Conversion Of Temporary Air Force One Reportedly Under Way

Various reports suggest L3Harris is already at work adding gear to an ex-Qatari Royal Family Boeing 747-8 that President Donald Trump plans to use instead of the heavily modified VC-25s currently used as Air Force One. The Wall Street Journal and MSNBC say their sources have confirmed that the lavishly appointed 12-year-old aircraft is being modified somewhere in Texas. Trump has complained about having to use the current aircraft, converted 747-200s that went into service in 1990 and was behind a deal with Boeing to get replacements during his first presidency. Those planes, based on Boeing 747-8is, were supposed to be finished last year but latest reports say they might still be 10 years away.


This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/conversion-of-temporary-air-force-one-reportedly-under-way

“2028 when Trump is scheduled to leave office”

This is presuming that he won’t be reelected to a third term. He said that he’s not joking about wanting a third term.

The Vatican typically charters from the Italian flag carrier, ITA Airways.
Flying in the modifed ex-Qatari Royal Family Boeing 747-8 will be quite the adjustment for the humble new Pope, after the smoke finally clears from the past one.

I’m certain American taxpayers will be thrilled to fund this new papal transport as they search the aisles for toilet paper. He is, after all, the Chosen One.

And aren’t popes given lifetime positions until death? No need to schedule anything but tee times…
So get crackin, people, he wants to start using the refurbished plane by this coming fall!

Se eleggessero il tipo di Mar-a-Vatican come papa, uscirebbe del fumo arancione.

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Just 12 years old. So it will not be the same 747 which hung around various airports giving happy interior fitters in Europe work for for years and years, (1995-2005?) without actually ever going anywhere… Property of a prince.
Hate to say it, but the man might be on to something. These days I am sure the button is an app on his iPhone (made in China), rather than a silver briefcase with plug sockets in it, which could only be carried by colonels and higher, and which needed a radio set the size of a desk.
So as long as he can find a signal…
Let us hope that the modifications include being able to use SAF.
Who knows, stranger things have happened.

“Those planes, based on Boeing 747-8is, were supposed to be finished last year but latest reports say they might still be 10 years away”

Missing a delivery date by 10 years?
Honestly I’m sorta glad that POTUS is going back to earlier days when just grabbing an existing plane was the norm.

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Why not just use trumpforce one, then? He already has a 767, so why bother with a larger, more expensive aircraft?

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Probably a conflict of interest (billing for one), then there is a question of can a private plane be commissioned into the air force as AF1, and then there is the need to have the USA brand on the side of the plane, etc, etc.

Personally, if I was President, I think it would be great to hitch a ride in the back seat of the latest two seat F-15 if I had to travel by air. Oh heck yea.

Will Boeing install the doorplugs? Asking for a friend.

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“Royal Family”, “lavishly appointed”, “complained”, “Flying Palace”, “sumptuous aircraft”?

I like what you bring to us, and I know it’s hard to keep one’s own opinions out of the words we produce, but I’ve got to say - it looks like you worked to use words to make the current US president look bad.

Still glad you wrote the article! Keep up the good work. But maybe tone it down just a little please.

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Then perhaps he should stop flying to his golf motel every weekend and stay in Washington.

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Arthur, you didn’t actually utter the words “conflict of interest”, did you, as if that ship hasn’t already sailed long ago?

Exactly. King Trump, reign of the greatest circus of all time.

Truth will set you free.

Hey, people … save your political comment BS for Facebook. If you wanna bash Boeing, have a nut. They deserve it.

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Imagine the president complaining about having to fly on AF1. Crazy.

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… and it would smell like Boise … :face_with_hand_over_mouth:

Wasn’t Musk and the DOGE program tasked to eliminate waste in government?

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… and POTUS doesn’t? Waste, Fraud, Abuse, anyone?

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