The United States Air Force announced on May 2 that its interim presidential aircraft, a former Qatari Royal Boeing 747-8i known as the ‘Bridge’ Air Force One, has completed modification and flight testing in Texas. The jet will now enter the paint shop to receive a new livery before entering service this summer.
This development comes as the Pentagon faces delays in the delivery of its permanent VC-25B fleet, which is not expected to be ready until at least 2028. The conversion of the donated Qatari aircraft into an interim presidential jet was carried out under an accelerated program due to what officials described as “exceptional operational urgency” to support the aging current fleet.
According to the United States Air Force, contractor L3Harris finished modifications and flight tests at facilities in Waco and Greenville, Texas. Testing began with a five-hour flight on April 17 and concluded within two weeks. Details about specific modifications remain undisclosed, but it is noted that converting a foreign VIP jet into a presidential command center was accomplished in just twelve months. General Dale White said, “This program epitomizes what is possible when clear accountability is placed on one individual, and the entire enterprise of stakeholders aligns behind a single mission outcome … deliver a bridge capability as soon as possible to relieve pressure on the aging VC-25A fleet.”
The new livery for this aircraft features red, white, gold and dark blue colors—a design supported by former President Trump—replacing the light blue-and-white scheme used since President Kennedy’s administration. Concerns over potential thermal heating issues from darker paint were addressed by using heat-reflective materials and environmental system adjustments.
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Looking ahead, work continues on two primary VC-25Bs being converted by Boeing after cost overruns pushed their expected entry into service from 2024 to at least 2028. Additional airframes acquired from Lufthansa will be used for training or spare parts.
