President Donald Trump on Air Force One [Credit: Evan El-Amin/Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
The primary Boeing 747 (VC-25A) that has served as Air Force One for 35 years has likely completed its final mission, with White House staff posting tributes to its service.
While new VC-25B replacements are delayed until 2028, an interim Air Force One, a donated Qatari 747-8 (VC-25B Bridge), is being prepared to enter service this summer.
The outgoing VC-25As, historically significant for serving multiple presidents and equipped with advanced defenses, will remain part of the presidential fleet in an unspecified role.
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.
