The U.S. Air Force released the first official photographs of the VC-25B Bridge Aircraft on Friday after the Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8 arrived at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, giving the public its clearest look yet at the jet that will carry the next chapter of American presidential travel.
President Donald Trump held a press conference at the presidential hangar facility Friday to mark the occasion, touring the aircraft and describing it as a transformation completed on a timeline “no one thought possible.”
He signed the aircraft’s mechanical panel before departing. The jet will conduct a ceremonial flyover over Washington on July 4 to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, Trump announced.
Trump praised both the aircraft and the country behind the donation. “The workmanship of this plane — when you see it, you won’t believe it,” he said.
The quality of the woods, the quality of the materials, the quality of the engines. These engines are the finest and best in the world. Nothing like it. So it’s really an honor, and I want to thank the Emir of Qatar. He’s a fantastic guy.”
On the aircraft’s capabilities, Trump added: “It flies further and faster than any Air Force One. Those are incredible engines. You may never have to stop for fuel.” He also described communications equipment aboard the jet that includes Starlink and multiple redundant systems, calling the transformation into a “flying White House” one completed “at a level of luxury nobody’s ever seen before — in only 10 months.”
The first look at the new Air Force One, gifted to the U.S. from Qatar. pic.twitter.com/DzhQfGPMyP
— Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) June 19, 2026
.@POTUS signs the mechanical panel of the new Air Force One 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/ERMnXG1WHH
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) June 19, 2026
The aircraft, accepted by the U.S. government as an “unconditional donation” from the Qatari government in mid-2025, was overhauled by defense contractor L3Harris Technologies at a facility in Greenville, Texas, before moving to Waco, Texas, for painting and final government modifications.
It wears a red, white, dark blue, and gold livery Trump personally selected, featuring “United States of America” in all capitals along the fuselage, a presidential seal near the forward cabin, and a U.S. Air Force roundel on the aft fuselage.
The Air Force designated the aircraft the VC-25B Bridge, signaling its purpose as a stopgap solution to address mounting logistical strain on the executive airlift fleet while two purpose-built VC-25B jets contracted through Boeing remain in development. Those aircraft are not expected before mid-2028.
The jet’s arrival at Andrews coincided with White House officials publicly marking the end of an era for the existing presidential fleet. One of the two incumbent VC-25A aircraft, tail 29000, a Boeing 747-200B first flown on October 29, 1987, and delivered to the Air Force on December 20, 1990, completed what appeared to be its final mission carrying a sitting president Thursday after Trump returned from the G7 summit in France.
White House communications director Steven Cheung posted a photograph of the aircraft to X with the caption “The Last Ride.” Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino posted separately: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Tail 29000 is the aircraft that transported President George W. Bush on September 11, 2001.
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
The Last Ride. pic.twitter.com/YGNCDvjRSB
— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) June 18, 2026
Both existing VC-25A jets are expected to remain in the active fleet in backup and Air Force Two roles through 2029.
The Qatar-donated aircraft was originally a luxury Boeing 747-8 operated by the Qatari royal family. Valued at roughly $400 million before modifications, its acceptance by the U.S. government drew scrutiny from members of Congress who raised questions about foreign gift laws, emolument restrictions, and the implications of accepting a high-value asset from a Gulf state.
The Air Force maintained the transaction was a lawful unconditional donation and in May said the program was on track for a summer 2026 rollout to the Presidential Airlift Group at Joint Base Andrews.
Aviation photographer Travis Ghormley first captured photos of the repainted aircraft on June 7 at Waco. Those images circulated widely on social media before Friday’s official Air Force release. The formal rollout Friday marked the aircraft’s public debut under government custody.
Ladies and Gentlemen…
Your United States Air Force’s New VC-25B📸Photo taken by me
6/6/26
©2026 Travis Ghormley pic.twitter.com/dKfSGUYWUH— TGhormley Photography (@SkunkChaser25) June 7, 2026
With the VC-25B Bridge now at Andrews and nearing formal delivery, the Presidential Airlift Group will operate the aircraft on commissioning flights before it enters active service. No date for the aircraft’s first operational presidential mission has been publicly announced.
