By Haley Britzky, CNN

(CNN) — The luxury Qatari jet being transformed into a new Air Force One will be delivered this summer, the Air Force said in a statement, roughly a year after its extensive modification began.

“The Air Force remains committed to expediting delivery of the VC-25 bridge aircraft in support of the Presidential airlift mission, with an anticipated delivery no later than summer 2026,” an Air Force spokesperson told CNN on Thursday.

It’s unclear if the plane will be immediately operational once it is delivered, or if more testing would need to be conducted before it is fit to fly for the president. The Wall Street Journal first reported the delivery date of this summer.

The Air Force has not previously provided a firm timeline for the project, though President Donald Trump said last year the plane could be ready to use by February 2026— an ambitious timeline given the substantial work needed to be done on the aircraft to make it a suitable to operate as Air Force One.

The US began converting the jet last year, though details related to the modification are largely classified.

The Boeing 747 aircraft — a “gift” donated by Qatar, Trump said last year — would need to undergo considerable changes in order to address intelligence and security risks. CNN previously reported it would need to be stripped down to its frame by US agencies, and rebuilt with necessary communications and security equipment.

“You would want to check the airplane out completely – strip it down, check for bugs, things like that, harden it to make sure nobody could hijack the electronics on the airplane … The ability for the president to command and control his military in the worst days, that takes a lot,” a retired senior military official familiar with Air Force One previously told CNN.

Other features like the ability to refuel mid-air, for example, are not standard for conventional 747 aircraft, but would be a necessary capability if the president wanted to remain airborne in the instance of a major emergency.

The Air Force spokesperson on Thursday said the service was working with “other government entities to ensure proper security measures and function-mission requirements are considered” for the aircraft.

An agreement signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Qatari counterpart last year said the donation of the plane was “unconditional” and confirmed the US would not pay anything to Qatar. Still, the US was expected to spend hundreds of millions of dollars converting the aircraft.

The project was expected to cost “probably less than $400 million,” Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers last year.

Earlier this week an electrical issue forced Trump’s Europe-bound plane to turn back to Joint Base Andrews.

To resume his trip to Switzerland, the president switched Tuesday to a Boeing C-32A, which is often used by the first lady or Cabinet members

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CNN Editorial Research

(CNN) — Here is a look at the life of Baseball Hall of Fame player Hank Aaron.

Personal

Birth date: February 5, 1934

Death date: January 22, 2021

Birth place: Mobile, Alabama

Birth name: Henry Louis Aaron

Father: Herbert Aaron

Mother: Estella (Pritchett) Aaron

Marriages: Billye Williams (1973-January 22, 2021, his death); Barbara Lucas (1953-1971, divorced)

Children: with Billye Williams: adopted her daughter, Ceci; with Barbara Lucas: Dorinda, twins Lary and Gary (Gary died in the hospital), Hank Jr. and Gaile

Other Facts

Statistics in his 23-season career include 3,771 hits, 755 home runs and a batting average of .305.

Selected for 25 Major League Baseball All-Star games.

Nicknamed “Hammerin’ Hank.”

The Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers have both retired his jersey number, 44.

His brother, Tommie, was also a MLB player.

Won three Gold Glove awards.

Timeline

1951 – Begins playing for the Negro American League’s Indianapolis Clowns.

April 13, 1954 – Makes his MLB debut with the Milwaukee Braves.

1954-1965 – Plays for the Milwaukee Braves.

April 23, 1954 – Hits his first Major League home run when the Braves play the St. Louis Cardinals.

1957 – The Milwaukee Braves win the World Series. Aaron is named National League MVP.

1966 – The Milwaukee Braves become the Atlanta Braves.

1966-1974 – Plays for the Atlanta Braves.

April 8, 1974 – Breaks Babe Ruth’s record with his 715th home run during a home game.

1974-1976 – Plays for the Milwaukee Brewers.

July 20, 1976 – Hits his final home run (755).

October 3, 1976 – Plays his final game.

1976-1989 – Becomes director of player development for the Atlanta Braves.

August 1, 1982 – Is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

1989-2021 – Senior vice president of the Atlanta Braves.

1995 – Founds the 755 Restaurant Corporation, which operates multiple fast food franchises in Georgia.

1999 – In honor of the 25th anniversary of his home run record, MLB announces the creation of the Hank Aaron Award, to be given to the best overall hitter in each league.

2002 – Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

August 7, 2007 – Barry Bonds, of the San Francisco Giants, surpasses Aaron’s record with 756 home runs.

April 25, 2009 – The permanent exhibit, Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream, opens at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. There are only two exhibits that honor a single player; the other is for Babe Ruth.

February 13, 2010 – Is inducted as a Georgia Trustee by the Georgia Historical Society.

April 14, 2010 – The Read more

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