JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s own Air Force One had its first test flight.
The plane, a retrofitted Boeing 767-300ER airliner purchased from Qantas Airlines in 2016, took off on Sunday from Ben-Gurion Airport.
It will serve Israel’s prime minister and president on official trips abroad.
The purchase and renovation of the plane is estimated to have cost about $170 million. It was renovated by Israel Aerospace Industries, which provided “sophisticated technological systems” that enable secure communications and ensure its safety, Times of Israel reported.
The plane served as a passenger plane for 20 years before it was purchased by Israel.
During a runway test on Thursday, smoke poured from the plane’s left wheel due to a brake malfunction, which led to an emergency alert. The airplane later was cleared for operation.
