Qatar Gifts Donald Trump a Custom Boeing 747-8i to Serve as Interim Air Force One

A Temporary Presidential Aircraft for the United States

According to Главком: The government of Qatar has gifted a Boeing 747-8i to President Donald Trump, which will serve as a temporary Air Force One. This aircraft, painted in a red, white, and blue color scheme, has completed all required technical and flight tests. It will be used as a stopgap solution until Boeing finishes work on the new VC-25B planes. The livery matches the design Trump chose during his first term, a decision later reversed by President Joe Biden.

Aviation photographer Travis Gormley shared the first image of the modified Boeing 747-8i, taken in Waco, Texas, where the plane underwent upgrades. This gifted aircraft provides an operational interim solution while the new VC-25B models are being completed to replace the aging VC-25A fleet. The official unveiling is expected by the president’s birthday on June 14 or by U.S. Independence Day on July 4.

Specifications and Usage

The aircraft’s cabin spans nearly 445 square meters and measures 76.3 meters in length. It can stay airborne for 16 to 17 hours without refueling, covering over 16,000 kilometers. Only about 10 to 12 such planes exist globally in private VIP service. Key buyers include:

• the royal family of Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• the Sultanate of Brunei
• the governments of Morocco, Oman, and Kuwait

The Trump administration will accept the aircraft as a gift for the U.S. Air Force, meaning it will be placed on the balance sheet of the military branch rather than becoming the president’s personal property. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatar’s prime minister and foreign minister, clarified that:

“the possibility of transferring the aircraft to Donald Trump is not a gift, but an intergovernmental agreement.”

This transfer of a Boeing 747-8i from Qatar to the United States highlights the importance of international cooperation in military affairs and signals shifts in U.S. military aviation. With the new VC-25B jets still under development, this temporary arrangement ensures top-level travel stability. The official presentation of the plane may also symbolize a return to traditional values in presidential aviation. Notably, such an aircraft is extremely rare in private hands, underscoring its status and role in global politics.