Trump to Make First Flight on New AF1 During Event at Mount Rushmore
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
President Donald Trump is considering making the inaugural flight of the new Air Force One — a gift from Qatar — during his trip to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota next month. This trip is part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the United States, according to a senior White House official and a source familiar with the plans. Although a final decision has not been made, sources indicated that the months of modifications on this luxury aircraft, valued at $400 million, are nearing completion to serve as the presidential aircraft. They noted that White House officials have been discussing the possibility of Trump’s trip to Mount Rushmore, scheduled for July 3, being his first flight on the new aircraft. The Department of Defense accepted Qatar's donation last year, despite bipartisan criticism and questions about the security and ethics of using the plane for official government matters. Aviation experts estimated that the total refurbishment project could exceed $1 billion due to the installation of multiple high-security systems. The White House has stated that the plane will be delivered to the Trump presidential library foundation at the end of his term in January 2029, which would presumably require the removal of all sensitive government equipment installed on the aircraft. Trump’s presence at Mount Rushmore is one of several highlighted events scheduled around July 4 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The aircraft is undergoing final inspections and flight tests to ensure it is ready to take off for the first time with the president on board next month, according to sources. The Boeing 747 has been painted with a new color scheme — featuring a red, white, and blue design — marking a departure from the current 'Jackie Kennedy' style design characterized by light blue and white. 'Air Force One' is the designation for any aircraft transporting the president; therefore, there are several planes available for this function, according to a U.S. official. This includes two jumbo 747s currently in service, known as VC-25A. Additionally, there is a fleet of C-32A aircraft — modified versions of the 757 model — that can be used by the vice president, as well as other high-ranking government officials and cabinet members. Once the Qatar aircraft — which the Air Force calls VC-25B Bridge — is incorporated into the rotation this summer, the VC-25As will remain part of the executive fleet, and the president could still use them under the designation of Air Force One, the U.S. official indicated. A 'spectacular' fireworks show is expected to take place at Mount Rushmore on the eve of July 4, according to the National Park Service. This note was translated with the help of an artificial intelligence tool. An editor from Telemundo Digital reviewed the translation. This article was originally published in English by Kelly O'Donnell, Mosheh Gains, and Monica Alba for our sister network NBC News.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
