Trump orders new Air Force One from Qatari government with winding staircases and suites

 President Trump has reportedly snapped up a lavish aircraft, previously owned by the Qatari government and once on the market for a cool $400 million, to serve as a stand-in for the "aging Air Force One."

The opulent jet boasts private suites and elegant winding staircases. It will temporarily serve as a substitute for the president's usual airborne conveyance.

With Boeing facing delays in modernizing the existing presidential planes, Trump turned to Florida's L3Harris Technologies to overhaul the new acquisition.

The revamped Boeing 747-8, formerly catering to Qatar's elite, now has a VIP configuration that wouldn't look out of place in a Royal palace. It offers a plush 89-seat capacity on its expansive double-decker frame.

According to the Telegraph, the overhauled jumbo jet features 10 lavatories, areas for relaxation and entertainment, an opulent presidential sleeping area adorned with gold accents, soft carpeting, and high-end leather couches, and, naturally, suites, lounges, and a fully equipped boardroom.

This aircraft, capable of carrying 76 passengers and eight crew members, has earned the moniker "Gulf version of Air Force One."

The Qatari Royal Family initially customized the plane, which boasts five galleys, an elevator, private bathrooms, and a master bedroom that can be converted for medical evacuations. The interior features a grand central staircase, a living room with bookshelves and a TV, and a children's play area.

However, another revamp is necessary to meet the specifications required by a presidential aircraft. The Wall Street Journal reported that it needs to be retrofitted with specific specialized systems before it can serve in its new role.

According to sources from The Wall Street Journal, Trump hopes to have the plane by early fall and regularly checks in with the company for updates.

Boeing has been working on the pair of aging planes since 2017, when Trump, during his first term, awarded the scrutinized company a $3.9 billion contract to replace them.

Known as VC-25A aircraft by the military and Air Force One when the president is on board, the fleet has been around since the George H.W. Bush administration.

It requires heavy maintenance, but Boeing has reportedly fallen so far behind on the $3.9 billion project that it now projects a completion date 2035. Boeing's Air Force One project has been plagued by supplier, engineering, and manufacturing issues, now chalking up billions over budget.

Even before occupying the Oval Office in January, Trump's team weighed the possibility of axing the contract, while Elon Musk reportedly leaned on Boeing honchos for insider intel-a tactic that "made some executives at Boeing uncomfortable," sources said.