Modified Qatari Boeing 747 Joins Presidential Airlift Group as Interim Aircraft

A modified Boeing 747-8i originally received from Qatar has arrived at the Presidential Airlift Group at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, and will begin commissioning flights before entering service as an interim presidential aircraft. The U.S. Air Force announced the delivery on June 19, 2026.

The jet, designated VC-25B Bridge, will operate alongside existing VC-25A and C-32 aircraft to relieve maintenance demands on the legacy fleet. Two new VC-25B aircraft ordered from Boeing remain scheduled for delivery in mid-2028. President Trump accepted the aircraft at a ceremony at the base that day and signed its mechanical panel.

The plane carries a red, white, and blue paint scheme selected by the president. It performed touch-and-go landings at Joint Base Andrews on June 22. L3Harris completed the modifications in 10 months with roughly 400 employees working around the clock to meet a July 4 deadline.

The aircraft will become available for presidential transport beginning in July 2026. President Trump stated at the ceremony that the jet is the largest Air Force One ever built and flies farther and faster than previous models. He added that it includes Starlink and multiple redundant communications systems.

The president also said the VC-25B Bridge will lead a military flyover over the Capitol on July 4 with multiple passes. He described his return from the recent G7 summit as the final planned trip aboard a VC-25A. An Air Force spokesperson confirmed that both legacy VC-25A aircraft will remain in the active fleet.

The VC-25B Bridge retains much of its prior head-of-state interior configuration.