How long it takes to upgrade a Boeing jet into Air Force One as US is forced to use $400M Qatar-gifted Boeing 747 due to wait
Published on May 17, 2026 at 6:03 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on May 17, 2026 at 6:03 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
The US Secret Service is probably going to use the Boeing 747 that Qatar gave the US as the new Air Force One.
The move is going to be temporary, but necessary.
That’s because the VC-25B program (the 747-8 replacement) is years behind schedule and billions over budget, with delivery now pushed to 2028 or 2029.
But now people are wondering why it’s taking so long.
Air Force One isn’t actually the name of the plane
One of the most common misconceptions is that ‘Air Force One’ is the name of a specific aircraft; in reality, it is a designation.
Air Force One is just the callsign, not the plane.
The US President almost always flies on the Boeing 747 most people associate with the name, but in theory, if POTUS decided to fly on a random Embraer or Dassault, that could also fly with the same callsign.
Also, unlike The Beast, the presidential plane is generally not destroyed after retirement.
Most Air Force One planes are either repurposed or simply parked in museums.
This indirectly brings us to the reason it takes so long to convert a plane into an Air Force One-worthy aircraft.
It’s a long and complicated procedure
Aircraft used as Air Force One are based on production planes, but they’re then heavily modified to accommodate the President.
In addition to visually evident modifications, the plane requires extensive modifications to make it safe from digital and physical attacks.
It’s a lengthy and reversible process, which is why Air Force Ones are generally not automatically destroyed.
Or, more accurately, unlike the aforementioned limo, a plane’s armor is less about top-secret metal alloys and more about classified electronic systems that can easily be removed separately.
However, the problem is that the current main aircraft – a Boeing 747 – will soon be replaced by a new one, and building it is taking longer than expected.
In the meantime, the US Secret Service is considering using the $300 million Boeing 747 given to the US by Qatar.
As recently as October 2025, it was reported that the plane was undergoing its transformation in Texas.
Apparently, they’re making fast progress, which is why this 747 could briefly serve as Air Force One.
After beginning his automotive writing career at DriveTribe, Alessandro has been with Supercar Blondie since the launch of the website in 2022. In fact, he penned the very first article published on supercarblondie.com. He’s covered subjects from cars to aircraft, watches, and luxury yachts - and even crypto. He can largely be found heading up the site’s new-supercar and SBX coverage and being the first to bring our readers the news that they’re hungry for.
