Inside the new Air Force One: Trumps Qatari jet features massage chairs, Apple TV, gold fixtures
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE – It’s a plane fit for a showman.President Trump debuted his new Air Force One on Wednesday with roomier seats, golden features, and more high-tech amenities than the 20-year-old 747 it replaced.The Post was on board for the inaugural flight of the newest member of the Air Force fleet, traveling with the president from the White House to the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in North Dakota.The $400 million Boeing 747-8, dubbed the “palace in the sky,” was a gift from Qatar and was upgraded to meet the standards — and tastes — of Trump.Inside, the plane had more legroom for the seats, which now recline and have a built-in massage function.The individual TVs at each allow you to pick from cable news to the latest offerings on Apple TV.These are changes from the old plane, which had TVs at the front of the cabin and seats that didn’t lay back or have individual chargers for electronics.The seats themselves are bigger, with the presidential seal on the seat belts.
Even the Air Force staff had bigger badges – wearing large round pins with the presidential seal and a name pin.And physically it’s bigger — 20 feet longer than the previous 747 and a 30-foot-longer wingspan.Plus it features a blue, red, gold and white paint scheme personally selected by the president.Trump, visibly excited about the plane he picked out, told reporters before takeoff that it’s the “greatest commercial plane ever built.”“You can low-key it or you can show it.
And I think the country should be very proud of it.And it’s beautiful,” Trump said.He was thrilled with the inaugural flight, bringing along sons Eric and Don Jr.
and new daughter-in-law Bettina. “It’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said.“To be honest with you I’m excited about the first flight.”But, for all his excitement, he spent the three-hour flight working in his new office, press secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Post, saying he was on cal...