Trump Reveals When He'll First Fly Qatari-Gifted Air Force One
It was refurbished in time for America's 250th.
President Trump will take his first flight aboard the new, Qatari-gifted Air Force One Wednesday, July 1, when he travels to North Dakota for a Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library dedication ceremony, the White House said Friday.
The trip is one of several events Mr. Trump will join to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. The Boeing 747-8i, designated the VC-25B Bridge aircraft, will be the presidential transport until Boeing delivers two fully outfitted VC-25Bs in the coming years.
Mr. Trump accepted the aircraft, valued at roughly $400 million, from the Qatari royal family last year, drawing criticism from lawmakers and ethics watchdogs over national-security and constitutional concerns. The U.S. government has spent an estimated $1 billion converting the plane into a secure presidential aircraft.
Defense contractor L3Harris led that conversion, transforming the Qatari VVIP jet into a VC-25B in just 10 months, per Jason Lambert, president of the company’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance business. L3Harris staged employees around the clock in a 24/7, three-shift operation to meet an Independence Day deadline, Mr. Lambert told The War Zone.
Before any modification work began, teams of experts from the U.S. government and L3Harris — specializing in cybersecurity and electronic warfare — conducted what he called an “electronic scrubbing” of the aircraft, examining the exterior, interior, and all onboard systems to rule out hidden listening devices and other tampering, given the plane’s foreign origin.
“I can assure you that was very effectively managed to the highest degree,” Mr. Lambert said, adding the security work began before physical modifications started.
L3Harris also serves as the prime contractor for the senior-leader-communication secure voice, video, and data network the president uses to talk with staff and world leaders aboard Air Force One. Mr. Lambert said the system is built with redundancies and encryption intended to prevent foreign adversaries from intercepting communications.
He declined to detail the aircraft’s survivability features, including electromagnetic pulse hardening and countermeasures comparable to those on the older VC-25A fleet. He did confirm the new jet includes a self-deploying air stair, allowing it to land at remote locations without ground equipment — a modification he called “a phenomenal piece of mechanical engineering.”
Much of the aircraft’s lavish interior, including its 10 restrooms and wall structure, was retained from its time as a Qatari VVIP jet, though L3Harris upgraded some finishes, including leather and wood veneers, and added presidential seals. Mr. Trump personally approved design details, including the red, white, and blue paint scheme and the tail’s wavy-flag design, Mr. Lambert said.
The aircraft is about 18 feet longer than the VC-25A jets it will supplement. Those older planes have served presidents since 1990, beginning during George H.W. Bush’s administration after being ordered during President Ronald Reagan’s presidency. They will continue flying alongside the new jet, according to L3Harris and Air Force officials.
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