These are the complex changes being made to $300M Boeing 747 gifted to the US by Qatar so it can become Air Force One this summer
Published on Apr 29, 2026 at 4:09 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Apr 29, 2026 at 4:09 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The £300m Boeing 747 intended to become Air Force One by the summer is set to undergo some complex changes.
Gifted to the US by Qatar, this plane has had no shortage of press attention.
But now that it’s in the States, sitting on the tarmac at a San Antonio airport in Texas, it’s ready to be overhauled.
Getting this jet ready for duty will be no small feat.
What needs to be done to this Boeing 747 to get it ready for summer
It feels like virtually every aspect of this whole deal has been gone over with a fine-tooth comb, from its stunning interior to its unusual call sign.
But now it looks like the work is starting in earnest, as NPR reported that the plane has been officially accepted.
The hope is that this gifted plane could be ready for service by the summer, which would be an exceptionally quick turnaround.
Two Boeing 747-8 planes were already being primed to be the next generation of Air Force Ones, but their deployment has been delayed for a few more years.
It’d be no small order getting the Qatari’s gifted plane ready.
Air Force Ones have a whole host of security features, including being capable of refueling in midair and being kitted out with antimissile defense measures.
And that’s not forgetting the fact that the electronics onboard are designed to withstand the electromagnetic pulse of a nuclear blast.
While the plane, as it currently stands, is certainly opulent – replete with lounges, bedrooms, and leather seats – it will need a lot of work to bring it up to scratch with the above requirements.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink has said on the record that the plane would need ‘significant modifications’.
This has led to some concerns that some corners might be cut in order to get it ready for this summer.
Only time will tell if it’s ready in time.
Air Force One planes are part of history
Whether this Qatari plane is ready for service by the summer or not, it’ll most certainly be a piece of history one day.
We’ve already seen that other planes that have served in this prestigious position.
Ronald Reagan’s plane is a perfect 1980s time capsule, while the one that FDR flew in is like something straight out of a museum.
Following stints at LadBible, The Sun, The New York Post, and the Daily Mail, Ben joined the team full-time in February 2025. In his role as Senior Content Writer, his sparkling copy, the ability to sniff out a good story at 100 paces, and a GSOH quickly led to him becoming an integral and invaluable member of the writing staff.
