The Boeing 747-8i that Donald Trump wants to use as Air Force One and its serious drawbacks

The next US presidential plane has become a controversial issue for several reasons.

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About this plane, a Boeing 747-8i (the i stands for Intercontinental) gifted by the royal family of Qatar, you can see here the video published today by Fly By Wire Aviation (an excellent YouTube channel that I recommend you subscribe to) giving some information and showing exterior and interior images of this luxurious plane (the video is in Spanish, you can activate automatic English subtitles in the bottom bar of the player):

This 747-8i was purchased by Qatar Amiri Flight, a Qatari government company that dedicates its services almost exclusively to the Thani family, which controls the Islamic dictatorship. Boeing delivered the aircraft in April 2012, and it was registered as P4-HBJ. Equipped with every luxury, this plane is like a flying palace.

A few days ago, Trump expressed his willingness to accept the $400 million jet gifted by Qatar. "Some people say, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t accept gifts for the country.’ My attitude is, why wouldn’t I accept a gift? We’re giving to everybody else, why wouldn’t I accept a gift?" To be honest, the plane isn't exactly a gift to the country, but to Trump. ABC News reported that the plane would be used by Trump during his term and later transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation, which has raised questions about the legality of the transaction and also criticism even from within Republican ranks.

The reason Trump wants this plane is that the current Air Force One (remember that this name is a radio callsign given to every plane the US president is flying on at a given time, while the vice president's plane is Air Force Two) are two Boeing VC-25As (a modified version of the 747-200B) that made their first flights in 1987, during Ronald Reagan's term. These planes are about to turn 40 years old.

On January 28, 2015, the United States Air Force (USAF) (the operator of these aircraft) announced the selection of the Boeing 747-8 as the new Air Force One. Construction of the two new presidential aircraft, designated VC-25B, began that same year. These planes have become a headache for Boeing. In December 2016, Trump denounced that "costs are out of control, more than $4 billion", and asked to cancel the order.

Ultimately, it was agreed that Boeing would sign a fixed-price contract with Boeing covering any cost overruns on the planes. In April 2022, Boeing said it had already lost $660 million on the planes. As of today, construction of those two VC-25Bs is still ongoing and is expected to be delivered in 2027, when the current VC-25As will be 40 years old.

Beyond the legal and political issues, the 747-8i gifted by Qatar to Trump will not be remotely free for US taxpayers. It must be taken into account that the plane must undergo a meticulous inspection to be able to serve as a presidential plane. It will also need communications equipment and other security systems that are classified and that will have to be paid for by the USAF. This would entail disassembling the plane to its most basic structure and then reassembling it. Current forecasts indicate that this 747-8i conversion would be completed after 2028, the year Trump's current term ends.

A few days ago, CNN reported on the plane: "a person a person familiar with the details of the potential plan said the value of the Qatari aircraft is closer to $250 million. Overhauling it, according to administration estimates the person has been briefed on, could cost as much as three times that, or more." While it won't be as expensive as the VC-25Bs under construction, one has to wonder what's the point of paying such a high sum for a plane that likely won't be ready until after the two VC-25Bs arrive —not to mention that the 747-8i would end up in the hands of Trump's presidential foundation.

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Main photo: John Taggart. Boeing 747-8i P4-HBJ photographed in December 2015 bearing the registration A7-HBJ.