Trump Air Force One plans advanced after the U.S. Air Force said a Qatar-gifted Boeing 747 had completed modification and flight testing and was set for summer rollout.
The aircraft, gifted by Qatar to President Donald Trump during his official visit last year, is estimated to be worth $400 million.
The U.S. Air Force said Friday the plane was being painted and would roll out in a red, white and blue livery this summer. The aircraft will serve as a temporary presidential plane.
The overhaul cost about $400 million, matching the Boeing 747’s estimated value. The work included deconstructing parts of the aircraft to check for surveillance technology and installing top-secret presidential communications equipment.
The gift drew controversy in the United States, where critics raised national security concerns and questioned whether it conflicted with constitutional restrictions on foreign gifts to a president.
General Dale White, the four-star Air Force official overseeing the overhaul, said the aircraft’s interior condition was largely unchanged.
Read: Qatar Airways Flights Suspended as Qatar Airspace Remains Closed
White said U.S. Air Force specifications for presidential aircraft differ significantly from those used by other countries for heads of state.
