Trump takes first flight on new Air Force One, a gift from Qatar
The luxury plane, worth about US$400 million, had extensive modifications, paid for by taxpayers, before being cleared for use
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday took his maiden voyage on a new Air Force One – a retrofitted Boeing 747-800 worth US$400 million gifted by Qatar that embeds his personality more deeply into the institution of the American presidency.
Gone is the trademark light blue hull that helped Air Force One blend into the sky. The refurbished jet is painted in Trump’s preferred colour scheme: a navy-blue belly with red and gold stripes.
It has the luxury features that the president believes a commander-in-chief’s entourage should have – plush carpets, lie-flat seats, wood panelling and a presidential seal on the seat belts, according to reported tours of the plane.