US President Donald Trump on Wednesday made his first trip aboard the interim VC-25B "Bridge" aircraft, a modified Boeing 747-8i acquired from Qatar that will supplement presidential transport until the new Air Force One fleet enters service later this decade.
The aircraft carried Trump from Joint Base Andrews to North Dakota, where he attended the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and events linked to celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. One of the current VC-25A aircraft accompanied the trip as the backup presidential transport.
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The U.S. Air Force accepted the converted 747-8i less than two weeks ago after extensive modifications performed by L3Harris. The aircraft was previously operated by Qatar before being transferred to the U.S. government and adapted for presidential use.
The VC-25B Bridge also introduces the exterior paint scheme preferred by Trump, replacing the light blue livery used on presidential aircraft since the Kennedy administration with a design featuring a dark blue lower fuselage, white upper fuselage and red accents.
Images released by White House officials also offered the first public look inside the aircraft, showing a redesigned cabin with wood finishes, leather seating, carpets and customized presidential details. Reporters are normally not permitted to photograph the interior unless the president is on board.
Interim solution
The aircraft is not intended to replace the two VC-25B aircraft currently under construction by Boeing. Instead, it will serve as an interim platform while the long-delayed replacement program continues.
Boeing is converting two 747-8 aircraft into fully equipped VC-25Bs to replace the current VC-25A fleet, which entered service in 1990 and is based on the older Boeing 747-200. The program has faced repeated schedule delays and cost overruns, with deliveries now expected around the end of the decade.
Questions remain about whether the interim VC-25B offers the full range of capabilities normally associated with Air Force One, particularly secure communications, survivability and protection against electronic threats. US Air Force officials and L3Harris have said the aircraft underwent extensive security inspections and modifications before entering service but have not disclosed details about its defensive systems.
The Air Force has also acquired two former Lufthansa Boeing 747-8 aircraft to support the presidential fleet. One will be used for pilot and maintenance training, while the other will provide spare parts for the future VC-25B fleet.
