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Trump Scraps Plans for U.K. Flight on ‘Bridge’ Air Force One

President plans to use Qatari-donated jet as interim transport while awaiting two permanent aircraft from Boeing.

VC-25B Bridge Air Force One Boeing 747-8 aircraft
Known as the VC-25B ‘Bridge,’ Trump’s new, Qatari-donated jet is planned to be designated Air Force One until Boeing delivers replacements for older aircraft. [Credit: U.S. Air Force]
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Key Takeaways:

  • President Trump chose to fly an older Air Force One to the U.K. while sending the new Qatari-donated "Bridge" aircraft ahead for U.S. service members to tour, citing "old time's sake."
  • The "Bridge" aircraft, a modified Boeing 747-8 intended as a temporary replacement due to delays with the official VC-25B program, recently made its first flight with Trump and its first international trip.
  • Significant scrutiny surrounds the "Bridge" aircraft, with critics, including Senate Democrats, raising concerns about its estimated $1 billion+ cost for modifications and potential compromises to security or mission capabilities due to a rushed retrofit timeline.
  • Senate Democrats have demanded transparency regarding the project's costs and national security implications, criticizing the White House's refusal to provide details on the "rushed" modifications.
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President Donald Trump’s decision to fly from Turkey to the U.K. on Wednesday in an older aircraft designated Air Force One has renewed scrutiny around the VC-25B “Bridge” aircraft—a modified Boeing 747-8 donated last year by the Qatari government—that is intended to replace it.

Trump in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday said he would send the Bridge Air Force One, which this month made its first flight with the president on board, to the U.K.’s Mildenhall Air Force Base (EGUN), so that U.S. service members could be among the first to tour it. Trump said that, “for old time’s sake,” he would fly an older aircraft from Turkey—where he attended a NATO summit this week—to the U.K.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.

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