$400M Boeing 747 Gifted to US from Qatar Finds New Life as Temporary Air Force One

The US Air Force has recently acquired a Boeing 747 from Qatar to replace the aging Air Force One. The plane, valued at $400M, was previously used by the Qatari royals for transporting them to engagements worldwide and on holiday trips.

Before its conversion into an Air Force One-grade aircraft, the plane had been withdrawn from use and parked on an island just off the UK after transferring ownership in 2023. The US Air Force spearheaded the conversion of the plane due to a shortage of new aircraft, with the old Air Force One aging fast.

The conversion process was completed in less than a year, with the interior largely left intact except for replacing 'exit' and 'lavatory' signs that were in Arabic. The plane's quick transformation allowed it to become operational as a stopgap measure until a new Air Force One is ready.