{"id":237826,"date":"2025-05-12T09:41:34","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T09:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/aerospace\/trump-to-accept-boeing-747-8i-gift-from-qatari-government\/"},"modified":"2025-05-12T09:41:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T09:41:34","slug":"trump-to-accept-boeing-747-8i-gift-from-qatari-government","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=237826","title":{"rendered":"Trump to accept Boeing 747-8i \u2018gift\u2019 from Qatari Government"},"content":{"rendered":"


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During President Trump\u2019s upcoming visit to the Middle East during the week of May 12, 2025, the US president is widely expected to accept a gift in the form of a VIP Boeing 747-8 from the ruling Qatari royal family. Industry analysts are expecting that the aircraft will act as a temporary measure to provide a presidential airborne platform while the US government awaits the delivery of its own two much-delayed 747-8s to replace the existing pair of Air Force One aircraft.<\/p>\n

The move to use the gifted 747-8i from Qatar comes as Trump has repeatedly voiced his frustration with Boeing over the excessive delays and escalating costs of the new generation Air Force One<\/a> jets. Having originally been due to enter service in 2022, the two planes will not now see presidential service until at least 2027, as Trump nears the end of his second term as US president.<\/p>\n

The US Air Force (USAF) currently operates a pair of VC-25As, which are heavily modified Boeing 747-200Bs for US presidential travel. However, with these aircraft dating back to the late 1980s, they require replacement. While the USAF<\/a> has been expecting delivery of two brand new modified 747-8s known as the VC-25B for years, the program to manufacture and deliver these new aircraft has been beset with delays. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Frustrated by the process to acquire the VC-25Bs, Trump has previously made it clear that he was looking elsewhere as a possible solution. Then, in February 2025, Trump was spotted taking a tour of a private Boeing 747-8i at West Palm Beach Airport (PBI), close to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. The aircraft, carrying registration P4-HBJ, had previously been flown on behalf of the Qatari Government, but more recently is registered to Global Jet (Isle of Man). \u00a0<\/p>\n

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Trump “took time on Saturday to kick the tires on a luxury jet sitting at Palm Beach International Airport. Photographers spotted the tail number of the late model 747-8, which revealed the plane to have been owned, at least until recently, by the Qatari royal family” pic.twitter.com\/nplZwv2Yrk<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Gabriela Iglesias\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2 (@iglesias_gabby) February 20, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In March 2025, The Wall Street Journal revealed that Trump had appointed a recognized US defense contractor, L3Harris, to perform the necessary work required to overhaul the plane for presidential use. The Qatari government has previously acknowledged discussions between itself and the US Administration about the possible transfer of a plane to be used temporarily as Trump\u2019s replacement Air Force One. However, reports that the plane was to be gifted to Trump were initially denied by the Qatari Government.<\/p>\n

According to ABC News on May 11,12025, Trump will use the plane as a new version of Air Force One until shortly before he ends his second term in office in early 2029, when the new VC-25Bs arrive and ownership of the former Qatari aircraft will then be transferred to the foundation overseeing Trump\u2019s yet-to-be-built presidential library. An announcement surrounding the future of the aircraft is expected to be made when Trump visits Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates in the coming days.<\/p>\n