President Donald Trump speaks with members of the media at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on Sunday, September 7, 2025 after attending the U.S. Open Men’s Championship in New York. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)
President Donald Trump is set to make history next week when he boards the new Air Force One for its first official presidential mission, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the aircraft that transports the commander in chief around the world.
The White House confirmed that Trump will use the newly modified Boeing 747-8 during his trip to North Dakota, making it the aircraft’s inaugural presidential flight after its public unveiling earlier this month. Bloomberg first reported the travel plans.
The jet, a specially modified Boeing 747-8 donated by Qatar and extensively retrofitted for presidential service, is intended to serve as an interim “bridge” aircraft while Boeing completes the next generation of purpose-built Air Force One planes, which have faced years of delays and are not expected to enter service until 2028.
During a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews last week, Trump praised the aircraft’s craftsmanship and significance.
“There will never be one like this. This is very unique,” the president said. “This is considered the world’s most luxurious plane.”
“When it was built, it was built at a level that will probably never be seen again,” he added.
The aircraft features Trump’s preferred red, white, navy blue and gold color scheme, replacing the traditional light blue design that has represented Air Force One for decades. It also bears the presidential seal near the forward cabin and an American flag on the tail, giving the aircraft a distinctly updated appearance.
According to the Air Force, the aircraft has completed flight testing and security modifications necessary for presidential travel. Officials say it meets the operational and security requirements expected for transporting the commander in chief while allowing the administration to bridge the gap until Boeing’s long-delayed replacement fleet is ready.
The VC-25B Bridge aircraft has officially arrived at Joint Base Andrews!
Trump has already previewed an ambitious travel schedule for the aircraft. In addition to next week’s North Dakota trip, he previously announced plans to use the jet for July’s NATO summit in Turkey and for a future trip to China, potentially including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit later this year.
The inaugural flight also comes just days after Trump closed the book on another piece of presidential aviation history.
Last week, the president made the final presidential flight aboard one of the aging Boeing 747-200 aircraft that has served as Air Force One for more than three decades. The veteran jet carried Trump home from Europe before being retired from presidential service after transporting multiple presidents through some of the most consequential moments in modern American history.
The retiring aircraft, tail number 29000, entered service in 1990 during the administration of President George H.W. Bush and has flown presidents across the globe for 35 years. Alongside its sister aircraft, it served as a flying White House equipped with secure communications, a presidential suite, conference rooms and a medical facility capable of functioning as an operating room. One of the aircraft famously transported President George W. Bush during the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
While the retired aircraft is headed for museum display, its companion VC-25A will remain in service alongside the new Boeing 747-8 until Boeing delivers two fully modernized presidential aircraft over the next two years.
