From royal jet to Air Force One: How Qatar's gift compares to the real thing

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President Donald Trump disembarks from the new Air Force One — donated by the Qatari government — upon arriving at a US Air Force base in South Dakota on Aug. 3. [Reuters]

A lavish jet once reserved for Middle Eastern royalty has become the US president's airborne office. President Donald Trump is using a new Boeing 747-8 donated by the Qatari royal family as a temporary Air Force One, after it was rushed through conversion. Compared with the original presidential aircraft — the "real" Air Force One — the Qatar-donated plane falls short in several areas, from defensive capabilities to interior layout.

The United States currently operates three Boeing 747 aircraft designated for presidential use. Two of them are VC-25A models that have been in service since the George H.W. Bush administration.

The third, donated by the Qatari government, was rushed through conversion at Trump's request, with a target of entering service before July 4 — the 250th anniversary of American independence. The US Air Force said the conversion cost approximately $400 million.

The aircraft is currently known as the VC-25B Bridge and is slated for further modifications this fall. The additional work was decided after Trump used the original Air Force One during a recent visit to Turkey, citing the Qatar jet's lack of defensive capabilities. The White House said the additional conversion would take about a month, though the Ministry of National Defense has not disclosed the cost. Some former and current government officials have expressed skepticism, saying adding defensive systems within a month would be difficult in practice.

The Qatar-donated aircraft flew on several overseas presidential trips last month, with the original Air Force One alongside as a backup — standard practice, as a spare aircraft always accompanies the plane carrying the president. Armored limousines, Marine One and cargo aircraft transporting support equipment travel with the presidential party as well.

No nuclear shielding, no aerial refueling: original jet dominates on defense

The most significant difference lies in defensive capability. The existing VC-25A was designed to withstand the electromagnetic pulse generated by a nuclear explosion, but the Qatar-donated aircraft is reported to lack high-intensity radiation shielding on both the airframe and its electronics. The Qatar jet also lacks aerial refueling capability — though the US Air Force has already dropped that requirement from the specifications for the next-generation presidential aircraft.

The two planes also differ in cabin configuration. The VC-25A features an oversized cargo door that allows a casket to be loaded in the event of a president's death in office — a capability the Qatar-donated aircraft does not have. That feature is expected to return on the future next-generation VC-25B.

President Donald Trump disembarks from the Qatar-donated Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on July 1. [AFP]

Ground accessibility is another difference. The original VC-25A has self-deploying airstairs at both the front and rear, along with an onboard baggage-loading system, reducing its dependence on ground equipment. The Qatar-donated aircraft has only one set of internal stairs, requiring multiple mobile staircases to be brought in at airports.

Trump's design on the outside, royal interiors within

President Donald Trump disembarks from Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, in April last year. [Reuters]

The existing VC-25A retains the white and powder-blue livery that has been in use since the 1960s — an iconic design commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy from industrial designer Raymond Loewy.

The Qatar-donated aircraft, by contrast, is painted in a red, white and navy combination personally chosen by Trump, with a large wave-patterned American flag emblazoned on the tail.

The VC-25B Bridge aircraft donated by the Qatari government sits on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews in June. [Reuters]

The cabin layouts also differ considerably. The VC-25A was designed as a "White House in the sky," with dedicated spaces for meetings, presidential staff and the press corps. The Qatar-donated aircraft has no dedicated press cabin. Journalists traveling aboard will instead share space with staff, separated only by a heavy curtain.

President Donald Trump and his staff board the Qatar-donated Air Force One on July 1. [AFP]

The Qatar jet does retain some of its royal origins, however. The large leather lie-flat seats installed for its original royal passengers remain in place, as the US Air Force decided to preserve much of the existing luxury interior to save time and money.

Food safety is another consideration on presidential overseas trips. The VC-25A carries five large refrigeration units in the lower hold, providing ample cold storage for long-haul flights. The Qatar-donated aircraft has fewer refrigeration units, meaning some of the president's food supplies may need to be distributed across support aircraft.

The most significant feature the two aircraft share is their communications capability. According to the US Air Force, both planes are equipped with top-secret communications systems that allow the president to conduct official business while airborne. Trump has said the Qatar-donated aircraft is also fitted with Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet service.

mokiya@heraldcorp.com