Why Qatar Is So Excited to Dump That 747-8 Private Jet on Trump
That Boeing 747-8 BBJ isn’t nearly as great as Trump is making it out to be. The Qatari government used Trump to pawn off a hunking chunk of metal that it had been trying to get rid of for five years, according to reporting from Forbes.
The president—easily swayed by gifts—likely just saved this foreign government thousands, if not millions, of dollars in storage fees and maintenance costs, President Trump has accepted a super-luxury Boeing 747-8, often referred to as a “palace in the sky”. The Qatari government has been attempting to sell the aircraft since 2020, but with the president’s decision to use it as a “temporary Air Force One,” they have found a new purpose for the jet.
The aircraft, a private version or the passenger 747-8I, will require significant upgrades to meet U.S. Air Force’s Air Force One security and communications standards, with conversion costs expected to approach $1 billion. The luxury jet, previously operated by the Qatari crown, will undergo extensive modifications to serve as a secure, high-tech mode of transportation for the U.S. president.
“Qatar, like many modern states, is shifting toward leaner, more versatile aircraft, which offer better economics and more discreet presence for official travel,” said Linus Bauer, a managing director of aviation consulting firm BAA & Partners. Qatar’s decision to give the plane to Trump is “a creative disposal strategy” and “a farewell to a bygone model of geopolitical theater in the skies.”
This plane, of which the Qatari government owns three, has been phased out of air fleets across the world for the last decade due to its unreasonable gas guzzling and the security risk that its ginormous size presents.
Qatar’s Amiri Flight, which manages aircraft for the royal family, is known for its luxurious and state-of-the-art fleet. Among the fleet are several 747-8s. One of these 747-8 aircraft, previously operated by the Qatari royal family, was gifted to the Turkish President in 2018, marking a diplomatic gesture between the two nations. Additionally, another 747-8 has been offered to the U.S. government for temporary use as Air Force One, highlighting the aircraft’s versatility and impressive features.
Boeing 747-8 BBJ – Registered: A7-HHE Delivered: Feb 2012
Boeing 747-8 BBJ – Registered: A7-HHF Delivered: Feb 2017
“These things are big targets,” said aerospace consultant Richard Aboulafia. “There are a lot more airports you can get into if you have a narrow body, and many more still if you have a traditional business jet.”
The temporary jet will need to be disassembled and searched for bugs before it is reinforced to the level Air Force One is required to be. Former U.S. Air Force acquisitions chief Andrew Hunter estimated it could cost tens of millions to do a full security sweep of the plane.
“I can’t imagine any well-trained senior U.S Air Force officer saying this is a good idea,” Aboulafia said.
Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=747-8, https://airguide.info/?s=Air+Force+One
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, newrepublic.com, forbes.com