On its maiden flight as Air Power One, the brand new VC-25B “Bridge” plane introduced President Donald Trump to North Dakota.
On Jul. 1, the U.S. Air Power’s VC-25B Bridge plane, a quickly transformed 747-8 gifted by Qatar, made its first flight as “Air Power One,” to take Trump and his employees to Bismarck Municipal airport in North Dakota, for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and different 250th anniversary of america celebrations.
Photographs of the inaugural flight have been shared on-line by members of the Presidential employees who had the prospect to board the VC-25B for the flight from Joint Base Andrews.
MAIDEN VOYAGE 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Xbqm2NHXwV
— Speedy Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 1, 2026
Honored to be on the inaugural flight of the brand new Air Power One. pic.twitter.com/mjvn6BgKhr
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) July 1, 2026
Fairly a photograph right here: pic.twitter.com/MF3nOMNUDo
— Brian Everstine (@beverstine) July 1, 2026
For the primary time, the VC-25B bridge plane has flown over the Washington, D.C. space with the callsign “AIR FORCE ONE.” @POTUS is on his solution to North Dakota at the moment. pic.twitter.com/VVwTbsyAKi
— Andrew Leyden (@PenguinSix) July 1, 2026
Curiously, one of many U.S. Air Power’s two VC-25As, 92-9000, served as backup plane for the journey. This matches with our earlier report in response to which the plane flew its closing deliberate Presidential sortie on Jun. 18. As we defined, White Home staffers posted tributes to the plane on social media after it flew President Donald Trump dwelling from the G7 Summit in France and we defined that: “Whereas the U.S. Air Power 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 probably 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.
VC-25B-Bridge Makes Maiden Flight as AIR FORCE 1
US Air Power VC-25B-Bridge #AF83F3 is within the air from JB Andrews as AIR FORCE 1 for the primary time.
USAF VC-25A #ADFDF9 is serving as SAM47 for this journey, a job that this plane hasn’t been in for years. pic.twitter.com/8fblf7iA6h
— TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) July 1, 2026
AIR FORCE ONE (VC-25B Bridge) departs in entrance of SAM 47 (VC-25A) at Andrews this morning as America has formally entered a brand new period of Presidential air journey! 🇺🇸💪😎🥳 pic.twitter.com/xL5XhNsokh
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) July 1, 2026
Honored to be on the inaugural flight of the brand new Air Power One pic.twitter.com/Y8H2vPzF8q
— Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) July 1, 2026
Maiden voyage on the brand new Air Power One! pic.twitter.com/svD3StjUkk
— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) July 1, 2026
AF1 flying into Bismarck this morning pic.twitter.com/pov0GlTdjg
— Yankees Lady 1776 🇺🇸♥️🇺🇸 (@LizLemon5759) July 1, 2026
The serial for the VC-25B Bridge in U.S. Air Power service will probably be 25-3300. The plane 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.
The plane wears a considerably controversial new paint scheme that could be a modified model of the one chosen by President Trump for the VC-25B in his first time period. This determination was reversed by the Biden administration in favor of an up to date variant of the long-lasting mild blue and white livery worn by the present VC-25As, then reversed once more by the present Trump administration.
Talking on the plane’s unveiling, President Trump confirmed plans to incorporate the jet within the July 4 flyover over Washington, D.C., alongside F-22 Raptors, F-35 Lightning IIs and different army plane. However, the B-21 Raider is not going to participate within the flyover, regardless of some social media posts by Northrop Grumman showing to recommend that the sixth-generation bomber would possibly make a public look over the nation’s capital.
VC-25B Bridge plane
The VC-25B Bridge plane arrived at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, in early June 2026, following a secretive nighttime flight to keep away from unveiling the brand new livery earlier than the official ceremony. The plane was formally unveiled on June 19.
After that, the VC-25B Bridge began a collection of certification flights forward of its official entry into service with the 89th Airlift Wing’s Presidential Airlift Group. The controversial plane, a modified 747-8i donated by Qatar, underwent a fast conversion course of with minimal modifications with a purpose to act as a “bridge” till the fully-fledged VC-25Bs enter service.
Critics highlighted the attainable safety dangers of utilizing an plane transferred by one other nation to fly the U.S. President. Nevertheless, the Air Power defined that “elite specialists from a number of authorities businesses developed superior protocols to detect and-if necessary-neutralize potential technical hazards on beforehand owned plane.”
“The security and safety of the commander in chief is our highest precedence,” stated Secretary of the Air Power 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 Power can transfer quick with out sacrificing high quality, safety, or reliability.”
The fielding of the VC-25B Bridge plane may very well be thought-about a “pressured determination,” because the Air Power wanted choices to keep away from functionality gaps within the presidential transport mission. In truth, the service explains that an interim functionality turned an absolute crucial because the Boeing VC-25B deliveries delayed previous the preliminary 2024 goal and VC-25A heavy upkeep cycles are extending.
Regardless of the unusually public debate surrounding the plane, particulars about its conversion stay scarce. The Air Power has to this point declined to debate the precise modifications being made or whether or not any necessities have been adjusted to speed up supply.
The service nevertheless confirmed that the jet has been fitted with at the least a sure degree of superior communications and self-defense capabilities, although if these are enough to permit the plane for use for abroad journey stays to be seen. Unconfirmed rumors talked about the plane may be restricted to flights throughout the U.S.
Usually, U.S. Air Power plane designated to function Air Power One obtain intensive upgrades, together with hardened defenses, safe and redundant communications techniques, and survivability enhancements supposed to help presidential command and management throughout a nationwide emergency or nuclear battle.
