Air-Force-One News, Photos, Videos

Other StuffPublished: September 7, 2026

While Turkey had to spend $120 million building a runway just so the 300-ton 747 donated by the Qatari royal family could land for the NATO summit, Ireland won’t pay a single cent for airport upgrades when the interim Air Force One touches down in Dublin later this week

by Sayan Chakravarty

The Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8 that has been transformed into Bridge Air Force One is about to demonstrate just how different Ireland’s situation is from…

Stories about Air-Force-One

Just 90 days after its grand inaugural flight as the Air Force One, the $400 million, gold-trimmed 747-8 donated by Qatar will be grounded in October for more than 60 days for much-needed technical and security upgrades so it can finally operate across all territories

17 months behind schedule, the exorbitantly expensive new Air Force One being built by Boeing will face its first crucial test at the end of 2026 when engineers power up all its complex systems, which contain enough wiring to stretch from the White House to New York City

The $400 million Qatar-donated 747-8 completed its shortest publicly documented presidential flight yet, carrying the US leader 121 miles from Dublin to Shannon before roaring over the Irish Open as stunned golfers paused mid-round to admire the massive jet

The $400 million 747-8 donated by the generous Qatari royal family is so advanced than the aging Air Force One that the USAF is spending $45 million on a high-tech simulator to train even its most elite pilot and crew so they can master all the aspects of the flying palace

Just 70 days into service, the $400 million 747 donated by Qatar and heavily upgraded in Texas lost its emergency slide on the tarmac delaying the President, a mishap so rare that the only other known case on Air Force One happened 11,747 days earlier with Bill Clinton

While Turkey had to spend $120 million building a runway just so the 300-ton 747 donated by the Qatari royal family could land for the NATO summit, Ireland won’t pay a single cent for airport upgrades when the interim Air Force One touches down in Dublin later this week

Not wanting to use the secure Cold War-era Air Force One, the US president will fly in the luxurious Qatar-donated 747 on a 4,600 mile journey to Ireland. The $400 million jet will resume its international missions despite needing the much needed security upgrades

The painfully delayed new Air Force One 747 jets have become even more expensive, with the USAF handing Boeing another $75 million to stockpile bespoke spare parts, ensuring the $4.49 billion “Flying Oval Office” does not leave the US leader stranded on the tarmac

As if the $6 billion cost was not enough, the new Air Force One being built by Boeing is so delayed that its secure communications will be completely obsolete on the day it is delivered, forcing the authorities to demand an additional $555 million for comm upgrades

Once Boeing delivers the much-awaited new Air Force One, the current Presidential 747 will be carefully dismantled into tens of pieces, transported by large barges to Miami, and reassembled for the massive Presidential library to be constructed around it

The Qatar-donated plush 747 was supposed to draw crowds to the Miami presidential library. Instead, the 40-year-old Air Force One with its historic white and blue color scheme will now be the centerpiece of the soaring glass tower, showcasing history to millions of Americans.

The 747 donated by Qatar was so luxurious that authorities had to test its plush lounges, marble bedrooms, sofas and side facing seats with specialized car dummies. The evaluations were approved by the FAA on the very morning of the Air Force One’s maiden flight