Trump to Use Old and New Air Force One for UK Trip, Showcasing Qatar's Gift
President Trump's Air Force One Plans and Qatar's Contribution
By Mike Stone
Announcement of the UK Trip
WASHINGTON, July 8 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he will fly an old Air Force One plane from Turkey to the UK 'for old time's sake', with the new plane given to the U.S. by Qatar visiting the same base in the UK, according to a post on Truth Social.
Showcasing the New Air Force One
Trump said the newly overhauled Air Force One will fly to RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom so U.S. service members stationed there can tour the aircraft.
Details of the New Aircraft
The new plane is a Boeing 747 gifted to the United States by Qatar last year and refitted by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies.
Design and Livery
The jumbo aircraft has been painted in a red, white, dark blue and gold livery chosen by Trump, marking a departure from the iconic design used on Air Force One for decades.
"Everybody is so excited and we thought that they should be the first," Trump wrote, adding that the outgoing Air Force One would make the trip from Turkey to Mildenhall "for old time's sake."
Security and Upgrades
The Qatari jet's acceptance had drawn scrutiny. Retrofitting the luxury plane required security upgrades, communications improvements to prevent eavesdropping, and missile defense capabilities, experts said.
(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
