US Air Force Unveils New Presidential Jet After Six Decades of Tradition

The US Air Force has unveiled its new presidential jet, the VC-25B 'bridge' aircraft, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The new plane replaces the traditional pale blue and white livery with a deep navy underbelly, red stripe, and large American flag on the tail.

The airframe is not new, but rather a Boeing 747-8 built in 2012 for Qatar's Amiri Flight. In 2025, Qatar donated the aircraft to the US government, which was then converted by L3Harris into a secure presidential transport over a period of roughly ten months.

The VC-25B 'bridge' jet is an interim solution until Boeing's two purpose-built VC-25Bs arrive around 2028. The existing VC-25As, built in the 1990s, are nearing retirement and will likely be sent to museums once the new jets become operational.