Trump Presents Qatar-Gifted Jet as Temporary Air Force One While Boeing VC-25B Program Remains Delayed

President Donald Trump introduced a modified Boeing 747-8i as the new VC-25B Bridge jet during a June 19 press conference at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The aircraft, received as a gift from Qatar, will serve as an interim presidential transport while the full VC-25B program remains delayed by years and billions of dollars over budget.

L3Harris completed the conversion in 10 months using pre-staged employees on a 24/7, three-shift schedule.

The company kept the existing interior, including all 10 restrooms, and performed electronic scrubbing of every square inch before modification work began. The finished jet is 18 feet longer than the current VC-25A aircraft. L3Harris also leased an Atlas Air 747-8i and purchased a Lufthansa 747-8i to serve as dedicated flight trainers.

It built a one-to-one scale mockup of the interior at Joint Base Andrews so the Presidential Airlift Group could practice operations before flying the aircraft. The company developed a training program with two partners and a sustainment program covering spare parts and engineering support for the entire VC-25B fleet. The VC-25A aircraft are 35 years old.

One remains at L3Harris for paint after several months of upgrades at Boeing’s San Antonio facility. L3Harris, the prime contractor for the Senior Leader Communication System used on Air Force One, has an engineering team of 2,600 people within a total workforce of 7,600.

Trump stated during the June 19 speech that he intends to use the aircraft for international travel, including an upcoming flight to Turkey.

The hangar at Joint Base Andrews used for the ceremony was custom-built to accommodate the larger 747-8i. On June 22 the VC-25B Bridge jet practiced touch-and-go landings at Joint Base Andrews.