Qatari 747-8i as temporary VC-25B replacement

[Scott Kenny]

It certainly would but as has been pointed out upthread at the absolute minimum this "Gift" needs to be given a comprehensive D-check to make sure there are no unwelcome surprises. But to be a proper VC-25B it needs to undergo the lengthy and hideously expensive process of the needed structural and avionics upgrades which take years.

I mean, it's probably due for a D-check anyways, and you're 2/3rds of the way to a D-check when you're replacing the entire interior. Which is going to be stupid expensive but probably cheaper than whatever the Qataris have installed.

And in that time between "interior designed" and "interior installed" is a whole lot of work. The shops at Tramco could crank out a normal interior in a month or so, with commercial build quality. You're probably talking a year for "custom" build quality, maybe 2 for VVIP build quality.

Oh, look, I just found time to do most of the -B upgrades...

 

[TomS]

I mean, it's probably due for a D-check anyways, and you're 2/3rds of the way to a D-check when you're replacing the entire interior. Which is going to be stupid expensive but probably cheaper than whatever the Qataris have installed.

And in that time between "interior designed" and "interior installed" is a whole lot of work. The shops at Tramco could crank out a normal interior in a month or so, with commercial build quality. You're probably talking a year for "custom" build quality, maybe 2 for VVIP build quality.

Oh, look, I just found time to do most of the -B upgrades...

But of course, the thing Trump likes about the Qatari aircraft is the current interior.

 

[Yellow Palace]

That won't get into Aberdeen Airport for POTUS to play Scottish Croquet.

It actually will, in theory, almost up to maximum landing weight. It can even get out again if you don't put too much fuel in - a 787-8 can take off at about 800,000lbs from a 6,400 foot strip at sea level and STD + 15 degrees. And let's be honest, Aberdeen isn't seeing 30 degrees very often.

Doing it with sufficient margins is another matter. As is evacuating most of Aberdeenshire to deal with the strong feelings held toward their most famous hotelier.

Which then needs to be inspected/rebuilt to Yankee White standards (at major cost).

If the sole consideration was 'what corners can we cut to get a new aircraft quickly', those standards would probably be worth a look. Not saying it's a good idea - quite the opposite in fact - but trying to bring one aircraft up to extremely stringent standards is almost certain to take longer than bringing one to less-stringent standards with a head start.

Unless, of course, you're accepting less-stringent standards to get the Qatari aircraft in anyway.