Qatar bought the 747 in 2012 and used it until 2020.  That's only 8 years of service.

Meanwhile, the current AF1 has been in service for over 40 years.

No matter how anyone tries to paint this in a negative light, AF1 has been in service 5 time longer, and their 747 is ready to be delivered now ... not years from now.

If it were from a close ally I wouldn't have any problem with it as long as it is approved by Congress or doesn't go to Trump's library 
The risk is that of sabotage and intel gathering on the president is the biggest concern.

Being 40 years old really isn't that significant. The engines and key components will have been replaced multiple times since the airplane started service. There are still DC-3s flying around to this day and it hasn't been produced since 1947.

If it were from a close ally I wouldn't have any problem with it as long as it is approved by Congress or doesn't go to Trump's library 
The risk is that of sabotage and intel gathering on the president is the biggest concern.

Being 40 years old really isn't that significant. The engines and key components will have been replaced multiple times since the airplane started service. There are still DC-3s flying around to this day and it hasn't been produced since 1947.

"If it were from a close ally I wouldn't have any problem with it "

The US  established diplomatic relations with Qatar in 1972.

Qatar and the United States are strategic allies. Qatar has been designated a
major non-NATO ally by the United States. Qatar maintains an embassy in
Washington, D.C. and the U.S. has an embassy in Doha.[1]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar%E2%80%93United_States_relations

May 14, 2025  -  Agreements signed by U.S. President Donald Trump and
Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on Wednesday will "generate
an economic exchange worth at least $1.2 trillion," the White House said in a
fact sheet, opens new tab summarizing some of the deals' details.

The agreements include a $96 billion deal with Qatar Airways to buy up to 210
Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X airplanes with GE Aerospace engines, the fact
sheet said. They also include a statement of intent that could lead to $38 billion
in investments at Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base and other air defense and maritime
security capabilities, it said.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us-qatar-deals-generate-12-trillion-economic-exchange-white-house-says-2025-05-14/

Do you bother to read anything at all before posting your baseless opinions?

Wrong, try again.

Which part is wrong?

interesting that you have a "biggest concern", but you doubt that the US government won't think about that while they are gutting/retrofitting the 747?

If it were from a close ally I wouldn't have any problem with it as long as it is approved by Congress or doesn't go to Trump's library 
The risk is that of sabotage and intel gathering on the president is the biggest concern.

Being 40 years old really isn't that significant. The engines and key components will have been replaced multiple times since the airplane started service. There are still DC-3s flying around to this day and it hasn't been produced since 1947.

If it were from a close ally I wouldn't have any problem with it as long as it is approved by Congress or doesn't go to Trump's library 
The risk is that of sabotage and intel gathering on the president is the biggest concern.

Being 40 years old really isn't that significant. The engines and key components will have been replaced multiple times since the airplane started service. There are still DC-3s flying around to this day and it hasn't been produced since 1947.

Wow, you're assuming that it's going to Trumps library.  Has it gone there yet?  For someone who claims they're objective what if he changes his mind and rejects it totally.  What if the DOD just lets it sit at the airplane graveyard?

interesting that you have a "biggest concern", but you doubt that the US government won't think about that while they are gutting/retrofitting the 747?

Maybe he's a consultant for them about spy stuff?  You're not being very objective.

"If it were from a close ally I wouldn't have any problem with it "

The US  established diplomatic relations with Qatar in 1972.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar%E2%80%93United_States_relations
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-qatar-deals-generate-12-trillion-economic-exchange-white-house-says-2025-05-14/

Do you bother to read anything at all before posting your baseless opinions?

Show me where I said they weren't an ally. I said "close ally", you even bolded if when you quoted me.

If you can't see the security concerns in getting a jet from a nation that hosted known terrorist leaders, like Hamas, then I don't know what else to say to you.

interesting that you have a "biggest concern", but you doubt that the US government won't think about that while they are gutting/retrofitting the 747?

I am sure they will think of it, I am not sure they will be able to find all of it.
And at the point they gut the airplane so thoroughly as so ensure security, what is the actual cost going to be? I question whether it will be worth it compared to just updating the old 747 for a few years.

Show me where I said they weren't an ally. I said "close ally", you even bolded if when you quoted me.

If you can't see the security concerns in getting a jet from a nation that hosted known terrorist leaders, like Hamas, then I don't know what else to say to you.

Show me evidence Qatar is NOT a close ally of the US.

"Qatar and the United States are strategic allies. Qatar has been designated a
major non-NATO ally by the United States. "

Major .... Close .... seems like there's no question.

Funny how you not knowing what else to say has never stopped you ... ever.

so you think they are incompetent?
got it...

I am sure they will think of it, I am not sure they will be able to find all of it.

the "old 747" is significantly older than the Qatari 747
and it also has to do with miles flown and takeoff/landing cycles
focus...

And at the point they gut the airplane so thoroughly as so ensure security, what is the actual cost going to be? I question whether it will be worth it compared to just updating the old 747 for a few years.

I think the best question is whether or not the modifications needed to turn the Qatar 747 into a VC-25B can be completed significantly before Boeing can deliver the VC-25Bs already on order.  If not, then there's no reason to sink modification costs into the Qatar 747.  No sense in spending the money to modify a third AF1 if it can't be completed well before the others are ready. 

Of course, there would need to be a better commitment on Boeing's part on when their delivery will occur. 

Right now, the most current delivery date given by the Air Force is 2027.

Boeing's CEO said in 2022 that he expects the company to realize a $660M loss on the VC-25B program after Trump renegotiated the contract.  Sounds like a good excuse for dragging their feet on delivery while hoping the next administration eases their loses.

There are two VC-25As used as AF1. 
They are both modified 747-200Bs. 
The tail numbers are 28000 and 29000. 
SAM stands for Special Air Mission.  When not carrying the President, the call signs are usually SAM 28000 and SAM 29000.
-- Clinton and Bush used the tail numbers for their call signs when not designated AF1, but Obama used the call sign SAM 44 (44th president).
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Air_Mission#cite_note-4
Both VC-25As were manufactured in 1987 and placed into service in 1990.
Both VC-25As were scheduled for replacement in 2017. 

The replacement modified 747s will carry the airframe designation VC-25B.
The VC-25B  is a modified 747-8, the largest variant of the 747 family.  It's a larger variant of the 747-400.
The Qatar gift is a 747-8, the same variant as the two being delivered whenever Boeing gets them completed.

The WH had a PC yesterday about this because the fake news still thinks it's an issue. They restated that it's a gift that hasn't been accepted yet.  It will go thru all the correct procedures if/when they accept the gift.  It is not Trumps personal plane, but the Air Force will have control of it.

Seems like the purpose of this thread started by the OP has and is still moot.  1 sided info provided and lots of stuff left out.

focus

https://www.google.com/search?q=qatar+747

HPD to comment as soon as his shift is over...

The WH had a PC yesterday about this because the fake news still thinks it's an issue. They restated that it's a gift that hasn't been accepted yet.  It will go thru all the correct procedures if/when they accept the gift.  It is not Trumps personal plane, but the Air Force will have control of it.

Seems like the purpose of this thread started by the OP has and is still moot.  1 sided info provided and lots of stuff left out.

focus

https://www.google.com/search?q=qatar+747

HPD to comment as soon as his shift is over...

My mistake.  Wow, that was easy to admit. 

According to the AP article:

Trump has presented no national security imperative for a swift upgrade rather
than waiting for Boeing to finish new Air Force One jets that have been in the
works for years.

 

An honest report would have mentioned the Boeing replacements were supposed to be delivered in 2017 and again in 2024 after several more delays.  The USAF is anticipating delivery in 2027 -- two more years from now assuming there aren't any more delays.

"In the works for years?"  Gimme a break!!  Ignoring the original missed delivery estimate, if they had delivered in 2024 -- 6 or 7 years after the 2017 target -- this whole Qatar situation would have never been considered.

Show me evidence Qatar is NOT a close ally of the US.

"Qatar and the United States are strategic allies. Qatar has been designated a
major non-NATO ally by the United States. "

Major .... Close .... seems like there's no question.

Funny how you not knowing what else to say has never stopped you ... ever.

Nice red herring you are trying to make. You are going to nitpick my use of the word close to distract from the fact you are ignoring the serious security concerns in accepting a plane from a country that hosts terrorists.

so you think they are incompetent?
got it...

False dichotomy and non-sequitur.

If I install 1,000 surveillance devices and you find 999 of them, you have a job success rate of 99.9%, You could clearly not be "incompetent" but it would only take one listening device to get through for them to succeed.

the "old 747" is significantly older than the Qatari 747
and it also has to do with miles flown and takeoff/landing cycles
focus...

Of course but parts have life spans, so many miles, so many hours, etc. They get replaced. The body was made decades ago but the engines have been replaced, the tires, etc etc. Even panels on the body can be replaced. It is almost a ship of Theseus type question.

please show me where anyone on this thread is "ignoring serious security concerns"...

Nice red herring you are trying to make. You are going to nitpick my use of the word close to distract from the fact you are ignoring the serious security concerns in accepting a plane from a country that hosts terrorists.