After arriving in Turkey aboard his new Boeing 747-8 luxury jet gifted by the Qatari government, President Trump confirmed on Wednesday that he will return to flying on one of the original Air Force One 747s this week. It comes only weeks after the US Air Force (USAF) officially unveiled the new quadjet, which underwent an extensive conversion to serve as an interim presidential transport aircraft.

The move is sparking debate over whether the newly retrofitted aircraft indeed has all the necessary security capabilities and raises questions as to why the President would unexpectedly return to flying onboard the very aircraft he has wanted to be replaced. Mr. Trump, however, said the decision was “for old time’s sake.”

Showcasing The New Boeing 747-8 In The UK

Credit: US Air Force

The President flew from the US to Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday onboard the ex-Qatari 747-8 to attend a NATO summit. It was his first international trip on the aircraft, according to Reuters. The plane reportedly departed from Turkey on Wednesday, bound for Mildenhall Air Force Base, without the President onboard. Following questions from reporters about why he was not on the aircraft, Trump posted on social media that the “brand new, and truly spectacular Air Force One” was being sent to Mildenhall to provide “our brave men and women of the Military” an opportunity “to tour the Aircraft.“

Mr. Trump will also visit Mildenhall on his return to the US from Ankara, although it is unclear when he will depart Turkey. He will fly on one of the USAF’s older 747s that formerly served as the President’s official air transport aircraft. The two jets, which are highly modified 747-200s, bear the Air Force designation VC-25A and have served as Air Force One for more than three decades.

The President touted that flying onboard the former Air Force One would be “totally worth doing” and a nostalgic move.

“For old time’s sake, we’ll be taking the former Air Force One, from Turkey to Mildenhall, a short trip that is totally worth doing.”