraft – which will now be taken over by the US military Air Force for the interventions required by the security protocols – will be able to transport the American president Donald Trump not before end of this year, after over a billion dollars of expenditure.
Confirmation
« The defense secretary accepted a Boeing 747-8 from Qatar in accordance with all the rules and federal regulations, » said the chief spokesman for the Pentagon, Sean Parnell. « The Department of Defense will work to ensure that they are considered adequate security measures and operating requirements for a plane intended for the transport of the President of the United States ».
Concerns
Several members (Democrats and Republicans) of the congress expressed their opposition not only for fears that the aircraft is used as « Trojan horse » But also for the risk of influencing the decisions of the White House. At the moment it is not clear when it really wants to finish the work. Trump wants to fly to us as soon as possible to replace him with the other two specimens – Boeing 747 « classics », in service for 35 years – which in addition to being old often break.
The movements
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. 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. Trump had the opportunity to inspect the aircraft in person When he was at West Palm Beach international airport on February 15 last. On February 16 the Jet returned to Doha. The next day 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.
The contract with Boeing
The United States signed an agreement with Boeing 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.
Management costs
The Pentagon documents calculate that every year the operational expenditure for an Air Force One is 134 million dollars. Of these $ 37.7 million only for staff, 27 million for maintenance, almost 17 million for continuous improvements to systems.
