The Air Force One 747 gifted by Qatar to Trump nears completion

The VC-25B replacement for Air Force One, a former Qatar Airways 747 gifted to Donald Trump, is entering its final stages of conversion. Boeing and defense contractor L3Harris have completed the fresh paint job, swapping the royal Qatari livery for Trump’s signature inverted color scheme—mirroring his personal Boeing 757. An Air Force spokesperson confirmed the painting is done, and the aircraft, now dubbed the “VC-25B bridge aircraft,” is undergoing its last modifications before assuming Presidential transport duties.

The accelerated timeline—just under a year from start to near-completion—stands in stark contrast to Boeing’s original 747 replacement program, which began in 2018 and won’t see service entry until 2029. While the Air Force hasn’t specified an exact in-service date, a May announcement indicated the plane remains on track for summer deployment. The rapid overhaul raises eyebrows, especially given the aircraft’s controversial origins: a reported $1 billion taxpayer-funded refit for a jet that Trump plans to retain for personal use after leaving office.

The color scheme itself marks the first major change to Air Force One’s iconic blue-and-white livery since the Kennedy administration, when President John F. Kennedy and designer Raymond Loewy crafted the now-familiar look. Critics have also questioned whether the dark, inverted colors could affect the aircraft’s sensitive electronics, though no official concerns have been raised.

The timing of the gift—shortly followed by Trump’s $200 billion (later revised to $93 billion) Qatar aircraft deal—has fueled speculation about potential quid pro quo arrangements, though no direct evidence has been made public.