US President Donald Trump recently visited a 13-year-old Boeing 747-8 quadjet at Palm Beach International Airport. The plane, formerly owned by Qatar’s royal family, is part of the president’s effort to replace the current Air Force One with newer models.
The project has faced significant delays, pushing back its original delivery schedule from 2024 to 2026 and then again to 2027 for the first aircraft, and 2029 for the second. Supply chain issues, high costs, and intricate design have been cited as contributing factors.
Elon Musk, a close ally of Trump, visited Boeing in January 2025 to assess the refurbishment of Air Force One. The company has discussed ways with Musk to accelerate delivery, but it’s unclear if these efforts will be successful.
Trump had initially proposed revising the paint scheme of the new aircraft to a darker red and black design during his first term, which was scrapped by predecessor Biden. With Trump now in office, there’s speculation that he may attempt to make changes again, despite the potential cost.
Source: https://simpleflying.com/president-trump-air-force-one-sooner-tours-old-boeing-747-8