Trump shares look at Qatari aircraft for AF1

By Andrew Rice
The Center Square

President Donald Trump shared a look at a new aircraft with The Center Square on Friday that will serve as Air Force One.

The Air Force’s VC-25B Bridge aircraft arrived at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Friday. The aircraft will need to go through several commissioning flights that serve as the “final exam” for aircraft modification.

The aircraft, a $400 million plane gifted from officials in Qatar last year, will be used to relieve pressure on the president’s fleet. Trump said the aircraft is more than double the size of the previous model.

“Our country has to be represented properly,” Trump said. “We have the greatest aircraft anywhere in the world.”

Trump said he would use the aircraft much more in the future. He said he would use it to travel to Turkey in July for a NATO summit and a meeting in China. He did not specify when the meeting in China would occur.

“The quality of the materials, the quality of the engines, is the best in the world,” Trump said. “I want to thank the Emir of Qatar.”

Air Force officials emphasized the aircraft was brought to relieve pressure on the president’s fleet of vehicles.

“The safety and security of the commander in chief is our highest priority,” said Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink. “From the beginning, we meticulously evaluated every requirement to accelerate delivery while maintaining the high standards expected of the presidential mission. This effort proves that the U.S. Air Force can move fast without sacrificing quality, security, or reliability.”

Trump said the aircraft would lead a flyover in Washington, D.C., on July 4th.

“This plane was transformed into a flying White House at a level of luxury nobody has ever seen before,” Trump said.