Trump takes first flight in the new Air Force One, a plane donated by Qatar
US President Donald Trump carried out this Wednesday (1st) the first official flight aboard the new Air Force One, a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar and renovated to join the American presidential fleet.
The aircraft's debut took place during Trump's trip to North Dakota, where the president participated in the inauguration of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, on the eve of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of United States independence.
Before leaving Washington, Trump said he was excited about the aircraft's inaugural flight, which received a new paint job in red, white, dark blue and gold, chosen by the president himself.
"We're very proud of it, the country is very proud of it," Trump said.
According to him, the old Air Force One "didn't look appropriate for our country."
The president also defended the incorporation of the plane into the presidential fleet in the face of criticism over the donation made by Qatar and the costs of the renovation.
"It cost very little compared to what it would have cost if we had done it another way," he said.
Trump added that the aircraft received adaptations to meet the security requirements of the President of the United States.
Plane was renovated before entering into operation
The Boeing 747 was gifted by the Qatari government last year and underwent extensive modernization led by defense company L3Harris Technologies before entering into operation.
In addition to the new paint job, the aircraft received security and communications systems compatible with the requirements of the presidential mission. According to the US Air Force, the plane meets the standards required to transport the American president.
The Air Force VC-25B Bridge aircraft, photographed at Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland - US Air Force
The incorporation of the plane raised questions about the speed of adaptations and the acceptance of a luxury aircraft donated by a foreign government. Experts also raised doubts about the accelerated modernization process.
Trump countered the criticism and stated that the update was necessary to bring the American presidential aircraft on par with those used by other heads of state.
"These countries have a lot of respect for us, and yet they have a much newer and much better plane. It's a little ridiculous," he declared during the aircraft's presentation in June.
According to the president, the rest of the Air Force One fleet should also adopt the new paint scheme chosen by his administration.
(With input from Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland, Bo Erickson, Idrees Ali and Mike Stone of Reuters)
Source: CNN