US Bids Farewell to Long Serving Air Force One Jet as Qatar Donated Replacement Emerges

(Air Force. Photo Credit: France 24)

Officials at the White House on Thursday said goodbye to a jet that has transported US presidents across the globe for 35 years, as the Trump administration prepares to replace it with a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar to function as Air Force One.

White House Communications Director, Steven Cheung, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff, Dan Scavino, shared photos of one of the highly customised and heavily fortified Boeing 747-200B jumbo jets, which is designated Air Force One when carrying the US President.

Cheung wrote on social media that it was “well done, good and faithful servant. The Last Ride,” marking the end of the aircraft’s service.

The Air Force had announced the previous month that the Qatari jet had completed its modification and flight testing.

According to reports, the Presidential Airlift Group will determine which aircraft is appropriate for each mission based on operational needs.

A spokesperson for the group said they had worked closely with relevant government bodies to ensure all functional requirements for transporting the President were fully satisfied.