US President Donald Trump has unveiled a newly refurbished Air Force One aircraft, which is expected to begin commissioning flights before entering presidential service early next month.

 

Speaking at a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, the home base of the presidential fleet, President Trump said the most noticeable change is the aircraft’s larger size. He also announced that the new Air Force One will take part in a flypast during the Fourth of July celebrations at the National Mall, as the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its independence. President Trump said he plans to use the aircraft for next month’s NATO summit in Turkiye.

 

The luxury Boeing 747-8i jet was previously owned by Qatar. It now features a new red, white and navy blue colour scheme, replacing the light blue design used on the older presidential aircraft for nearly four decades. The tail of the aircraft carries a stylised American flag.