A Boeing 747 donated by Qatar to the United States sits on the tarmac in West Palm Beach, Florida, in February 2025. This aircraft will become the interim Air Force One aircraft, mostly replacing the Air Force’s two aging VC-25A planes. (Shutterstock/Leonard Zhukovsky)

Qatar’s Donated Air Force One Could Be Flying by the Fourth of July

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The Qatari 747 is expected to serve as a “bridge” aircraft until the dedicated Boeing VC-25B enters service, likely after the end of President Trump’s term.

The United States Air Force announced earlier in May that the Boeing 747-8i donated by the government of Qatar for use as the next presidential aircraft had completed initial flight testing. The aircraft, which was first delivered to the Qatari royal family in 2012, is now being painted in President Donald Trump’s preferred red, white, and blue—with a touch of gold—livery scheme.

The donated aircraft is expected to serve as “Air Force One,” the designation of any aircraft that carries the sitting president,........

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