P4-HBJ
| P4-HBJ | |
|---|---|
.jpg) A7-HBJ in 2015 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Boeing 747-8KB |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Owners |
|
| Registration |
|
| History | |
| In service | 2012–present |
P4-HBJ, formerly A7-HJA and A7-HBJ, is a Boeing 747-8KB manufactured by Boeing in its Business Jet series. It is a large, long-range wide-body airliner.
P4-HBJ was delivered to Qatar Amiri Flight in April 2012 and used by the House of Thani. In June 2023, it was delivered to Global Jet Isle of Man. The U.S. federal government entered negotiations to acquire the plane in 2025 for use as Air Force One.
History
[edit]Qatar Amiri Flight (2012–2023)
[edit]In April 2012, Boeing delivered Qatar Amiri Flight a 747-8I from Everett, Washington.[1] The plane was used by the House of Thani for flights to the United States and Europe[2] and was also used by Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, the former prime minister of Qatar.[3]
Global Jet Isle of Man (2023–2025)
[edit]In June 2023, the 747-8KB was delivered to Global Jet Isle of Man.[4] The owner of the plane was undisclosed; The New York Times reported in 2025 that the 747-8KB was privately owned and not used for charters.[5]
United States Air Force (2025–present)
[edit]After U.S. president Donald Trump was inaugurated in January 2025, he moved to direct Elon Musk to force Boeing to quickly manufacture replacements for the aging VC-25 series. In February, he toured the 747-8KB at Palm Beach International Airport; the plane returned to Doha, Qatar. According to The New York Times, converting the 747-8KB to operate as Air Force One could take several years.[5] In May, The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. federal government had commissioned L3Harris to modify the 747-8KB in Texas,[6] though the Air Force had not acquired the plane by that time.[7] That month, ABC News reported that Trump was set to announce the plane during his state visit to Qatar. Attorney general Pam Bondi and White House counsel David Warrington stated that it would be "legally permissible" for the House of Thani to gift the plane on the condition that it will be transferred to the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library before 2029.[8] The plane is believed to be one of the largest donations by a foreign government, according to the Times, and may be used for post-presidency travel.[7] According to CNN, the plane will be gifted from Qatar's Ministry of Defence to the United States Department of Defense.[9]
Specification
[edit]The interior of the 747-8KB was designed by Cabinet Alberto Pinto, featuring rugs from Tai Ping Carpets, sycamore and wacapou fixtures, and artwork from Alexander Calder. The plane seats 89 people.[10]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Works cited
[edit]Articles
[edit]- Collins, Kaitlan (May 11, 2025). "Trump will accept luxury jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One, sources say". CNN. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- Haberman, Maggie (May 11, 2025). "Trump Is to Accept a Luxury 747 From Qatar for Use as Air Force One". The New York Times. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- Johnsson, Julie; Al-Rashdan, Leen (March 26, 2025). "Air Force One Delay Sends Trump Plane Shopping". Bloomberg News. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- Karl, Jonathan; Faulders, Katherine (May 11, 2025). "Trump administration poised to accept 'palace in the sky' as a gift for Trump from Qatar: Sources". ABC News. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- Lipton, Eric; Swan, Jonathan; Haberman, Maggie; Schmitt, Eric (February 19, 2025). "A Frustrated Trump Wants His New Air Force One Planes Pronto". The New York Times. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- Mello, Gabriela (May 11, 2025). "Trump Set to Accept Luxury Jet as Gift From Qatar, ABC Says". Bloomberg News. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- Müller, Manuel (May 2, 2012). "Erste Lufthansa Boeing 747-8I in Frankfurt gelandet" [First Lufthansa Boeing 747-8I landed in Frankfurt]. Aero.de (in German). Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- Taghvaee, Babak (September 6, 2024). "The Qatari Amiri Flight". Key Aero. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
- Tangel, Andrew; Dawsey, Josh; Terlep, Sharon (May 1, 2025). "Trump Wants a New Air Force One So Badly He's Refurbishing a Qatari Plane". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
Documents
[edit]- "Boeing 747 - MSN 37075". Airfleets.