# The Qatari jet **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [May 17, 2026, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142 "2026-05-17T13:09:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/21 "2026-06-23T20:34:23Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > It would be funny if no country on Earth allowed him to land… I can think of something funnier… ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/22 "2026-06-23T22:27:50Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > a new hangar was needed. Over the Reflecting Pool. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/23 "2026-07-09T01:55:54Z")
The president left the NATO summit in Ankara today [on the older Air Force One jet rather than the retrofitted Qatari jet](https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/trump-says-he-will-use-old-air-force-one-travel-uk-with-new-plane-going-there-2026-07-08/). The explanation is that the new plane is lacking the anti-missile defense systems that are present on the older planes (VC-25A). If that’s the case, it goes a long way to explaining something I was wondering about. This new plane was supposedly retrofit to meet the security needs in less than a year, in addition to whatever time was needed to ensure that neither the Qataris nor anyone else left any espionage equipment on board (or even planted a bomb). Meanwhile new planes are being made ready (the VC-25B planes). Work started around 2018 but the first of the two planes isn’t expected until 2027 (with the second to be delivered the following year). And these planes were never in foreign hands so presumably they need less in the way of debugging. So how is it that the VC-25B planes are taking a decade to deliver while the Qatari jet (VC-25B Bridge) was made ready in less than a year? The answer, apparently, is that the Qatari jet only received some of the necessary upgrades. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/24 "2026-07-09T02:06:29Z")
I wonder if anybody makes roll-up escalators? People are always tripping up and down regular stairs. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/25 "2026-07-09T12:02:10Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > I wonder if anybody makes roll-up escalators? People are always tripping up and down regular stairs Not a roll-up, but King Salman of Saudi Arabia uses an escalator car that travels with his plane. Sometimes his gold plated, private escalator temporarily becomes stairs. Sorry for the convenience. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1qZOUVjVJg8/hqdefault.jpg "Saudi king's golden escalator gets stuck - BBC News") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qZOUVjVJg8) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/26 "2026-07-09T16:39:41Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Not a roll-up, but King Salman of Saudi Arabia uses an escalator car that travels with his plane. In the cargo hold or something? That’s luxury! ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/27 "2026-07-09T16:42:33Z")
They might send it in an advance plane. I think that’s how the Presidential limo travels - in a C-5A. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/28 "2026-07-09T16:43:05Z")
To be honest, it always amused me that the POTUS (of whichever party) goes up and down a staircase when boarding or disembarking from Air Force One, while us ordinary people use a jet bridge to board commercial airliners at most airports. (There are still a few that use staircases, and a couple small Los Angeles area airports that use a ramp.) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/29 "2026-07-09T16:45:19Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > In the cargo hold or something? Yes [![](https://cdn.japan-forward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/%EF%BC%B6%EF%BC%91%E3%82%A6%E3%82%AA%E3%83%83%E3%83%81%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B5%E3%82%A6%E3%82%B81.jpg) ](https://cdn.japan-forward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/%EF%BC%B6%EF%BC%91%E3%82%A6%E3%82%AA%E3%83%83%E3%83%81%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B5%E3%82%A6%E3%82%B81.jpg) [![](https://cdn.japan-forward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/%EF%BC%B6%EF%BC%91%E3%82%A6%E3%82%AA%E3%83%83%E3%83%81%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B5%E3%82%A6%E3%82%B8.jpg) ](https://cdn.japan-forward.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/%EF%BC%B6%EF%BC%91%E3%82%A6%E3%82%AA%E3%83%83%E3%83%81%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B5%E3%82%A6%E3%82%B8.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/30 "2026-07-09T16:49:58Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > They might send it in an advance plane. > [@Joey\_P](#): > > Yes I assume the blue markings on the plane that carries the car not matching the gold markings in the original photo means they are different planes, but still, that’s quite a lot of effort for avoiding a short flight of stairs. Then again, given Trump’s clear physical and mental failings, his visible health struggles and especially his struggle with stairs, it would seem warranted in his case if Republicans were really worried about him taking a fatal tumble. I’d suggest that Trump would balk at the image of going to all these lengths to protect his health as a sign of weakness, which he is terrified of doing, but he also likes to flash wealth and privilege, and if he had a gold-painted car with an escalator that flew in advance it would really be on brand for him. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/31 "2026-07-09T16:54:23Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I assume the blue markings on the plane that carries the car not matching the gold markings in the original photo means they are different planes, but still, that’s quite a lot of effort for avoiding a short flight of stairs. Part of the appeal of it - is the flex. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/32 "2026-07-09T17:07:05Z")
He should have a gaudy gold spiral staircase unscrew itself from the bottom of the plane. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/33 "2026-07-09T17:26:57Z")
He might as well just have a penis-shaped gold escalator extend from the plane, operated by a blonde stewardess who has to handle a pump-like device. No need for subtlety. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/34 "2026-07-09T17:32:34Z")
From the viewpoint of this guy who will never have one ginormous plane, let alone a matching support plane, bringing along your own escalator looks weak. Real men can do stairs. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/35 "2026-07-09T17:45:02Z")
Real men don’t even bother with the plane; they just fly under their own power! ---
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/36 "2026-07-09T23:24:42Z")
I flew in with my own detachable escalator. And boy are my arms tired! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/37 "2026-07-20T17:48:28Z")
Yesterday, the president took the donated plane back to Washington from the World Cup final match. A reporter asked him, “Mr. President, this plane does not have antimissile defense systems on it. Why are you flying it?” He replied, “Well, it has — it has a lot, and you know it has a lot of capability, but as I understand it, in about a month or so, they’re going to send it to have it be maxed out. So they’re going to be sending it, and they’ll have it be maxed out. It’ll take about a month.” I have _no_ idea what “maxed out” means, but I can’t imagine that means all of the defensive capabilities of the existing Air Force One planes. And again, the new planes being made ready as Air Force One are in the middle of a process taking roughly a decade. What’s happening to this plane could not possibly be as comprehensive. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/38 "2026-07-20T17:59:56Z")
All he cared about was having a newer, posher ride, NOW. Don’t bother him with details. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/39 "2026-07-20T19:04:16Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Don’t bother him with details. Running out of fuel is sort of a big deal. Especially over the middle of the Atlantic. ---
**Author:** ![Jihi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jihi/32/17768_2.png) [@Jihi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jihi)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2026, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142/40 "2026-07-20T19:27:17Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I have _no_ idea what “maxed out” means Neither does he. He’s just making mouth noises to get the journalists to stop asking questions he considers unimportant. He gets bored easily. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-qatari-jet/1030142.md?page=3)