After it accomplished a secretive nighttime flight to Joint Base Andrews earlier in June, the VC-25B Bridge plane – a quickly transformed 747-8 gifted by Qatar – has now been formally proven off by the U.S. Air Drive in its service paint scheme for the very first time.
The VC-25B will now start a collection of certification flights forward of its official entry into service with the 89th Airlift Wing’s Presidential Airlift Group.
Of their official press launch, the U.S. Air Drive confirmed that the plane’s comparatively fast (in comparison with the 2 fully-fledged VC-25Bs being transformed by Boeing) conversion course of was aided by preserving the inside ‘minimally modified’. As a former VIP jet operated by the state of Qatar, the plane’s inside already options many luxurious lodging for passengers – in reality, even moreso than the VC-25A, which leans additional in direction of perform than absolute luxurious.
Rumors have circulated that the VC-25B Bridge’s first Presidential flight could possibly be the deliberate journey to Mount Rushmore as a part of the U.S. 250th Anniversary celebrations.
Talking on the plane’s unveiling, President Trump confirmed plans to incorporate the jet within the 4th July flyover of Washington D.C., alongside F-22 Raptors, F-35 Lightning IIs, and different army plane.
“This might be a flyover on July 4th I feel I can say the likes of which we have by no means seen earlier than.”
President Trump says America’s 250th anniversary celebration on July 4th will function an enormous army flyover over the U.S. Capitol and White Home, led by the newly refurbished… pic.twitter.com/fT5zyipfW7
— Fox Information (@FoxNews) June 19, 2026
.@POTUS indicators the mechanical panel of the brand new Air Drive One 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ERMnXG1WHH
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) June 19, 2026
“We’re proud to ship the VC-25B Bridge plane to the President,” stated Air Drive Chief of Employees Gen. Ken Wilsbach. “Many thought it couldn’t be performed, however the US Air Drive was capable of execute and supply a safe, dependable airborne command submit on an accelerated timeline.”
The service confirms that the jet has been fitted with not less than a sure degree of superior communications and self-defence capabilities, although if these are adequate to permit the plane for use for abroad journey stays to be seen.
The VC-25B Bridge plane has formally arrived at Joint Base Andrews!
Extra data: pic.twitter.com/zyUpB99jqm
— U.S. Air Drive (@usairforce) June 19, 2026
“The security and safety of the commander in chief is our highest precedence,” stated Secretary of the Air Drive Troy Meink. “From the start, we meticulously evaluated each requirement to speed up supply whereas sustaining the excessive requirements anticipated of the presidential mission. This effort proves that the U.S. Air Drive can transfer quick with out sacrificing high quality, safety, or reliability.”
Our first official view of the complete painted VC-25B Bridge plane comes quickly after what appears to have been last deliberate Presidential sortie of 92-9000, one of many U.S. Air Drive’s two VC-25As. White Home staffers led tributes to the plane on social media after it flew President Donald Trump residence from the G7 Summit in France.
Whereas the U.S. Air Drive has stated the VC-25A sort will stay in service for the foreseeable future to help Presidential Airlift Group and different VIP operations, these tributes possible point out that the first VC-25A will quickly be 82-8000 – returning to service shortly after an overhaul and improve interval – with 92-9000 moved to a backup function.
As we’ve got identified for a while, the plane wears a controversial new paint scheme. It’s a modified model of the one chosen by President Trump for the VC-25B in his first time period. This choice was reversed by the Biden administration in favor of an up to date variant of the long-lasting gentle blue and white livery worn by the present VC-25As, then reversed once more by the present Trump administration.
The primary take a look at the brand new Air Drive One VC-25B plane at Joint Base Andrews.📹: reaganreese pic.twitter.com/u6gMsvE2Tc
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) June 19, 2026
The serial for the VC-25B Bridge in U.S. Air Drive service might be 25-3300. It initially carried the Qatari registrations A7-HJA, then A7-HJB. After the Qatar Amiri Flight put the jet into storage, it was re-registered as P4-HBJ. Then, after being transferred to the U.S. it was given the U.S. civilian registration N7478D.
P4-HBJ Boeing 747-8, the “reward” airplane from Qatar, arriving at Fort Price Alliance (KAFW) from San Antonio Worldwide Airport (KSAT).#4850B4 #P4HBJ pic.twitter.com/1HgejAgisX
— Sam Combs (@pressxtolive) June 30, 2025
U.S. Air Drive crews have educated on the 747-8 sort, which is the bottom airframe for the VC-25B, VC-25B Bridge, and the E-4C, through the use of a mix of a leased Atlas Air 747-8F after which surplus 747-8i passenger variants bought from Lufthansa (one among which could be seen underneath the VC-25B Bridge’s nostril within the header picture). A full mockup of the VC-25B Bridge plane’s inside has been made out there to the White Home for familiarisation since January 2026.
