The U.S. Air Force has started modifications on a Boeing 747‑8 donated by Qatar, initiating a conversion of the former VIP jet for executive airlift and potential presidential use. Work follows the aircraft’s transfer over the summer and begins formal retrofit and security system upgrades.
Discovered |
Briefing
The conversion starts physical work to field an interim presidential/executive transport: the aircraft recently departed Fort Worth en route to Waco for conversion in what has been described as a roughly $400 million mission (see the report on its move and planned conversion).
Funding and program placement have been contentious: the Pentagon finalized acceptance of the donated jet (valued at about $400 million) and the retrofit’s costs have been embedded into other defense budgets, including taps on ICBM modernization funds, prompting oversight and appropriations questions (see reporting on the Pentagon acceptance and the ICBM budget reallocation).
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Air & Space Forces Mag
• Greg Hadley