The Boeing 747-8 being offered to Donald Trump by Qatar once served the Qatari royal family and has been sitting unsold for years.

The jet, a lavishly configured version of Boeing’s largest passenger aircraft, has been lingering without a buyer since being put up for sale in 2020, according to aircraft listings and aviation analysts.

John Goglia, a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board, told Forbes that giving the 747-8 to the U.S. would allow the Qataris to avoid maintenance costs that were only getting higher—with the 747 fleet shrinking worldwide and fewer mechanics available who know how to work on them.

    • Ledericas@lemm.ee
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      10 hours ago

      not even asking for new items, is also Used and expensive. even his older jets/planes he has is very old.

      • Zaphod@discuss.tchncs.de
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        10 hours ago

        If you plan on flying it yes. But something like this I bet you could rent out as an AirBnB (assuming there are beds). You also need a place to put it…

      • SecretSauces@lemmy.world
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        22 hours ago

        Its like “winning” a boat or car. Great, you have this thing you couldn’t afford. Now pay the taxes on it, that you can’t afford.

        But also, we all know Trump doesn’t pay taxes.

          • Velypso@sh.itjust.works
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            11 hours ago

            Fwiw a brand new Saturn g6 would have been probably about 15k.

            Most of the time, these shows allow you to take the value of the prize instead. Sounds like they could have easily come away with ~9k in profit if they just took the value.

            I’m not sure the hate is warranted here. Of course, that is if they were allowed to take the value.

        • Someone@lemmy.ca
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          21 hours ago

          What kind of country taxes prizes? Seems a bit ridiculous if you ask me.

            • Gloomy@mander.xyz
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              12 hours ago

              Or, and this ja a wild one, or the law could give a devinition of “price” that doesn’t open it up for abuse while not taking from people who won something.

            • Regrettable_incident@lemmy.world
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              12 hours ago

              Not here in the UK. I think there are exceptions - bonuses at work are taxed, if a professional artist wins money in an art competition that’s regarded as work money and taxed. But if you win the lottery or a bet on the horses, no tax to pay.

              So trump would have to pay taxes on the plane eh?

              • StaticFalconar@lemmy.world
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                40 minutes ago

                According to the rules (who knows if they are followed nowadays), the plane belongs to America for now. When Trump’s presidency is over he would have to pay taxes and stuff on it if he wants to keep it (which it looks like his foundation or whatever shell company he’s got going on will pay the taxes on that).

                In general, if any gifts given to the president belongs to the country and when they leave the position, they can elect to keep the gift as a personal item if they pay the taxes for it. Otherwise the gift stays belonging to America in the archives somewhere.

            • D_C@lemm.ee
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              8 hours ago

              These types of policies are just government greed very, verrrrrry thinly disguised as -yet more- taxes.

              “Oh, well done, good for you. You did all the work and you’ve won something…HA, nope, we’ve won something. I’ve done fuck all in this but I demand my percentage, where’s my cut?”

          • Snowclone@lemmy.world
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            11 hours ago

            Windfall and winnings are some of the most punitivly taxed gains in the US. They take a big chunk.

      • glitch1985@lemmy.world
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        19 hours ago

        This is the same energy as people who buy their SO a vehicle without any input. Enjoy the new car payments babe.