The U.S. Air Power now expects to take supply of its first new Presidential jet in mid-2028, changing the VC-25As which have served since 1990.
In an announcement launched to Aviation Week following the announcement of a $15.5 million contract modification associated to the VC-25B program, a U.S. Air Power spokesperson mentioned “These prices are related to integration of latest communications functionality that enables VC-25B to maintain tempo with mission necessities which have advanced for the reason that program baseline was established,” including “This modification will be completed throughout the present program schedule with the projected supply date for the primary VC-25B plane in mid-2028.”
Boeing had mentioned earlier in 2025 that, if the U.S. was prepared to loosen up a number of the extra stringent safety necessities for contractors engaged on the VC-25B program, it might probably ship the primary plane as quickly as 2027. It’s unknown whether or not any of those requests from Boeing have been honoured, although the brand new anticipated supply date is earlier the beforehand talked about 2029. Initially, the primary plane was attributable to be in service by the tip of 2024.
New: The Air Power now expects the primary supply of Boeing’s VC-25B, the following “Air Power One,” in mid-2028.
This as Boeing will get a brand new contract in the present day for comms tools on the plane
— Brian Everstine (@beverstine) December 12, 2025
It stays to be seen who the primary President to make use of the brand new plane as Air Power One shall be – though President Trump is because of nonetheless be in workplace for the mid-2028 supply estimate, post-delivery certification and trials could push its full entry into service past the following Presidential inauguration on Jan. 20, 2029. Notably, preliminary working functionality (IOC) for the brand new VH-92A Patriot helicopter was declared in 2021, however the first flight of a VH-92A as Marine One didn’t happen till 2024.
82-8000, the oldest of the 2 VC-25As at the moment in service, was formally delivered on Aug. 23, 1990, first flying as Air Power One shortly after on Sept. 6. The plane’s very first flight befell in Might 1987, however this was previous to lots of the function particular modifications being fitted.
In contrast to the 2 VC-25As, the VC-25Bs are second hand plane (development numbers 42416 and 42417) and had been initially constructed for the Russian airline Transaero. Transaero had filed for chapter previous to supply, and the plane had been subsequently positioned into storage in California. The brand new plane are primarily based on the Boeing 747-8, whereas the VC-25As had been modified from the Boeing 747-200B mannequin.
Although the 747-8 noticed restricted success on the industrial market in comparison with its ancestors, it has change into widespread with cargo operators in addition to different state VIP flights. Greater than double the variety of 747-8s constructed for passenger service had been constructed solely for freight use, and 747-8s are utilized by China, South Korea, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, and Brunei for govt transport. Elsewhere within the U.S. Air Power, the Boeing 747-8 sort is about to be launched because the E-4C – changing the E-4B Nightwatch command publish plane that share the VC-25A’s 747-200 base airframe.
VC-25B Delays
The VC-25B’s supply delays have been a degree of competition for President Trump, having made direct feedback about it on plenty of events. Elon Musk was reportedly tasked in January 2025 to help with dashing up the method, though it isn’t recognized how a lot involvement he had, nor whether or not this continued in any manner following his subsequent feud with the President. In Might 2025, reviews emerged that one other Boeing 747-8 could be gifted by the Qatari Royal Household for President Trump’s use whereas the VC-25Bs are accomplished.
This 747-8, with the brand new U.S. registration N7478D superseding its earlier identification of P4-HBJ, was noticed in Texas in August apparently forward of a big refit that may permit its potential use for Presidential transport. The plane was transferred to the Division of Protection (DoD) as an “unconditional donation” to be used “in any method it deems acceptable”. Precisely what modifications shall be made to the plane, particularly given the brief timeframe accessible, are unclear.
Due to FlightRadar24 for displaying this 747-8 departure out of Alliance Fort Price at 2 p.m.
She ended up working a little bit late which labored out even higher for the lighting.
What makes this one particular is that she’s now N7478D. That is the 747 that was gifted to Trump from… pic.twitter.com/uigKGQNQY3
— Tori Mae Fontana (@LensOfMae) August 8, 2025
After President Trump departs the White Home in January 2029, the plane is because of change into a part of his Presidential library. President Ronald Reagan’s Presidential library is at the moment the one one to characteristic an precise Air Power One plane, although the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library has requested the mortgage of a VC-25A upon the kind’s retirement.
No official indication has been made to this point on this Presidency relating to the VC-25B’s livery, and whether or not the choice taken throughout President Joe Biden’s time period to make use of a modified model of the current VC-25A scheme has been reversed. President Trump famously prefers a special livery utilizing purple, white, and a deeper shade of blue. A mannequin of a 747-8 in these scheme options prominently in his Oval Workplace however any change to the VC-25B’s livery at this stage would virtually definitely add price and extra delays to the venture as a result of must certify that the paint doesn’t trigger thermal points for numerous elements, together with the very important communications antennas.
The U.S. Air Power might use the donated 747-8 as a chance to placate President Trump’s needs by working the jet in his most popular livery, whereas the VC-25Bs – which is able to, no matter supply date, be used much more by subsequent holders of the workplace – might stay within the conventional colors that date again to President John F. Kennedy’s time in workplace.
