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One VC-25A Aircraft Completes Final Flight as Qatari 747 Joins Executive Fleet
The U.S. government has acquired a Boeing 747 previously owned by Qatar to serve as the VC-25B Bridge aircraft. One of the two VC-25A jets that have carried presidents since 1990 completed its final flight on or about June 18, 2026.
Le MondeAudio version
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One of the two VC-25A aircraft that have served as Air Force One since 1990 completed its final flight on or about June 18, 2026. White House officials bade farewell on June 18 to the jet after its return from the G7 summit in France. Air Force One, carrying President Donald Trump, departed Geneva Airport, Switzerland, on June 17, 2026.
Monica Crowley stated she was aboard the aircraft on its final flight the night of June 17 and posted a photograph of the plane on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews. Steven Cheung posted on X that the jet had completed "The Last Ride," accompanied by a picture of the aircraft.
Bush for nearly 40 years. U.S. government acquired a Boeing 747 aircraft previously owned by Qatar. The Pentagon formally acquired the aircraft last year after Qatar gifted the jet, valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
The former Qatari aircraft is designated the VC-25B Bridge aircraft. U.S. Air Force confirmed to Agence France-Presse that the VC-25B Bridge aircraft will soon join the active executive airlift fleet alongside the VC-25A and C-32 aircraft.
U.S. Air Force stated in May 2026 that the Qatari jet had completed flight testing. U.S. Air Force also stated the aircraft is on schedule to roll out in a new red, white and blue livery this summer.
The VC-25A aircraft entered service in 1990. The C-32 aircraft is a version of the Boeing 757 used for shorter runways. U.S. government has contracted Boeing to deliver two new 747-8 aircraft to serve as presidential transports, Le Monde reported.
Le Monde also reported that the Boeing 747-8 presidential aircraft program has experienced delays and cost overruns. NBC News reported that President Trump is considering taking the former Qatari aircraft on its first flight to Mount Rushmore in July 2026. President Trump has stated the Qatari aircraft will eventually be donated to his future presidential library.
