The challenge for the US when turning the 'flying palace' into Air Force One

The US may face a series of challenges if it wants to convert Qatar's Boeing 747-8, dubbed "the flying palace," into an Air Force One.

US President Donald Trump on May 12 dismissed concerns about the plan to receive a Boeing 747-8i from Qatar to serve as an Air Force One, saying "only a fool" would reject the proposal.

US media previously reported that the Qatari royal family planned to transfer to the Trump administration a luxurious Boeing 747-8i, dubbed a "flying palace," and stressed that this could be the most expensive gift the US government has ever received. A source familiar with the matter said the Boeing 747-8 would be refurbished and equipped to serve as an Air Force One.

Still, aviation experts say the US government and military would face many technical problems in adopting the Boeing 747-8i, even if the plan were legally feasible. One of the biggest questions is whether it meets the minimum security and operational requirements for a sitting US president.

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