New Air Force One plane, a $400 million jet gifted by Qatar, unveiled by military

The Air Force on Friday unveiled the Boeing 747‑8 that will serve as the new Air Force One, a $400 million jet gifted by Qatar last year. The aircraft is at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington and will begin commissioning flights before entering active service to transport the president. Officials described it as safe, secure, and equipped with advanced technologies to meet presidential mission requirements, with the interior kept largely unchanged to preserve familiar comforts. To accelerate familiarization, the Air Force produced a full three‑dimensional mock‑up of the interior and leased a second 747‑8, previously flown by Lufthansa, for training. The donor country’s gift is slated to serve until a new fleet arrives in 2028.