The U.S. military unveils a new $400 million Air Force One jet gifted by Qatar, as the aging aircraft used since 1990 is retired.
President Trump unveiled a newly modified Boeing 747-8i at Joint Base Andrews, the next Air Force One donated by Qatar to replace the 30-year-old jets now retiring. The lavish, $400 million aircraft—originally built as a VIP charter—was shown off in a ceremony that drew immediate coverage from ABC News, BBC, NPR, and other major outlets.
The plane must complete testing and certification before the president flies aboard it for the first time, a milestone that will likely reset the news cycle. The old VC-25A fleet’s final departure and any congressional scrutiny over the Qatari gift are the nearest friction points that could sustain or dim interest.
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