President Donald Trump on Air Force One [Credit: Evan El-Amin/Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
A Boeing 747 (VC-25A) that has served as Air Force One for 35 years likely completed its final presidential flight, as indicated by tributes from White House officials.
The current Air Force One jets are being replaced, but the new VC-25B aircraft are delayed, with delivery not expected until 2028.
An interim Boeing 747-8, donated by the Qatari government and undergoing modifications, is slated to enter service this summer to bridge the gap.
The VC-25As hold significant historical value, having served every president since George H.W. Bush and possessing advanced defensive and communication capabilities.
A heavily modified Boeing 747—referred to by the military as a VC-25A—that has flown U.S. presidents around the world for 35 years has likely operated as Air Force One for the last time.
Shortly after President Donald Trump returned to Washington, D.C., from France early Thursday, two top White House officials posted tributes to the jet.
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Zach Vasile is a writer and editor covering news in all aspects of aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Business Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, with his area of focus being the intersection of business and government policy.
