Bangkok: President Donald Trump inspected a newly upgraded Boeing 747 passenger plane at Joint Base Andrews. The aircraft, a gift from Qatar, is awaiting delivery to join Air Force One, the official presidential aircraft.
According to Thai News Agency, the aircraft has undergone flight testing and has been repainted with a red, white, dark blue, and gold stripe pattern personally chosen by President Trump, replacing the original white and blue design used since the time of President John F. Kennedy.
Adding this luxury jet to the fleet would modernize and enhance the comfort of travel for the president and his staff. However, the U.S. Air Force has expedited some modifications to speed up the delivery of this transitional model, leading some experts to worry that its safety systems may not be on par with the current Air Force One. Furthermore, accepting such a high-value gift from a foreign country has sparked criticism, which President Trump has dismissed, stating that it would be foolish to refuse the offer.
Experts say upgrading this luxury jet requires enhanced security systems, improved communication systems to prevent eavesdropping, and the installation of missile defense systems. Democratic senators estimate that the cost of these modifications could exceed 35 billion baht and could pose significant security risks.
The new stripe pattern in shades of red, white, dark blue, and gold will be used not only on the new Air Force One aircraft, but also on VC-25B aircraft and four modified Boeing 757-200s used for transporting the Vice President, cabinet members, and other high-ranking U.S. government officials.