President Donald Trump is at Joint Base Andrews unveiling a new presidential plane: a luxurious jet donated by the federal government of Qatar that has been painted crimson, white and blue and adorned with the phrases “United States of America.”
The airplane is meant to bridge the hole between the 2 ageing modified Boeing 747-200s, which have flown as Air Force One since 1990, and two new planes Boeing is modifying that received’t be carried out for roughly two extra years.
Gone is the sunshine blue shade scheme first conceived by Jaqueline Kennedy and used on the presidential plane ever since. In its place is a navy blue and white fuselage, minimize via with crimson stripes.
The Air Force stated Friday the new airplane would start “commissioning flights” quickly. Those are meant as a “final exam” for the plane modification, in line with a assertion from the Air Force.
“The safety and security of the commander in chief is our highest priority,” stated Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink. “From the beginning, we meticulously evaluated every requirement to accelerate delivery while maintaining the high standards expected of the presidential mission. This effort proves that the U.S. Air Force can move fast without sacrificing quality, security, or reliability.”
Trump had change into pissed off at delays in producing the new Air Force One planes, which aren’t prone to be accomplished by the point his time period ends in 2029.
The Pentagon accepted the Qatari jet final 12 months and has been working over the past a number of months to arrange it for service.
The timeline has been faster than the opposite planes partially as a result of the inside was not modified.