The Boeing VC-25A looks to have completed its final mission under the Air Force One call sign after White House staffers posted farewell messages to the iconic aircraft on social media. Tail number 29000 — which is one of two VC-25A’s flown by the United States Air Force (USAF) for presidential flights — landed at Joint Base Andrews on Thursday after flying President Trump home from the G7 summit in France.
The heavily modified Boeing 747-200 fleet has served a total of six presidents over 35 years since it entered service in 1990. Although they are set to be replaced permanently by the VC-25B — which will consist of two modified Boeing 747-8i aircraft — an interim Air Force One acquired from Qatar is set to fill in until these two delayed airframes are ready to enter service.
Farewell To The Boeing VC-25A As Air Force One
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung and Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino both posted farewell messages on social media after accompanying Trump on the flight back from France. While there has yet to be official confirmation from the White House, the aircraft has likely flown its last official Air Force One flight. However, both VC-25As will remain a part of the Air Force’s executive fleet, so it is still possible that either plane could fly again under the Air Force One call sign if called upon.
However, their role as the primary Air Force One aircraft appears to have come to an end. This airframe (92-9000) entered service in December 1990, just a few months after the other VC-25A (82-8000) made its debut. Cheung captioned a photo of VC-25A on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews with the words “The Last Ride” and praised the 747 as a “good and faithful servant.” Scavino filmed a walkaround of the plane from the tarmac, accompanied by a salute emoji, adding,
“I have been fortunate to fly around the world on this iconic plane for 5 1/2 years — of the 35 years it has been serving U.S. Presidents… THANK YOU…AIR FORCE ONE 2900”
The immediate future of both VC-25A aircraft remains unclear, although there is the suggestion that they will be reassigned for Air Force Two duties. A report by The War Zone cites an Air Force spokesperson confirming that the VC-25A will remain in the executive airlift fleet. Both USAF and a recent Pentagon budget have scheduled their retirement for 2029 once the VC-25B fleet is operational.
This would leave the door open for either aircraft to return to Air Force One duties as a backup aircraft, should the interim aircraft encounter any problems. Analysts have also speculated that the interim Air Force One’s limited modifications and defense systems may rule it out of international missions.
The VC-25A made its first presidential flight under George H.W. Bush in September 1990 and has flown five other US presidents since then. However, with both aircraft approaching almost four decades old, their retirement has been a long time coming. For example, in January, a VC-25A suffered an electrical fault after departing for the World Economic Forum in Davos, forcing Trump to complete the journey using a backup Boeing C-32A instead.
According to an NBC report, the debut of the controversial ‘Bridge’ Air Force One — a Boeing 747-8i acquired as a gift from Qatar — is now expected as early as July 3 ahead of a 250th anniversary event at Mount Rushmore.
The aircraft has been undergoing conversion work in Texas, with an estimated cost of $400 million to equip it to presidential standards, although some analysts claim the true cost will sit closer to $1 billion. However, the plane will lack many of the advanced systems found on VC-25A, and is only expected to fly for a couple of years before the VC-25B enters service.
As Simple Flying reported in early May, the aircraft has completed its testing ahead of receiving its new livery, which will feature Trump’s favored red, white, dark blue and gold. The jet was then spotted in Texas in early June with its fresh paint job ahead of its expected entry to service this summer.
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