Trump unveils interim Air Force One, gifted from Qatar
A former Qatari-owned jumbo jet, converted into the new presidential aircraft, is nearly ready for service. Trump said it had been transformed into "a flying White House."
US President Donald Trump on Friday unveiled a new interim Air Force One presidential aircraft at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
The aircraft was gifted to the US by Qatar and will be a "bridge" solution to transport the US president until new aircraft from Boeing arrive.
Air Force One is the name given to any of the aircraft used to transport the president of the US, which are usually heavily modified Boeing 747s.
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Trump's 'flying White House'
"This plane was transformed into a flying White House at a level of luxury that nobody has ever seen before," Trump said in the giant hangar.
"When you see it, you won't believe it, actually, the quality of woods, the quality of the materials, the quality of the engines," the president said. "And I want to thank the emir of Qatar.
"Now, when we land at airports in London and in Germany and different places, nobody tops this one, and that's the way we have to have it for our country," Trump said, noting that the colours and the design were to "my taste, I will say."
The Trump administration accepted the luxury Boeing 747 jet from Qatar last year to be used as the presidential aircraft.
Critics said that acceptance of such a gift could violate strict rules on presents for US presidents and raise further questions regarding conflicts of interest with Trump's family businesses and use of public office.
In May last year, Trump defended the gift and said opposition to such a present was wrong because it meant Air Force One could be replaced "free of charge."
Aircraft to undergo 'commissioning flights' seen as 'final exam'
The US Air Force said the Boeing VC-25B Bridge aircraft would begin initial "commissioning flights" after its arrival at the Presidential Airlift Group.
The commissioning flights are considered the "final exam" for the aircraft modification, the Air Force said in a statement.
Following these flights, the aircraft would be officially "commissioned", or put into active service.
"The safety and security of the commander in chief is our highest priority," Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said.
The US Air Force said the aircraft would "relieve pressure on the ageing VC-25A fleet" of planes that have been in service since the 1990s.
The Air Force has previously said that the security modifications to the jet would cost less than $400 million.
