Qatari Boeing 747-8 Presented to Trump Could Carry US President This Summer

The Boeing 747-8 wide-body aircraft presented by Qatar could begin operating as the US presidential aircraft, Air Force One, as early as this summer.

This was reported by The Aviationist.

The aircraft is being considered as a temporary solution while work continues on the main presidential aircraft, the VC-25B, which is intended to replace the aging VC-25A.

The US Air Force accepted the former Qatari aircraft in May 2025, with modification work beginning in September. If it enters service this summer, the full conversion cycle will have taken less than a year.

This pace contrasts sharply with the usual timelines for preparing presidential aircraft, which typically take several years.

The conversion process is effectively equivalent to a full overhaul, given the need to install self-defense systems, secure communications, specialized command-and-control equipment and other critical components.

US President Donald Trump, now in his second term, has repeatedly criticized the condition of the current VC-25A aircraft. The two heavily modified Boeing 747-200Bs have been in service since 1990, and their age has made maintenance increasingly difficult.

Boeing has yet to deliver a successor, the VC-25B, which was originally scheduled to enter service in 2024 but is now not expected before 2028. These delays are seen as a key factor behind the decision to accept the Qatari aircraft, an unprecedented step for US presidential aviation.

Critics have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, particularly amid reports that the aircraft could be transferred to Trump after his presidency. Security concerns, including espionage risks, have also drawn attention.

According to unofficial assessments, the new VC-25 could be used primarily for domestic flights, while the existing VC-25A aircraft would continue to handle international missions.

Despite public discussion surrounding the aircraft, details of its conversion remain limited. The US Air Force has declined to disclose information about specific modifications or whether requirements have been simplified to speed its entry into service.

US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said in 2025 that the cost of modifying the Qatari aircraft would be less than $400 million, significantly below earlier estimates of close to $1 billion.

According to him, the funding would come from unused funds allocated to the LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program.