Trump unveils new Air Force One: “We will go to Turkey soon”

U.S. President Donald Trump introduced the new Air Force One at a ceremony held at Joint Base Andrews. Speaking about the Boeing 747, which was donated by Qatar and brought into service as the presidential aircraft after extensive modernization work, Trump said the plane would be used for many international visits. His remarks on Turkey drew attention ahead of the NATO Summit scheduled to take place in Ankara in July.

“We will go to Turkey soon”

Trump said the new Air Force One would be used for a busy foreign travel schedule. “We will go to Turkey. We will go back to China later this year. President Xi Jinping will come here in September. Then we will go back to China again for a major conference there,” Trump said.

His remarks were seen as a signal that he could attend the NATO Summit in Ankara.

Trump:  “The most luxurious plane in the world”

Trump described the new Boeing 747 as “the most luxurious plane in the world.”

He said the aircraft had unmatched communication systems and advanced defense equipment.

Trump also thanked nearly 250 people who worked on the project, saying the plane had been transformed into a “flying White House” in just 10 months.

New Air Force One to lead air show

Trump said the new Air Force One would also take part in celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States in Washington.

The aircraft is expected to lead a major air show accompanied by several fighter jets.

Old Air Force One heading to museum

Trump announced that the return flight from the G7 Summit in France marked the last scheduled flight with the current VC-25A Air Force One, which has been in use for nearly 35 years.

He said former presidential aircraft would be restored and displayed in museums, calling them an important part of U.S. presidential history.

More than 6 million miles in service

The current Air Force One fleet dates back to the presidency of Ronald Reagan. The VC-25A Boeing 747-200B aircraft first entered service during George H.W. Bush’s presidency and has served U.S. presidents for decades. According to Trump, the current two-aircraft fleet was used for 223 international trips to 96 countries and flew more than 6 million miles.

New presidential aircraft ready for duty

The aging aircraft are now being retired and replaced by the extensively upgraded Boeing 747. The new plane was prepared for presidential duties under an accelerated schedule carried out by the Pentagon and contractor L3Harris at the request of the Trump administration.