WASHINGTON, June 19 (DC Times Online) — President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled a refurbished Boeing 747-8i at Joint Base Andrews in Washington, D.C., saying the jet will serve as a temporary Air Force One while Boeing finishes work on new presidential aircraft.
The aircraft, donated by the government of Qatar and modified for presidential use, has completed modification and flight testing, according to U.S. Air Force statements reported by multiple outlets. The service said the next step is commissioning flights, a final validation phase before the plane enters operational service.
The move gives the presidential airlift fleet an interim aircraft as Boeing continues work on two VC-25B replacement planes. CNBC and NPR reported that the White House expects those new aircraft to arrive in 2028, though the exact delivery timeline has varied in public reporting.
Trump described the plane as a “flying White House” during the unveiling and said it had been converted with a level of luxury not previously seen on a presidential jet, according to remarks at the base.
The Air Force said the aircraft’s revised exterior will carry a red, white and blue livery, replacing the light blue-and-white presidential scheme associated with the Kennedy era. The service also said the new paint design will become the standard across the presidential and executive airlift fleet, including the future VC-25B aircraft.
That change gives the fleet a more uniform look at a time when the government is still relying on older jets while Boeing’s replacement program remains incomplete. The interim aircraft is intended to bridge that gap, not end it.
The unveiling came after the Air Force said in May that the former Qatari 747 had completed modification and testing and was being painted. NPR and Bloomberg reported at the time that the aircraft was on track for summer delivery to the Presidential Airlift Group.
The airplane is part of the broader presidential transport system overseen by the Air Force and the Defense Department. Its arrival in the commissioning phase shows that the aircraft is moving closer to operational use, but it is not yet the permanent replacement for the existing presidential fleet.
BBC reported that the military’s modifications have been estimated at about $400 million, though the supplied reporting does not include an independent valuation document. The exact cost breakdown for the conversion was not detailed in the materials reviewed.
The aircraft’s interim role matters for the transportation system behind presidential travel because the presidency depends on a highly specialized fleet that must be available on short notice, operate securely, and meet strict technical requirements. A bridge aircraft helps reduce the risk of gaps while the long-term replacement program remains delayed.
Trump also said the jet would take part in a major flyover next year tied to the America 250 celebrations, according to Fox News. He said the event would feature fighter jets and military aircraft over Washington.
The new aircraft’s rollout comes as Boeing’s VC-25B program remains years behind its original schedule. CNBC and NPR reported that the White House sees the Qatar-donated 747 as a temporary solution until the new presidential planes are delivered.
For now, the refurbished 747-8i is moving from modification into testing, with commissioning flights to follow before the Air Force clears it for regular presidential use.
