President Donald Trump on Air Force One [Credit: Evan El-Amin/Shutterstock]
Key Takeaways:
A Boeing VC-25A, one of the two highly modified 747s that have served as Air Force One for 35 years, has likely completed its final flight carrying a U.S. president, as indicated by tributes from White House officials.
The official replacements, two new 747-8 based VC-25Bs, are significantly delayed with deliveries now slated for 2028.
To bridge this gap, an interim aircraft—a 747-8 donated by the Qatari government and now referred to as the VC-25B Bridge—is undergoing modifications and is expected to enter service this summer.
The VC-25As hold significant historical importance, having served every president since George H.W. Bush and possessing advanced defensive and communication capabilities, though their future role in the presidential fleet is yet to be announced.
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.
