Boeing (NYSE: BA) 747-8 aircraft donated by the Qatari government has officially arrived at Joint Base Andrews, marking a dramatic shift in how the United States’ most iconic plane will look and operate.
President Trump descended the stairs of the hulking jet inside an Andrews hangar, greeting Air Force officials and delivering remarks to assembled service members in a carefully staged unveiling.
The aircraft has been painted red, white and blue and adorned with the words “United States of America,” replacing the light blue color scheme first conceived by Jacqueline Kennedy that had defined the presidential aircraft for decades.
In place of that historic design is a navy blue and white fuselage cut through with red stripes, a look Trump has publicly championed since his first term in office.
“The workmanship of this plane is, when you see it, you won’t believe it,” Trump said inside the hangar, as several hundred Air Force personnel looked on while his signature tune “God Bless the USA” played.
Trump proclaimed the gifted aircraft “virtually double the size” of the previous model, which has flown presidents since 1990.
The Air Force formally stated that “the VC-25B Bridge aircraft has officially arrived at the Presidential Airlift Group and will commence its initial commissioning flights, marking the successful delivery of a secure, modified executive platform.”
The plane is intended to serve as a bridge between the two aging Boeing 747-200s currently in service and two new aircraft Boeing is modifying, which are not expected to be ready for roughly two more years.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink previously told lawmakers it would “probably” cost the Air Force less than $400 million to retrofit the donated aircraft, meaning taxpayers face additional costs on top of the foreign gift.
The Air Force also leased a 747-8 last year to allow pilots and maintenance crews to begin training on the new model, and separately purchased a 747-8 previously flown by Lufthansa as part of that training mission.
Taxpayers were additionally responsible for funding “a full three-dimensional mock-up of the interior” so officials could “begin familiarization training” ahead of the Qatari plane’s arrival, according to the Air Force.
Qatar’s gift has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats, who have derided the donation as a bribe and raised concerns about taxpayer funds being used to secure and update a plane that will only serve through the remainder of Trump’s current term.
Constitutional and security concerns have also been raised around accepting a high-value aircraft from a foreign government, though Trump has rejected any suggestion the arrangement presents a conflict of interest or security risk.
The plane is expected to be donated to Trump’s presidential library at the conclusion of his tenure, raising further questions about the long-term public benefit of the arrangement.
Trump arrived back from Europe on Thursday aboard the older jet, with White House staff posting farewell tributes to the aging aircraft on social media ahead of the new plane’s formal debut.
It remains unclear where Trump will make his inaugural flight on the new aircraft, though he is reportedly considering attending a fireworks display at Mount Rushmore in early July to mark the 250th anniversary of America’s founding.
