• The US Air Force has been tasked with modifying a jet gifted to President Donald Trump by Qatar.
• Critics have flagged cost and ethical concerns over accepting the plane.
• Some estimate it could cost up to $1 billion to retrofit it as part of the Air Force One fleet.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the US Air Force to begin plans to convert a $400 million Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet gifted to President Donald Trump by the Qatari royal family.

The plane is set to be used as part of Air Force One, but the development comes amid mounting concerns over the cost and ethical implications of accepting such a large gift from a foreign country.

"The Secretary of Defense has directed the Air Force to basically start planning to modify the aircraft," newly appointed Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told a Senate Armed Services committee hearing on Tuesday, per Defense One.

But Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Ilinois flagged the potential cost of converting the jet during the hearing, saying it could cost up to $1 billion to ensure it was capable of operating as part of the Air Force One fleet.

"Far from saving money, this unconstitutional action will not only cost our nation its dignity, but it will force taxpayers to waste over a billion dollars to overhaul this particular aircraft, when we currently have not one, but two, fully operational and fully capable Air Force One aircraft," Duckworth said.

Duckworth also expressed concerns that corners could be cut to get the plane into service before Trump's second term comes to an end.

Earlier this month, Trump announced that Qatar had gifted him the jet to serve as Air Force One. It is the most expensive gift to a US president in history.

"It's a great gesture from Qatar," Trump told reporters. "I would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer. I mean, I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane.'"

However, accepting the gift has prompted a bipartisan backlash, with Democrats and some Republicans saying it violates long-standing rules about presidents accepting expensive gifts from foreign leaders.

In a press briefing on Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rebutted suggestions the plane was a gift to Trump, saying it had been donated to the US Air Force by the Qatari royal family and was being "retrofitted to the highest standards" to serve as an Air Force One plane.

She did not give details on how long the process would take.

Experts told NBC News last week that converting the plane to serve as Air Force One would involve installing multiple top-secret systems at an estimated cost of around $1 billion.

There are two planes operating as part of the Air Force One fleet, with Trump scrapping a contract for a new plane in his first term, before renegotiating it.

Boeing is currently contracted to convert two 747 jets to serve as part of the fleet, but the project has encountered delays, and the first plane isn't expected to be ready until 2027.

• "SNL" poked fun at President Donald Trump's recent trip to the Middle East.
• James Austin Johnson's Trump joked: "I did very well on this trip. I got a lot of cool stuff."
• The plan for Qatar to gift a plane to serve as Trump's Air Force One has raised ethical and legal concerns.

"Saturday Night Live" began its season finale by mocking the prospect of the Qatari royal family gifting a luxury jet to serve as Air Force One.

As his trip to the Middle East wrapped up on Saturday, Donald Trump used Truth Social to rail against ABC News for raising questions about his desire to accept a luxury $400 million plane from the Qatari government, as the replacement plane has been delayed.

In the SNL cold open, the show's Trump impersonator, James Austin Johnson, discussed his trip with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, played by Emil Wakim.

Johnson's Trump said that, while he participated in the trip "for the American people," he said: "I did very well on this trip. I got a lot of cool stuff."

"The Qataris gave me a $400 million plane, can you believe that? And people said that it was some sort of a bribe. Not true, not true. Because they haven't asked for anything in return."

"Well, not yet," Wakim's Prince Salman interjected.

Johnson's Trump responded: "So it's a pre-bribe. But now people are saying I should really be flying in an American plane. Ah, no thanks. Have you seen what is going on with our planes?"

He continued: "Since it's a finale, after tonight that means you won't be seeing me here for a while. Well, not the fake, fun version of me that makes you smile."

He added: "The real one will still be omnipresent. You can't escape me, right? I'm everywhere, even in your dreams, like the late, great Freddy Krueger."

In his Truth Social post, the real president insisted that the plane wouldn't be a gift to him, but to the Pentagon. The US Constitution forbids the president from accepting a gift from a foreign head of state without congressional approval.

"This highly respected country is donating the plane to the United States Air Force/ Defense Department, AND NOT TO ME," Trump wrote on Saturday, just before the "SNL" sketch aired.

Both Democrats and MAGA loyalists have criticized the proposed gift as ethically suspect, legally questionable, and a potential security risk.

If the deal goes through, Trump has said the aircraft would be temporarily used as Air Force One during his remaining time in office before being donated to his presidential library.

Qatar's media attaché to the US, Ali Al-Ansari, told Business Insider in a statement on Wednesday that the transfer of the aircraft was "under consideration."

Al-Ansari said the matter "remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made."

• Boeing secured a record-breaking $96 billion order from Qatar Airways during Donald Trump's trip.
• It was one of several wins this week, showing the planemaker is recovering from a troubling 2024.
• Trump's support came after tensions over Air Force One delays and concerns over a Qatari gift.

Boeing showed it's bouncing back from its turmoil as it won several victories from Donald Trump's trip to the Middle East.

On Wednesday, Qatar Airways agreed to buy at least 160 Boeing jets, in a deal the White House valued at $96 billion. It is the planemaker's largest-ever order for wide-body aircraft.

While the two CEOs signed certificates and shook hands, Trump and the Emir of Qatar applauded from behind the ornate desk. The president gave Boeing's Kelly Ortberg a pat on the back.

It's rare to see heads of state attend aircraft-order ceremonies. Trump's show of support for Boeing was a notable turn from the tensions between the two over delays in building the next Air Force One.

Receiving such a huge vote of confidence from an industry-leading airline is also a significant boost, especially since the order includes 30 Boeing 777X planes and options for dozens more.

The 777X is yet to be certified, running years behind schedule, meaning Qatar's order is a big show of faith in Boeing's future. Flight tests for the 777X had to be paused last August after damage was found on a key structure.

Several customers, including the largest, Emirates, voiced their frustrations after Ortberg then announced its launch would be further pushed back to 2026.

However, Qatar Airways has never dwelt on the delays. "Let us not cry over spilled milk," CEO Badr Mohammed Al-Meer told Business Insider last July.

Boeing is also likely to benefit from Tuesday's defense deal with Saudi Arabia, which the White House called "the largest defense-sales agreement in history," at roughly $142 billion.

These are all significant signs that the planemaker hasn't lost too much of its reputation after an ignominious 2024.

The year began with a door plug falling off a 737 Max in midair. Regulators subsequently capped Boeing's production as it works to overhaul its processes.

This week has seen progress here, too, as Boeing said it delivered 45 commercial planes last month — almost double the number in the same period last year.

Trump's change of heart

Even before Qatar Airways' order, planes were dominating the headlines around Trump's trip.

The president said Monday he would be "stupid" to turn down the Qatari royal family's proposed gift of a Boeing 747.

It has raised ethical and legal concerns, with politicians on both sides of the aisle questioning the gift. The luxurious $400 million plane would be one of the most expensive gifts ever received by the government from another country.

The timing may also raise questions about Qatar's motivation for announcing the mammoth Boeing order during Trump's visit, rather than at next month's Paris Air Show.

Trump wants the 747 to serve as Air Force One because Boeing is running years behind schedule in building the next presidential jet. He renegotiated the contract in his first term, and the planemaker has since lost billions on the project.

In February, Trump showed his frustration with the delays by touring a Qatari Boeing 747 in Palm Beach — believed to be the one now on offer.

So, his support for Boeing in Qatar shows a change of heart that will likely please the planemaker and help settle any apprehension over Air Force One.

The country's top exporter, Boeing, was also under threat from Trump's tariff plans.

Jets destined for Chinese airlines had to be sent back across the Pacific Ocean after they refused to accept them due to the trade war. On Monday, China and the US agreed to lower tariffs by 115%.

But overall, that may not be as valuable as the reputation boost provided during Trump's trip.

This week has helped the storied planemaker prove that it's moving on from the woes of 2024.

• President Trump continues to defend a plan for the US to receive a plane from Qatar.
• Many politicians in Washington have raised ethical and national security concerns over the issue.
• The issue of emoluments, which arose during Trump's first term, is now front and center again.

President Donald Trump seems to be obsessed with Qatar's offer of a $400 million plane and the subsequent blowback.

Since it was first reported on Sunday that the Qatari royal family is considering gifting the Trump administration a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet, both Democrats and MAGA loyalists alike have criticized the proposed gift as ethically suspect, legally questionable, and a potential security risk.

But Trump keeps defending the proposed gift in numerous posts on Truth Social and in a Tuesday night conversation with Fox News' Sean Hannity.

"There are those that say we shouldn't be accepting gifts in the Defense Department, and I would say only a stupid person would say that. Why wouldn't we do that?" Trump told Hannity aboard Air Force One on Tuesday during his trip to the Middle East, where he's visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

If the deal goes through, Trump has said the aircraft would be temporarily used as Air Force One during his remaining time in office before being donated to his presidential library. Though the exact value of the specific jet in question — which is 13 years old, ABC News reported — isn't clear, a new 747-8 jumbo jet fetches a whopping $400 million.

"The Boeing 747 is being given to the United States Air Force/Department of Defense, NOT TO ME! It is a gift from a Nation, Qatar, that we have successfully defended for many years," Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday. He continued, "Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE from a country that wants to reward us for a job well done. This big savings will be spent, instead, to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country."

Trump also re-shared multiple posts from supporters commenting on the plane late Tuesday (or very early Wednesday morning for Trump, with one post coming at 4:05 a.m. local time), including one in which a Truth user compared the plane to the 1886 gift of the Statue of Liberty from France and the 1880 gift of the Resolute Desk from Queen Victoria.

There are a few differences between those gifts and the Qatari plane.

For one, the Resolute Desk has remained in the White House to be used by future presidents, including Trump, and the Statue of Liberty is located on public land and managed by the National Park Service.

Under federal law, members of the executive branch must disclose gifts from foreign governments that are worth more than $480.

The Foreign Gifts and Decorations Act of 1966 governs the receipt of gifts taken in by federal officials, and its passage by Congress was aimed to avert conflicts of interest.

Presidents are permitted to retain gifts to be showcased at their future presidential library. However, if a president hopes to keep a gift for personal use, they must reimburse the fair market cost for the item.

The Air Force One plane used by Ronald Reagan and several other presidents is currently exhibited at Reagan's presidential library and museum in California, but that plane has been decommissioned and was never again used. It's not clear if the Qatar plane would be decommissioned before being gifted to Trump's presidential library, but Trump has said he would not use it after his time in office.

The proposal has reignited the longstanding debate over emoluments and the fight that many lawmakers have taken up over the years to ensure that presidents aren't profiting from their perch in the Oval Office.

In the US Constitution, there are emoluments enshrined into law that aim to shield the presidency from outside influences — which includes foreign governments.

Article I states that governments cannot accept gifts from any "King, Prince, or foreign State" in the absence of congressional approval. And in Article II, a president's compensation can't be raised or lowered during their time in the White House.

Qatar's media attaché to the US, Ali Al-Ansari, told BI in a statement that the transfer of the aircraft is "currently under consideration." The matter "remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made," Al-Ansari said.

"Any gift given by a foreign government is always accepted in full compliance with all applicable laws. President Trump's Administration is committed to full transparency," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously said in a statement to BI.

• President Trump wants to accept a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar and use it as Air Force One.
• The president wants to use the jet amid delays with the new replacement fleet of AF1 aircraft.
• Both Trump critics and some supporters opposed the potential plane deal with Qatar's royal family.

President Donald Trump is considering using a Qatari Boeing 747-8 given as a gift as Air Force One while the new presidential jet faces delays.

The ruling family of Qatar gifted the US president the $400 million luxury jumbo jet, and Trump said he would "never be one to turn down that kind of offer."

The potential plane deal faced pushback from critics and even some Trump allies over security concerns and the legal and ethical issues associated with using a foreign-origin aircraft as Air Force One, the president's airborne command center.

Besides Air Force One, the presidential fleet includes other fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft depending on the mission.

Presidential aircraft fleet

Air Force One is a call sign that refers to any US Air Force aircraft transporting the president, though it is commonly recognized by its blue-and-white livery.

The Air Force has two "specially configured" Boeing 747-200B jets that are primarily used as Air Force One. The VC-25A aircraft is uniquely modified to serve as an airborne command-and-control center for the president, staff, and guests with the same level of safety and security as the White House.

Other than the number of passengers it can carry, the main differences between the VC-25 and the standard Boeing 747 include more advanced electronic and communications equipment, a self-contained baggage loader, and the capability for in-flight refueling.

The VC-25 also has a rest area and mini-galley for the aircrew, six passenger lavatories, and a compartment with medical supplies and equipment for minor in-flight emergencies.

Marine One

For shorter distance trips, especially to and from the White House, the president flies in Marine One, which includes military helicopters like the VH-3D Sea King and the VH-60N White Hawk.

In service for nearly five decades, both military helicopters are set to be phased out and fully replaced with modernized rotary-wing aircraft, the VH-92A.

The next-generation Marine One is designed to be a militarized variant of the Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot.

Other aircraft

The presidential fleet also includes other fixed-wing aircraft besides the modified 747. The C-32A, a modified Boeing 757-200, is better suited for smaller airports or low-profile missions.

The C-40, based on the Boeing 737, can be used to fly the president but is more often used for Cabinet members or other VIP individuals.

Based on General Dynamics' Gulfstream long-range business jets, the C-37 is used to transport high-ranking government and Defense Department officials for worldwide missions.

'Next Air Force One'

The two planes currently being used as Air Force One have been in service for nearly four decades. They are set to be replaced by a modernized variant dubbed the "Next Air Force One."

Officially designated the VC-25B, the new presidential aircraft is set to feature "electrical power upgrades, a mission communication system, a medical facility, an executive interior, a self-defense system, and autonomous ground operations capabilities," according to an Air Force release.

The two future VC-25B jets were initially scheduled to be fielded in 2024, but supply chain issues and shifting requirements could postpone their delivery to 2029.

Facing pressure from the White House to have the new aircraft ready before Trump leaves office in January 2029, the Air Force and Boeing are aiming to have the new aircraft delivered by 2027, according to Darlene Costello, the Air Force's principal deputy assistant secretary for acquisition, technology, and logistics.

A 'security nightmare'

An Air Force official told Air and Space Forces Magazine that the service is coordinating with the White House and Boeing "to further define the requirements and acceleration options while ensuring we provide a safe, secure, and reliable aircraft for the president."

Trump has previously expressed his frustration with receiving the next-generation Air Force One, suggesting earlier this year that he may seek "alternatives, because it's taking Boeing too long."

Despite the backlash, the president doubled down on his proposal to use the Qatari jet as Air Force One, saying he doesn't plan on using it after his term and would donate it to a future presidential library.

"I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane,'" Trump told reporters Monday.

Though free in cost, there's still a major cost to overhaul and retrofit the plane with the strict security requirements needed to serve as Air Force One.

"Along with the obvious ethical and legal issues, a $400M gifted luxury jet is not Air Force One," US Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut wrote on X. "Retrofitting a plane from Qatar would create huge costs & a security nightmare that would impede the work underway to deliver the actual AF1 by 2027."

• The Trump administration is set to possibly receive a luxury 747 jet from Qatar's royal family.
• Trump wants to use the 747 as the new Air Force One since the replacement plane is delayed.
• The possible transfer raises significant questions about potential security risks that could be costly to address.

President Donald Trump wants a luxury aircraft gifted by Qatar's royal family to be his new Air Force One. Beyond the legal and ethical questions, there are a host of security concerns.

Air Force One is a call sign for any US Air Force aircraft the president flies on, but it most commonly refers to the well-known light blue and white plane used for presidential transport. The aircraft is custom-built to operate as a secure, self-sufficient flying command center if need be. Using a plane gifted by a foreign country to fill this role would demand significant work to deliver the necessary capabilities and mitigate potential security risks.

Marc Polymeropoulos, a former senior CIA operations officer who served multiple Middle East tours, said that there are standards that the US Air Force, Department of Defense, and Secret Service are required to uphold to move the president securely.

"It's going to cost an exorbitant amount of money to get that up to standard with a plane gifted by a foreign government," he told Business Insider.

Trump said on Sunday evening in a Truth Social post that the Defense Department will receive a 747 "free of charge" to temporarily replace his aging Air Force One. He said the US would take possession of it in what he described as "a very public and transparent transaction." The White House says that while Qatar has offered the jet, the details are still being sorted.

The specially configured version of Boeing's 747-200B, built to transport the president of the United States, is a highly recognizable aircraft with its iconic livery that has become synonymous with the Air Force One call sign. It is fitted with secure communications equipment and can refuel mid-flight.

The plane is also equipped with electronic warfare capabilities and missile countermeasures.

The Air Force has operated two of these militarized 747s, which the service designates as VC-25A, for 35 years. The tail numbers are 28000 and 29000. A new aircraft, the VC-25B, is set to replace these planes and has been in development since 2015. However, the program has faced a number of issues that have forced its start date to be pushed back from 2024 to 2027 at the soonest.

On Monday, Trump told reporters he was "very disappointed that it has taken Boeing so long to build a new Air Force One."

ABC News, which first reported Sunday on the gift, said that Trump would use the Qatari-donated 747 (which has an estimated price tag of $400 million) as the new Air Force One until just before he leaves office in 2029.

Asked Monday whether Qatar had asked for anything in exchange for the luxury 747, Trump said the US has provided the Gulf country with lots of security over the years. He described the gift as "a great gesture" and said he "would never be one to turn down that kind of an offer."

"I could be a stupid person and say, 'No, we don't want a free, very expensive airplane," he said.

The president said that the US has kept Qatar — and its neighbors, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — secure and will continue to do so. "If it wasn't for us, they probably wouldn't exist right now. And I think this was just a gesture of good faith," he added. The US military operates out of several key bases in these three countries.

In response to further questions, Trump said that he does not plan to use the 747 after he leaves office and that the plane would go directly to his presidential library foundation.

Beyond raising questions about the legality of accepting an expensive gift from another country, the Qatar 747 news quickly triggered criticism from some US lawmakers and stoked concerns about the potential security risks of receiving such an important asset from a foreign state.

Connecticut Rep. Joe Courtney, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services subcommittee that oversees Air Force One, said that "retrofitting a plane from Qatar would create huge costs & a security nightmare that would impede the work underway to deliver the actual AF1 by 2027."

Boeing, the US aerospace giant, reportedly built the 747 as a private jet for Qatar's royal family, which acquired the aircraft in 2012. It is significantly larger than the 757-200 "Trump Force One" that the president and his organization have been using as a personal plane.

Tearing apart the plane 'piece by piece'

Once the Qatari 747 is eventually received by the Air Force, assuming the transfer takes place, it would need to be modified and essentially militarized by the Pentagon to meet the requirements of transporting a president — a high-stakes job that is unlikely to be cheap.

"The idea of getting it from a foreign government, you literally would have to tear it apart piece by piece," said Polymeropoulos, now a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. He said acquiring this 747 isn't cost-effective because it would be expensive for the government and military to retrofit the aircraft to bring the plane up to the necessary standards.

"I suppose you can, but basically, you're building a whole new plane," he said.

BI asked the White House about addressing the security concerns and whether these surfaced during discussions of the aircraft's transfer. The administration pointed to Trump's remarks from the press conference earlier on Monday.

Qatar has stressed that a decision to transfer the aircraft is not final. A Pentagon spokesperson referred BI to the White House for questions about Air Force One procurement.

Joseph LaSorsa, a former Secret Service agent who protected several presidents during his 20-year-long career, identified multiple potential concerns with acquiring the 747.

LaSorsa, president and CEO of J.A. LaSorsa & Associates, told BI that these possible risks include sabotage to the 747's mechanical or operational features, tracking of the aircraft, and any surveillance through audio or video recording devices. He stressed that the American government would thoroughly examine the entire plane in a process that could take up to a year or longer.

"They're going to do their due diligence, if they do, in fact, use it," he said, but that's time and money.

Donald Trump is expected to receive a luxury 747 jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One. Republicans, Democrats, and legal experts are showing concern.

• Boeing may deliver the new Air Force One jets by 2027, two years earlier than projected.
• The company has faced cost overruns and operational challenges, with the program $2 billion over budget.
• That timescale would allow Donald Trump to fly on the jets while he's still president.

Boeing could now deliver the next-generation Air Force One aircraft while President Donald Trump is still in office, a US Air Force official said.

The planes could be delivered by 2027 — two years earlier than previously expected, but still five years behind the original schedule.

Darlene Costello, the acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, revealed the update during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.

"We are looking at the requirements that are being potentially traded off to get to that date, and so I would not necessarily guarantee that date, but they're proposing to bring it into '27," she said.

One major change already agreed is the relaxation of a requirement that Boeing staff working on the project hold top-level security clearances, which had contributed to previous delays. Additional holdups were caused by supplier changes, engineering challenges, and pandemic-related workforce constraints.

"We are absolutely committed to delivering an aircraft with the communications and defensive capabilities required for presidential transport," Costello told the hearing.

The revised timeline comes as Boeing works with the Air Force to streamline requirements for the new VC-25B jets — modified 747 aircraft that will replace the ageing VC-25As. The updates aim to reduce production delays that have plagued the $3.9 billion program.

During his first term in office, Trump struck a deal with Boeing to acquire two new 747-8 aircraft, with initial delivery scheduled for 2024.

The two planes had been ordered by Transaero, a Russian airline that filed for bankruptcy before they were delivered.

Both planes, which first flew in 2016, have logged fewer than 20 hours in the air and have been at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio since 2019 for conversion.

Since taking on the fixed-price contract, Boeing has struggled with cost overruns and operational disruptions.

The aerospace giant recently acknowledged that the program is now $2 billion over budget.

If Boeing manages to meet the 2027 target, Trump could fly on the new aircraft while still in office.

The president has previously criticized delays in the project, prompting renewed pressure on Boeing from both the Air Force and political leaders.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon used an Air Force One plane known as SAM 970.
• The first jet-powered presidential aircraft featured an office and a safe for the nuclear codes.
• The retired plane, used from 1959 to 1996, is on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

President Dwight Eisenhower became the first US president to travel by jet when he flew on a new Air Force One plane in 1959.

The jet, known as SAM (Special Air Missions) 970, was customized to meet the needs of the president and White House staff. It included a presidential stateroom, a conference room, seats for members of the press, and a safe for the nuclear codes.

Retired in 1996, SAM 970 now lives at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. I visited the museum in July to tour the old Air Force One and see how presidents once traveled.

Take a look inside.

Four US presidents flew aboard the Air Force One plane known as SAM 970.

In 1959, the customized Boeing 707-153 known as SAM 970 became the new presidential aircraft, replacing the propeller-powered C-121C Super Constellation used by President Dwight Eisenhower. SAM 970 was part of the VC-137 series of planes.

SAM 970 was used by Eisenhower as well as Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Richard Nixon.

In 1962, a newer VC-137C plane replaced it as the primary presidential aircraft, but it still transported vice presidents and other VIPs. The SAM 970 remained part of the presidential fleet until 1996.

The retired aircraft is on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

Admission to the museum costs $26 per adult. Tickets can be purchased on the Museum of Flight's website.

The exhibit featured figures of Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai of China shaking hands, recreating the moment the two leaders met.

Nixon took Air Force One to visit China in 1972, becoming the first US president to visit mainland China while holding office.

The cockpit included seats for a pilot, copilot, flight engineer, and guest or auxiliary crew member.

The plane's maximum speed was 590 miles per hour. The top speed of the current Air Force One, the VC-25A, is 630 miles per hour.

The communication station featured state-of-the-art radio and communication equipment.

From the plane, the president could reach the White House Situation Room and the National Military Command Center and send secret communications.

Across from the communication station, the briefcase containing codes to initiate a nuclear strike was kept locked in a safe.

Known as the "nuclear football," every president since Eisenhower has been accompanied by the briefcase at all times.

The safe also held military communication center codes.

In the forward galley, crew members prepared food and drinks for the president and other crew.

The two galleys on Air Force One included ovens, refrigerators, and open-burner stovetops. Drink dispensers also served coffee, water, and other beverages.

A phone in the crew compartment came with a warning against discussing classified information.

A plaque next to the phone read "Caution. This phone has no security provisions. Sensitive or classified material should not be discussed."

A narrow hallway led to Air Force One's meeting areas.

Presidents met with staff, received briefings, and took phone calls while traveling on Air Force One, earning it the nickname of the "flying Oval Office."

The flight crew added fake temperature controls to the presidential stateroom to appease Johnson, who often complained about the cabin temperature.

Whenever Johnson adjusted the fake temperature dial, it alerted the captain, who could then decide to change the cabin's temperature or leave it the same, a Museum of Flight guide said.

Johnson had a doggie door installed in the stateroom to accommodate his restless pet beagles.

Johnson's beagles would often howl if they were left in the conference room too long, according to the Museum of Flight.

The stateroom room included its own private bathroom.

The private bathroom was much more spacious than the lavatories used by the flight crew and members of the press.

The presidential conference room featured more space for larger meetings.

The seating booth featured seat belts in case of rough air.

White House staffers and cabinet members who joined the president on trips sat in the staff seating area.

The roomy sets of four seats featured tables between them.

A separate secretary station provided more workspace for staff.

The workstation was outfitted with a lamp and typewriter.

Members of the press sat further back on the plane.

The staff seating area looked the most similar to regular economy cabin seats.

The aft galley in the back of the plane served food and drinks to senior staff and the press.

Like the forward galley, the aft galley was furnished with kitchen appliances and drink dispensers.

The tail of the plane was decorated with an American flag.

First lady Jackie Kennedy chose Air Force One's blue, white, and metallic color scheme.

During his first term, President Donald Trump proposed new Air Force One colors of red, white, and navy blue for Boeing's long-delayed new Air Force One plane. The Air Force rejected his design since the darker colors would have cost more and caused overheating issues. The plane was supposed to be ready in 2024, but its completion timeline has been pushed to 2027.

• Boeing is building a new Air Force One, but it has been beset by delays.
• Donald Trump has enlisted Elon Musk and DOGE to try to get it built faster.
• Here's what makes the presidential jet so distinctive and complex.

Air Force One, perhaps the most iconic plane in the world, is entering a new phase.

Jets specifically designed for the president have existed since the Kennedy era. Today's iteration, based on a Boeing 747, entered service 35 years ago.

A new Air Force One has been in the works since 2015 but has been beset by problems that have delayed it for several years. Initially due to enter service in 2024, the plane won't be ready until 2027 at the earliest.

President Donald Trump's entry into the White House has added a new level of urgency to proceedings, with Trump especially eager to see the new planes come to fruition.

In his first term in the White House, he renegotiated the deal with Boeing and even created his own livery for the plane.

Boeing has lost more than $2 billion on the project. In a 2022 earnings call, then-CEO Dave Calhoun called it "a very unique set of risks that Boeing probably shouldn't have taken."

However, the planemaker's current CEO, Kelly Ortberg, is working with Elon Musk and DOGE to try to get it delivered as soon as possible.

This is the saga so far, and why building a new Air Force One is uniquely challenging.

Trump has keenly displayed his enthusiasm for a new Air Force One

In his first term, Trump showed off his design for the plane's colors to ABC News. At his inaugural ball, he cut a cake adorned with a model of the presidential jet.

In February, he toured a private Boeing 747

At the time, Trump's press secretary said he was touring the plane to check out new hardware and tech, adding that the tour would help highlight "the project's failure to deliver a new Air Force One on time as promised."

The 747 Trump toured was owned by the Qatari government. Its tail number, P4-HBJ, features the initials of the country's former prime minister and one of its wealthiest royals, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani.

Its interior is more lavish than Air Force One, with an entertainment room, double beds, and en-suite bathrooms.

Yves Pickardt, the project lead from the Parisian design house Alberto Pinto, told Altitudes Magazine in 2018: "Such a project is a dream come true that happens only once or twice in a designer's lifetime. In a way, this is a landmark in aviation history."

Boeing's CEO said Elon Musk and DOGE are working to speed up the delivery of the project

"The president wants the airplane sooner, and so we're working with Elon and the team to figure what can we do to pull up the schedule of that aircraft," Ortberg told CNBC.

But Air Force One is a huge and complex aircraft with many features that distinguish it from a typical airliner

It may look like a Boeing 747, but it is actually a militarized version of the commercial jet called a VC-25A. The next version is known as the VC-25B.

Air Force One officially refers to any plane transporting the president. Sometimes, the president has flown on a Boeing C-32 — a military version of the 757 — that is more typically used as Air Force Two.

It's over 230 feet long with a wingspan of around 195 feet

The next presidential jet is based on an even larger 747-8, which has a 224-foot wingspan and is 250 feet long. Its enormous size has even contributed to production delays.

In 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that one difficulty during production included trying to shift one of the VC-25Bs onto jacks — but the weight "significantly exceeded" how much they were designed to hold.

Two empty mini bottles of tequila were also found on board one of the planes that year, sparking an investigation, per the Journal.

Its defense features make it especially useful in emergency situations

After US airspace was shut down in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush and his staff spent eight hours on Air Force One.

The aircraft is armored and protected against the effects of a nuclear electromagnetic pulse

Air Force One has around 238 miles of wiring — twice that of a typical 747 — which is shielded to protect from an EMP.

Electronic countermeasure defense systems located at the top of the plane can also jam enemy radars.

Flares can also be released from the wings

These can be used to confuse heat-seeking missiles. There are also some defense capabilities that remain classified.

Air Force One can also refuel in midair — but that won't be a feature on the next version, seemingly due to financial constraints.

The president typically boards via the main deck, but Air Force One also has its own airstairs

The lower entrance has retractable stairs, which are convenient if rolling staircases aren't available upon landing or due to security concerns.

As NPR reported, President Joe Biden more frequently used the shorter stairs after tripping on a stage in June 2023.

Air Force One has 4,000 sq ft of interior space and room for 76 passengers plus 26 crew

As the plane transports VIPs, throughout much of the project, Boeing needed workers with high-level security clearance, adding to the complexity of building the aircraft.

In 2023, Pentagon officials were looking into why staff without such credentials were working on the jet — with the lapse involving some 250 workers, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Earlier this month, an official confirmed to The New York Times that security requirements had been reduced for some staff, after the newspaper reported Musk had been pushing for the change.

Unlike a typical airliner, there are four people on the flight deck

As well as a pilot and co-pilot, there is a a flight engineer and a navigator.

Flight engineers used to be common on airliners until technology developments in the early 1980s.

A crew of 26 people work on Air Force One

Their uniforms have "Air Force One" embroidered above the presidential seal.

The VC-25A has two galleys that can provide 100 meals in one sitting.

The president's quarters, at the front of the plane, have beds that fold out from couches

In 2018, Axios reported that Trump wants Air Force One to have a bigger bed. A 2021 National Geographic documentary said the designs included a larger TV, more seating, and a queen bed.

President George W. Bush told Runner's World in 2002 that he had a treadmill added to his room on the jet.

The president also has a flying Oval Office.

Opposite the desk is a large couch that wraps around the wall.

And this is Air Force One's situation room

On the other side of this room, there's a TV that can be used for teleconferencing.

Then there are areas for staff or other passengers

The interiors of the new plane have also been a source of delays.

In 2021, Boeing filed a lawsuit against GDC Technics, a supplier for the new Air Force One, alleging it was roughly a year behind schedule in completing interior work.

GDC then filed a countersuit alleging the delays were due to Boeing's mismanagement and that payments were overdue.

The supplier then filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy — before the two sides reached a settlement six months later.

Air Force One has 85 phones on board

In the middle of this picture, you can see a beige phone and a white phone. The former is a secure line, while the latter is for unclassified use.

At the rear of Air Force One is the press area

This is the only part of Air Force One that resembles a typical airliner's layout, albeit with leather seats.

Guests on Air Force One are sometimes given M&Ms as souvenirs

However, some passengers have taken their own souvenirs. Last year, the White House Correspondents' Association warned journalists to stop stealing items from the Air Force One.

The BBC reported that pillowcases, glasses, and gold-rimmed plates are among the things said to have vanished from Air Force One.

The next Air Force One has been delayed and won't be delivered before 2027 at the earliest

It's also unclear what color the plane's livery will be.

The Air Force has said Trump's preferred blue, red, and white would add to delays because the dark blue would necessitate further tests due to added heat in some environments.

Biden then chose a light-blue color similar to previous presidential jets — but Trump has continued to champion his original design.

• President Donald Trump swapped his private jet for VIP government aircraft, including Air Force One.
• Government and military officials have access to private jets, helicopters, and a "flying war room."
• Trump hopes to receive a new fleet of Air Force One 747s before the end of his term in 2029.

President Donald Trump has once again ditched his prized personal private jet for an arsenal of VIP government aircraft.

The most famous is Air Force One, a pair of highly modified Boeing 747 double-deckers that have flown every president since George H. W. Bush beginning in 1990.

But there are many lesser-known government VIP aircraft, including a flying command center, smaller Boeing narrowbodies, private jets, and helicopters responsible for shuttling the president and vice president, military and congressional leaders, cabinet members, and more. Members of the press are also regularly invited on board.

Branches of the US military maintain and operate the fleet of aircraft, and military pilots are employed for the highly specialized missions. The aviators need thousands of hours of flying and combat experience.

The fleet is poised to change as the Trump Administration hopes to acquire new 747 planes to replace the aging Air Force One collection, though that may not happen until after his second term.

Air Force One Boeing 747s generally carry the president.

Air Force One has flown US presidents for decades — though the codename generally refers to any aircraft carrying the president. According to the White House, it is equipped with armored plating, missile defenses, midair refueling systems, and 4,000 square feet of floor space across three different levels.

This includes bedrooms, conference rooms, a flying Oval Office, a medical center complete with a doctor, and kitchens.

There are rooms onboard for administration members, such as advisors and the Secret Service, as well as the press and other invited guests.

Trump is not happy his new 747s are late

During his first administration, Trump struck a $3.9 billion deal with Boeing to receive two new 747s to replace the now 35-year-old fleet. The agreement saw Boeing take on any additional costs, which now total over $2 billion.

Boeing did not meet the initially expected delivery date of 2024 amid its recent quality and manufacturing problems. The Wall Street Journal reported in December the 747 deliveries may not happen until 2029 or later — and Trump isn't happy about it.

Trump has tasked senior advisor Elon Musk with fast-tracking the Boeing deliveries in hopes he can enjoy them before leaving office.

Air Force Two Boeing 757s carry the vice president.

A fleet of C-32 aircraft, which are modified Boeing 757 passenger jetliners, carry people like the vice president, the first lady, and members of the Cabinet and Congress.

These are dubbed "Air Force Two" when the vice president is onboard.

According to the US Air Force, the plane is divided into four sections. Three contain business or first-class seats, conference rooms, galleys, lavatories, and a communication center.

A separate section is a stateroom for the main guest and includes a private lavatory, a bed, and a changing room, among other personal necessities.

Some top officials fly around in VIP Boeing 737s.

Combatant commanders, cabinet members, and Congresspeople can fly in the US fleet of customized Boeing 737-700 business planes. The USAF's models — the C-40B and C-40C — have advanced performance capabilities, traffic avoidance systems, and weather radar.

According to the USAF, the C-40B is built as an "office in the sky" for top military and government officials and has special communications systems that support WiFi, video, audio, and other transmission equipment.

The C-40C lacks the specialized comms but can be configured with a larger passenger cabin with seats for 42 to 111 people. The Navy has a C-40A "Clipper" 737, but it rarely carries high-ranking government officials.

The presidential helicopter fleet is dubbed Marine One.

The US Marine Corps HMX-1"Nighthawks" manages a fleet of helicopters that are dubbed "Marine One" when the president is on board.

The helicopters adorn a recognizable green-and-white livery and have anti-missile systems and soundproof interiors.

Two models perform presidential missions: the 14-passenger Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King and the 11-passenger VH-60N Blackhawk. The Blackhawks can be folded into military cargo aircraft and transported with the president to support them at their destination.

Several branches of the military carry VIPs in Gulfstream private jets.

Branches of the military operate customized US-made Gulfstream C-37 twin-engine aircraft to transport high-ranking government and Department of Defense officials.

The USAF's C-37B variant can carry the vice president and cabinet members. When carrying the vice president, the Gulfstream would become Air Force Two.

These Gulfstreams have luxe furnishings and advanced safety and security technologies, such as enhanced autopilot and modern vision systems for poor-visibility weather conditions.

The E-4B 'Nightwatch' Boeing 747 is on standby for nuclear war.

The E-4B "Nightwatch" is primarily an airborne operations center that can carry the president, the secretary of defense, the joint chiefs of staff, and other needed personnel in case of a national emergency, such as a nuclear war.

Dubbed the "flying war room" or the "doomsday plane," the fleet is stationed in Omaha, Nebraska and one is available 27/4. The E-4B has a conference, communications, and briefing room, other work areas, and accommodations.

Like Air Force One, the E-4B can refuel midair to allow it to fly nonstop for days. The distinctive hump on the top holds specialized communications and satellite equipment.

In addition to wartime, the E-4B is used by SecDef for international travel and to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency during natural disasters.

The government has other aircraft for troops, top military officials, and cargo.

The military has a fleet of other large transport aircraft available for troops, VIP military officials, and cargo to support the president and other government staff, disaster relief, and humanitarian aid.

These include the C-130 Hercules, the nose-loading C-5 Galaxy, and the C-17 Globemaster. Multiple branches also operate smaller private jets, like the C-20G Gulfstream and the C-21 Learjet.

The customized Gulfstream and Learjet largely carry military officials and other dignitaries, though the latter also ferries medical patients for the USAF. Meanwhile, the C-17 can transport Marine One.

• Kelly Ortberg, the CEO of Boeing, said Elon Musk is a "brilliant guy."
• Ortberg said Musk was helping "in a big way" with Boeing's delayed Air Force One planes.
• The planes were supposed to be delivered in 2024 but have been plagued by multiple delays.

Kelly Ortberg, Boeing's CEO, said Elon Musk was helping "in a big way" with the company's delayed Air Force One planes.

"He's a brilliant guy, so he's able to pretty quickly ascertain the difference between technical requirements and things that we can move out of the way," Ortberg said of Musk while attending an investor conference organized by Barclays on Thursday.

"He's helping us in a big way. So I'm embracing that, working with the DOGE team to help us improve the delivery," Ortberg added, referencing the government efficiency commission headed by Musk.

Boeing and Musk did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Boeing was awarded a $3.9 billion contract to deliver "two completed Air Force One replacement aircraft" in 2018, during President Donald Trump's first term. In a statement at the time, the US Air Force said the new planes were to be delivered by 2024.

The delivery date has since been pushed back to at least 2027. Boeing has lost more than $2 billion on the project.

"Now they're not building the plane fast enough. I mean, they're actually in default, Boeing," Trump said in a Fox News interview that aired Tuesday.

"They've been building this thing forever. I don't know what's going on," Trump continued.

Last month, Ortberg said in an interview with CNBC that Boeing was working with Musk and DOGE "to figure out what can we do to pull up the schedule of that aircraft."

Musk has been outspoken about his views on Boeing. In December, Musk criticized Ortberg's predecessor, Dave Calhoun, and said Boeing is "on a much better track" with Ortberg at the helm. Calhoun was the CEO of Boeing from January 2020 to July 2024.

Boeing's shares fell by 2.83% when markets closed on Thursday. The company's shares have fallen by more than 10% over the past 12 months.

In January, Boeing reported a net loss of $3.86 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024. The company lost nearly $12 billion last year.

• President Donald Trump toured a Boeing plane Saturday to highlight delays to the new Air Force One.
• The tour of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet took place at Palm Beach airport.
• Trump renegotiated the new Air Force One deal in his first term, but it may not be ready until 2028.

President Donald Trump is again pressuring Boeing to ensure it promptly delivers the next Air Force One.

On Saturday, he toured a Boeing plane to "check out the new hardware/technology," Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, told Reuters and the Associated Press.

"This highlights the project's failure to deliver a new Air Force One on time as promised," he added.

The tour took place on a Boeing 747 parked at West Palm Beach International Airport. Photos show Trump's motorcade parked next to the jet.

Speeding up the delivery of the presidential jet appears to be a key target for Trump.

Boeing was first tapped in 2015 to deliver two new presidential aircraft, known as the VC-25B — an upgraded, militarized version of the 747-8.

In his first term, Trump renegotiated the contract with Boeing over concerns about escalating costs. He threatened to cancel the program if it exceeded $4 billion.

The president appeared enthusiastic about the new planes, showing ABC his red, white, and blue livery design in 2019.

It was initially set to be delivered in 2024, but the timeframe has been pushed back to 2027 or 2028.

Since returning to office, Trump has continued to signal his passion for the new Air Force One.

At his inaugural ball, Trump cut a cake adorned with a model of the jet in his original livery design.

Last month, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said the planemaker was working with Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency to accelerate the program.

"The president wants the airplane sooner, and so we're working with Elon and the team to figure what can we do to pull up the schedule of that aircraft," Ortberg said.

Boeing has reported losses of more than $2 billion on the program.

The Air Force has said Trump's red, white, and blue design would cause further delays because a thermal study found the dark blue could result in added heat in some environments.

Joe Biden then selected a light-blue color in line with every other presidential jet since the Kennedy era — but Trump appears to continue to prefer his original design.

The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

• Any Air Force plane carrying a US president is called Air Force One.
• President John F. Kennedy was the first to use a jet designed specifically for a US president.
• President Donald Trump accepted a luxury jet from Qatar that could serve as a new Air Force One.

Since the mid-20th century, US presidents have flown on special planes designated as "Air Force One" while carrying out their official duties.

Nicknamed the "flying Oval Office," Air Force One is equipped with everything the president might need, including office spaces, two kitchens, sleeping quarters, and a fully functional operating room.

A new Air Force One jet, a Boeing 747-8 donated by the Qatari royal family and accepted by President Donald Trump, could bring a new level of luxury to the presidential plane.

Here's how the design of Air Force One has changed through the years.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower was the first president to travel on a jet aircraft in 1959.

Eisenhower's Boeing 707 Stratoliner, nicknamed "Queenie," featured a section for telecommunications, room for 40 passengers, a conference area, and a stateroom, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

John F. Kennedy was the first to use a jet specifically designed for the US president. It had the tail number 26000.

The Boeing 707 included a living room, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen.

Raymond Loewy designed the plane's blue-and-white exterior.

The plane's design featured an American flag on the tail and presidential seals on the nose.

After Kennedy's assassination in 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in on Air Force One.

It marked the first and only time a presidential swearing-in ceremony took place on an airplane.

Johnson met with Cabinet members on the presidential aircraft in 1966 in a small seating area.

The small alcove was decorated with a globe decal on the wall and curtains lining the windows.

In 1972, Richard Nixon was the first president to use the Boeing 707 plane with tail number 27000 as Air Force One.

Nixon stood behind the plane's bar while meeting with military and civilian leaders en route to Vietnam.

When President Gerald Ford took office after Nixon resigned, seats in the rear cabin were upholstered with striped fabric.

Presidents would occasionally make their way back to the rear cabin to chat with reporters.

Ford's office, just off the stateroom, also featured striped furniture.

Ford is pictured with Candice Bergen, the first female photographer to shoot a behind-the-scenes story on an American president.

President Jimmy Carter outfitted the press area with blue carpeting.

Carter talked to reporters on his way back from a trip to Europe in 1978.

President Ronald Reagan used 27000 as his primary presidential aircraft.

In 1983, Reagan met with Secretary of State George P. Shultz and the national-security advisor designate Robert McFarlane in a meeting space that featured a magazine rack, teal chair, wood-grain table, and photos of him and the first lady, Nancy Reagan.

Reagan also hung pictures of himself in Air Force One's rear cabin.

The photos showed Reagan toasting with a champagne glass and waving while boarding Air Force One.

New blue-striped curtains matched the blue carpeting and furniture in another meeting area.

The meeting room also included a television set.

In 1990, George H. W. Bush began using new Boeing 747 planes with tail numbers 28000 and 29000 as Air Force One.

The presidential office was updated with a stately desk, gray carpeting, and leather chairs.

The staff and secretarial area was decorated with neutral whites and grays.

The staff area featured plenty of phones for official business. Air Force One is also known as the "flying Oval Office."

The new plane's annex could also be configured for medical use.

The annex is pictured in executive configuration, with seating for meetings.

The new planes featured over 4,000 square feet of space, which President Bill Clinton often used to hold meetings.

Clinton met with a delegation from North and South Dakota in 1997 to address flooding in the area.

In the guest area, Clinton's Air Force One featured tan chairs and blue carpeting.

Clinton met with members of Congress to discuss nuclear-waste management in 1999.

President George W. Bush flew 27000 one last time in August 2001 before it was retired to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

The plane flew 444 missions and logged over 1 million miles, according to the Bush White House.

When the World Trade Center and Pentagon were attacked on September 11, 2001, the Secret Service kept Bush in the air aboard the new Air Force One.

Bush insisted on returning to Washington, but the Secret Service refused since they were unsure if more attacks were coming.

In a 2016 interview with Politico, Bush's assistant White House press secretary Gordon Johndroe described Air Force One that day as "the safest and most dangerous place in the world at the exact same time."

Bush conferred with his chief of staff, Andy Card, in the stateroom, designed by Nancy Reagan.

The president's suite included a small bed, light-pink couch and carpeting, and a desk with a brown leather chair.

Bush walked down a hallway arm-in-arm with Harriet Miers, the assistant to the president and staff secretary.

The hallway was lined with a beige couch with side tables and lamps on either side.

When President Barack Obama took office in 2009, Air Force One's conference room had been updated with a TV screen and leather chairs.

The plane has 85 phone lines as well as encryption and scrambling devices to ensure secure communication, CNBC reported.

On the other side of the conference room, a decal that read "Air Force One" was displayed on wood paneling.

Food and drinks are provided by the plane's galley kitchen.

The plane's senior staff room featured more phones, a coat closet, and leather chairs.

Obama met with his chief of staff, Jack Lew, his senior advisors David Axelrod and David Plouffe, and former President Bill Clinton in the senior staff room in 2012.

The presidential office furniture was also updated, with mahogany chairs and sofas replacing the gray.

The carpeting was updated to a subtle star pattern, which also appeared in the conference room.

The plane's guest section was reserved for special visitors like members of Congress.

The chairs featured a subtle polka-dot pattern, and the tables folded down to make more space.

The rear cabin for press looked like a standard commercial airliner.

Journalists can wander the rear cabin freely, but they aren't allowed to walk forward to speak to the president — the president has to come back to them.

President Donald Trump proposed new paint colors for the exterior of Air Force One in 2019.

As part of the Air Force's Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization program to update Air Force One planes, Trump proposed a red, white, and navy-blue color scheme for the new models.

The Air Force ultimately rejected Trump's proposed color scheme because it would have been more costly and caused engineering issues.

The darker paint color would have caused overheating issues and been too costly. Instead, President Joe Biden selected a baby-blue color scheme similar to the current model.

The new VC-25B Air Force One planes are expected to be ready by 2027, according to the Air Force. The long-delayed project has already cost Boeing over $2 million due to various manufacturing and supply-chain issues.

In President Joe Biden's Air Force One, the conference room had the same star carpeting as the plane's presidential office.

Plain beige carpeting continued down the hallway.

The placard in the conference room was updated to read "Aboard Air Force One" with an image of the iconic aircraft.

Biden took his first overseas trip as president in June 2021, visiting Europe for the G7 summit.

In his second non-consecutive term, Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America while flying above it on Air Force One.

Trump signed a proclamation establishing the name change in his Air Force One office in February.

In May, the Trump administration accepted a gifted Boeing 747-8 jet from Qatar that could serve as the new Air Force One.

The luxurious plane previously functioned as a Qatari private business jet. It features a large primary bedroom with loveseats and an en-suite bathroom, guest bedrooms, office space, a dining room, and a salon lounge with plush couches.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a May briefing that the Qatari royal family donated the jumbo jet to the US Air Force and that it was being "retrofitted to the highest standards" to serve as Air Force One. Some estimates put the cost of upgrading the jet for the office of the president at $1 billion.

Trump, who has pressured Boeing to deliver its new Air Force One planes sooner and criticized the project's "failure" to complete them on time, said he'd be "stupid" to turn down the Qatari plane, worth an estimated $400 million.

• Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg says Elon Musk is helping speed up the arrival of the Next Air Force One.
• The planemaker has lost more than $2 billion producing the long-delayed presidential aircraft.
• President Donald Trump "wants the airplane sooner," Ortberg told CNBC.

Elon Musk is helping Boeing speed up production of the Next Air Force One, the planemaker's CEO told CNBC.

Also known as the VC-25B, costs and delays have snowballed since Boeing was tapped in 2015 to build a new presidential aircraft.

It was initially set to be delivered in 2024, but the timeframe has been pushed back to at least 2027. Boeing has reported losses of more than $2 billion on the program.

"The president wants the airplane sooner, and so we're working with Elon and the team to figure what can we do to pull up the schedule of that aircraft," Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told CNBC.

He added that discussions had been constructive and praised the Department of Government Efficiency.

"They sincerely are looking at things in the contract or in the process that are slowing us down that are not providing value," Ortberg said.

"We're engaging with the DOGE team to see if we can't find that right mix of requirements that need to come out and get out of our way so we can be more efficient and deliver a better product," he added.

During President Donald Trump's first term, he renegotiated the terms — threatening to cancel the program if it exceeded $4 billion.

To cut costs, Boeing agreed in 2018 to use two jets originally destined for a Russian airline that went bankrupt.

In 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that production problems included one Boeing employee not being properly credentialed to oversee the work and another failing a routine drug test.

Mini bottles of tequila were also found on board one of the future presidential jets, the Journal reported.

What will the Next Air Force One look like?

At his inaugural ball earlier this month, Trump signaled his appetite for the new presidential jet by cutting a cake adorned with the VC-25B.

Notably, the model had a red, white, and blue design — unlike the light blue used for every presidential jet since the Kennedy era.

In 2019, Trump showed ABC a similar plane design. "I'm doing that for other presidents, not for me," he added.

However, this color scheme was found to cause further delays. The Air Force said a thermal study found that the dark blue would necessitate additional tests because of added heat in some environments.

So in 2023, then-President Joe Biden chose a light-blue livery, in line with the current and previous Air Force Ones — but it seems like Trump would prefer his original design.

• Several airlines retired the Boeing 747 during the pandemic and Boeing stopped production.
• But the iconic "Queen of the Skies" is still operated by several country's governments and royals.
• That includes China's Xi Jinping and the Saudi King, who boards on a golden escalator.

The Boeing 747 has become one of the most iconic airplanes ever built since it was introduced in 1970. The double-decker aircraft pioneered the use of the term "jumbo jet."

But the "Queen of the Skies" is growing old, and its four engines are thirstier than newer, more fuel-efficient jets.

During the pandemic, airlines like British Airways, KLM, and Qantas retired their 747s, and Boeing decided to end production.

A handful of Boeing 747s are still flying commercially, but you're more likely to see one carrying cargo.

Yet sometimes, reputation outweighs efficiency. The 747 is still the jet of choice for 11 governments and royal families around the world.

Air Force One is the most iconic — although technically, it's not a 747 but a militarized version called the VC-25A. The jumbo jet is most popular among leaders in Asia, primarily the Middle East.

In alphabetical order, here are the countries that have their own Boeing 747s.

Bahrain

The Kingdom of Bahrain, an island country in the Persian Gulf, is one of many oil-rich nations on this list.

Bahrain Royal Flight operates two 747-400s which are both over 20 years old. They are used to fly King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and his family.

Brunei

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is one of the flashiest leaders in the world. His palace has over 1,700 rooms, more than 2 million sq ft of space, and a 110-car garage.

One of the few absolute monarchs on this list, he has one Boeing 747-8, which is operated by the airline Sultan's Flight.

Sultan's Flight previously had another two 747s. Its current fleet also includes a Boeing 767 and a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that was delivered in 2018.

China

China is the only country whose governmental Boeing 747 is actually operated by its flag carrier.

With the Air China livery, it looks the same as the airline's eight 747s on the outside. However, the one registered B-2479 is said to have been kitted out for the government to use.

During Xi Jinping's visit to South America in November, Air China deployed another 747 for other personnel, as well as a cargo version that carried a luxury Hongqi car, Simple Flying reported.

Morocco

Morocco has the lowest GDP per capita on this list, of $4,204. However, the royal family is one of the richest: Forbes estimated that King Mohammed VI had a net worth of $5.7 billion in 2015.

There are two jumbo jets registered to the country's government: a 747-400 and a larger 747-8. It also owns a Boeing 737.

The 747s have "Kingdom of Morocco" written on the side in Arabic, and stripes in the flag's colors of red and green. It's similar to the former livery of the country's flag carrier, Royal Air Maroc.

Oman

Like Brunei's leader, the Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq also heads an absolute monarchy.

Oman Royal Flight operates two Boeing 747s. The older 747-400 was delivered in 2001, while a newer 747-8 was delivered in 2012.

The Sultan also owns a business-jet version of Airbus' A320 and A319 jets.

Qatar

The Boeing 747 pictured above may look like a Qatar Airways plane from the outside, but it is only used to transport the country's ruling Al-Thani family.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and his wife, Noora bint Hathal Al Dosari, arrived on one of their two 747-8s when they visited the UK in December.

Qatar Amiri Flight has 13 planes in total — the most of any on this list.

Bloomberg estimated the family's fortune to be $150 billion. The country's sovereign wealth fund has myriad investments around the globe, including a substantial stake in London Heathrow Airport.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has the richest royal family in the world. Including its holdings in state oil company Aramco, some estimates put the figure over $1 trillion.

Among its six active jets is one Boeing 747-400, per ch-aviation data.

88-year-old King Salman travels with a 1,500-person entourage and two Mercedes Benz limousines, The Points Guy reported.

He also has a golden escalator to board and deplane the 747 — which once malfunctioned on a trip to Russia.

South Korea

South Korea's presidential jet is known as Code One — an upgraded 747-8 leased from flag carrier Korean Air.

It's the newest plane on this list, in service since January 2022.

"From decorating the exterior of the plane to remodeling the inside of the plane with customized facilities for the president, such as an office room and sleeping area, the plane needs to reinforce its protection function for the security of the president," an industry inside told The Korea Herald.

Turkey

After opposition politicians expressed concern about using taxpayers' money to buy a jet, Qatar's Al-Thani gifted Turkey a $500 million Boeing 747-8 in 2018, per the BBC.

The two countries grew closer after Turkey supported Qatar during a diplomatic crisis from 2017 to 2021, when other Arab states cut off ties.

The Turkish government also owns four Airbus planes.

United States

Air Force One is perhaps the most iconic governmental plane. However, it stands out from the rest because it isn't technically a 747. Instead, it's a militarized version called the VC-25A, meaning it can do things like refuel in midair.

However, it's over 30 years old, with two new ones in the pipeline. In his first term, Donald Trump renegotiated the contract with Boeing to limit costs below $4 billion. He most likely won't get to fly on the new jets, though, with delivery now expected in 2029.

• Donald Trump renegotiated a deal with Boeing for a new Air Force One in his first term as president.
• Production delays and his reelection mean Trump is set to see the new plane come to life.
• Boeing says it has lost more than $2 billion in building the Next Air Force One.

Following years of delays, billions of dollars, and his return to the presidency, Donald Trump is set to fly on the new Air Force One after all.

The existing presidential jets — a military version of the Boeing 747-200 known as the VC-25A — are more than 30 years old. In 2015, the Air Force again chose Boeing to build two new planes, this time based on the larger 747-8. The VC-25B project is known as the "Next Air Force One."

After Trump was elected in 2016, he said the deal with Boeing didn't pass muster over fears about escalating costs.

He met with then-CEO Dennis Muilenburg and threatened to cancel the program if it exceeded $4 billion, sources told Defense One. To cut costs, Boeing agreed in 2018 to use two jets originally destined for a Russian airline that went bankrupt. The contract announced at the time was worth $3.9 billion.

Trump showed his red, white, and blue design for the plane to ABC in 2019. "I'm doing that for other presidents, not for me," he said.

He appeared enthusiastic: After all, Trump has his own Boeing 757 and once ran a short-lived airline called Trump Shuttle.

At first, the Next Air Force One was supposed to be delivered in 2024. So, if Trump was re-elected in 2020, he could have theoretically been on board the jet before the end of his presidency.

However, delays piled up, and the timeframe was pushed back to 2027.

It looked like Trump had little chance of flying on the new planes.

Yet Trump's victory in 2024 means he's now set to witness his deal come to fruition, particularly as Boeing continues to contend with production delays.

"Our team is fighting through a very, very challenging program - two very complex airplanes," Boeing's then-head of space and defense told Reuters in June of the project.

Light blue

It will look different from his original plans, though.

Last year, President Joe Biden selected a new light-blue color palette similar to every previous presidential jet since the Kennedy era.

The red, white, and blue livery would have caused more delays. The Air Force said a thermal study found that the dark blue would necessitate additional tests due to the added heat in some environments.

While the government is paying $3.9 billion for the new jets, Boeing has suffered from the Next Air Force One.

In a 2022 earnings call, then-CEO Dave Calhoun called it "a very unique set of risks that Boeing probably shouldn't have taken."

That came after the company disclosed losses of $660 million. Boeing has since lost more than $2 billion in building the VC-25B.

Last year, it announced a charge of $482 million due to engineering changes. In the second quarter of this year, it increased that by $250 million due to further changes related to wiring and other structural requirements.

"Risk remains that we may record additional losses in future periods," Boeing said in its latest earnings report.

In 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that production problems included trying to place one of the jets onto a jack that wasn't designed to hold that much weight.

The report added that one Boeing employee wasn't properly credentialed to oversee the work, and another failed a routine drug test.

Mini bottles of tequila were also found on board one of the future presidential jets, The Journal reported.

Midair refueling

The current Air Force One is an extraordinary aircraft. It has 4,000 square feet of floor space on three levels, can feed 100 people at a time, and has a medical suite with a doctor on board at all times.

The plane can refuel in midair for unlimited flying, and onboard electronics are designed to withstand an electromagnetic pulse. In the event of an attack on the United States, it can function as a mobile command center.

The Next Air Force One will be more modern and even bigger. At 250 feet and 2 inches long, the 747-8 is the longest airliner in the world.

Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.