New Delhi: One of the two VC-25A aircraft that have long served as Air Force One appears to be nearing retirement. When it happens, it will mark a transition period for the United States presidential airlift fleet as a new aircraft gifted by Qatar moves closer to operational readiness.
White House officials and senior Trump administration figures shared farewell messages and images following what was described as the final flight of one of the aging Boeing 747-based VC-25A aircraft, which has been in service since 1990 and has transported every US president since George HW Bush.
Taking to X, the US chief of protocol, Monica Crowley, paid tribute to the ageing presidential aircraft SAM 29000, saying she was aboard Air Force One on what she called its final flight. Describing the aircraft as having served every US president since George H. W. Bush, she wrote that although it was “not the most modern plane”, it had served the nation well for nearly 40 years and deserved a fond farewell.
The VC-25A fleet consists of two specially modified Boeing 747-200B aircraft that operate in rotation and are designated Air Force One when the president is on board. While one aircraft is in active use, the other is typically held in reserve or undergoing maintenance.
The transition comes as a Boeing 747 gifted by Qatar, referred to as the VC-25B Bridge aircraft, moves closer to entering service. According to the US Air Force, the aircraft has completed flight testing and is expected to join the executive airlift fleet alongside existing VC-25A jets and the smaller C-32 transport aircraft.
Reports suggest the aircraft may be used for upcoming presidential travel, although official confirmation has not been provided. The development has also prompted discussion in Washington over ethics and security considerations linked to the acceptance of a foreign-donated aircraft for presidential use.
Meanwhile, Boeing continues work on purpose-built VC-25B aircraft based on the 747-8 platform, which are intended to eventually replace the current fleet but have faced delays and cost overruns.
The US is replacing its presidential air transport system in stages, but the remaining VC-25A aircraft continue to rotate for duty.