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U.S. Air Force Completes Modifications on Qatar-Donated Boeing 747-8 for Interim Air Force One
The U.S. Air Force has finished modifications and flight testing on a Boeing 747-8i donated by Qatar, now being painted in red, white, gold, and blue livery. The VC-25B Bridge aircraft is on schedule for delivery to the Presidential Airlift Group this summer. It will serve as an interim Air Force One while Boeing's full VC-25B jets are delayed until 2028.
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U.S. Air Force announced that the VC-25B Bridge aircraft, a donated Boeing 747-8i from Qatar, has completed modifications and flight testing in Greenville, Texas. The jet is now being painted in red, white, gold, and blue livery and remains on schedule for delivery to the Presidential Airlift Group no later than summer 2026.
U.S. last year for use by President Trump. The Pentagon took delivery of the aircraft last May, and L3Harris was selected to handle the complex modifications.
Boeing provided engineering data to support the required structural modifications. Specialists from multiple government agencies developed advanced protocols to detect and neutralize potential technical hazards on the previously owned aircraft. The program minimized interior aesthetic modifications to focus on safety, security, and mission execution.
After safety and security, the effort prioritized mission communications systems. The VC-25B Bridge program reduced the number of airstairs and included less chiller space. It also excluded the Golden Eagle mission to fly the remains of former presidents.
L3Harris delivers secure, reliable, and resilient communications for the VC-25A and the executive airlift fleet, drawing on extensive experience with self-protection and customization of VIP aircraft. The Air Force constructed an at-scale mockup of the interior, complete with virtual reality views, to enable early commissioning activities for White House staff.
A dedicated task force launched a full-court press on the VC-25B Bridge program in February 2025.
The task force is simultaneously working to accelerate Boeing’s long-term VC-25B production. The aircraft was displayed at Palm Beach International Airport on February 15, 2025, including a visit by President Trump. The estimated delivery of Boeing’s VC-25Bs is now expected in 2028.
