Trump estimates new Air Force 1 flights in February
Sen. Kevin Kramer (RN.D.) discusses President Donald Trump’s visit to Qatar.
President Trump He was able to fly on one of the new Air Force planes in February, he said he was on the current presidential plane on Tuesday talking to members of the press.
“They probably say it in February,” Trump said. In response to questions about when he expects to fly to something new Air Force 1. “Much faster than others.”
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In May, Trump officially accepted the Qatari gift Boeing 747 He then asked the US Air Force to upgrade the jets so that they could be used as an Air Force. Boeing was supposed to deliver two converted 747s last year to replace one current aging Air Force jet. However, the project is several years behind schedule, and is billions above budget.
US President Donald Trump will be carrying the Air Force at Raf Rosiemouth in northeastern Scotland at the end of his trip to Scotland on July 29, 2025. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
“The others are being built,” Trump said. “…but I’ll get this two years ago, a year and a half ago.”
Trump told reporters he didn’t know the exact cost of renovating the 13-year-old Qatar jet for presidential use. Air Force Secretary Troy Make Last month, Reuters said the project is estimated to cost hundreds of millions of dollars, but Democrats said the renovation could cost more than $1 billion.
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The jet must be equipped with a secure communication system. Missile defenseair refueling capabilities, protection against electromagnetic pulse attacks, and countermeasures for electronic jamming. You also need to clear potential monitoring hardware.
“We’re going to have a great 747. We need that,” Trump said. We answered questions about whether modifications to the new plane are worth the cost. “If you look at this plane, you’re 32, 34, 35 (ages). I don’t know, it’s old. …It’s very difficult to get the parts.”
US President Donald Trump served in the Air Force at Raf Ross Imas on July 29, 2025 in Ross Emas, Scotland. (Andrew Harnik / Getty Images / Getty Images)
The two Air Forces President Donald Trump flies are the military version of Boeing’s 747-200B, known as the VC-25A. They entered service in 1990.
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“If you look at 747, especially when you look at the heads of state of Arab countries, it’s not going well for the US with this next to you,” Trump added.
The Qatar gift was the Boeing 747-8i, the largest and latest version of the 747 series by a Washington-based aircraft manufacturer.
The Air Force awarded a $3.9 billion fixed price contract in July 2018 for two highly customized 747-8s, following months of negotiations. Boeing has already reported more than $2.5 billion in losses on its program.
President Donald Trump’s deep connection with Qatar is the free jet offer amid growing influence in the Gulf states in American policy. (Getty Images; Photo Illustrations / Getty Images)
“If I remember, it was Obama who wanted to get the plane,” Trump said. “He was ready to sign the contract, and I think they paid too much because he wanted to sign it.
Officially, the Air Force and Boeing aim to complete the plane in 2027. However, the White House estimates that it can push the timeline back further back to 2029 and beyond.
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Boeing and the White House did not immediately respond to Fox Business’s request for comment.
Kristen Altus and Morgan Phillips of Fox Business contributed to this report.