The president of the United States, donald trumpwithdrew this Thursday the current presidential plane Air Force One, that has transported the country’s leaders during 35 yearsand is ready to use the controversial aircraft donated by family Qatari royal.
He Boeing 747-200Bwhich is called Air Force One when transporting the presidentmade its last journey last morning, when transferring trump back to Washington after participating in the G7 summit in France.
“Well done, good and faithful servant. The last trip“, the director of White House CommunicationsSteven Cheung, next to a photograph of the device, which entered service during the George H.W. Bush Administration (1989-1993).
The United States Air Force announced in May that it completed testing and modifications of the Boeing 747 donated last year by Taste for use as Air Force One starting this summer.
The aircraft, remodeled in Texaswas painted with the colors red, white and blue, in contrast to the traditional blue and white scheme from the previous Air Force One.
He Pentagon accepted the gift of Tastea key ally of United States in the Middle Eastdespite the ethical doubts raised by a donation of this type and concerns about the safety of the device.
The plan is use the Qatari plane temporarily as Air Force One while Boeing completes the construction and modernization of the two planes in charge during the first term of trump (2017-2021).
The Republican has expressed his frustration due to delays in the delivery of those aircraft, which could be ready when he has completed his second and last termin 2029.
The president has defended that the use provisional of the Qatari plane will allow save money to American taxpayers.
He Pentagon maintains that the remodeling of that device had a cost of US$400 million, well below the US$5.6 billion estimates for the two planes being prepared Boeing.
To reduce cost, the modifications to the interior have been minimal, so the luxurious leather rooms designed for the Qatari royal family.
Trump has stated that, once his term ends, he will keep the planedescribed as “bribery” by the Democrats, and will display it in his future presidential library in Miami.
It is unknown what will be the first flight of the Qatari planealthough American media speculate that trump could travel to Mount Rushmore (South Dakota) at the beginning of July, on the occasion of the commemorations of the 250th anniversary of independence of the country.
Antecedent