US President Donald Trump has unveiled the new presidential plane, a luxury Boeing 747 donated by Qatar, which will be used temporarily as Air Force One. The plane was unveiled during a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Trump described the plane as one of the most luxurious in the world, thanking Qatar for the gift.
It is a Boeing 747-8, worth around $400 million, which was previously part of the private fleet of the Qatari royal family.
The aircraft has been modernized for the needs of the US presidency, with advanced communication systems, security and protective equipment. The company L3Harris Technologies has carried out some of the technical changes to adapt it to White House standards.
The exterior design has been changed, removing the traditional blue color of Air Force One and using a combination of red, white, navy blue and gold.
The plane will serve as a temporary replacement until the two new presidential jets ordered by the US government are completed, a project that has suffered delays and cost overruns.
The acceptance of the plane from Qatar has caused controversy in the US. Critics have raised concerns about security, political influence and the fact that it is a gift from a foreign country, while the Trump administration has defended the decision by saying that the plane belongs to the US government and not to the president personally. /Telegraph/
