USAF shuffles Air Force One fleet as introduction of ex-Qatari jet approaches
There have been conflicting reports in recent days in the long-running saga involving the future replacements for Air Force One.
While some sources have indicated that Boeing VC-25A serial number 92-9000 has flown the US president for the last time and will now be retired, other US Air Force (USAF) sources have indicated that the aircraft will be retained for future use, even possibly for presidential travel duties in the future, despite being 36 years old and having been previously slated for retirement.
Has Air Force One 92-9000 flown its last presidential mission?
Having flown President Trump back to Washington from the G7 summit in France overnight on 17/18 June, social media posts indicated that aircraft 92-9000, one of two Boeing VC-25As that are exclusively used for carrying the US president as ‘Air Force One’, had carried out its final presidential mission before retirement.
Steven Cheung, Assistant to the President and White House Director of Communications, wrote in a post on his official X account, “Well done, good and faithful servant – The Last Ride,” accompanied by a picture of 92-9000.
Meanwhile, Dan Scavino, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, also wrote in a post on X (which included a video of 92-9000), that “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 US presidents – thank you, Air Force One 2900.”
"Well done, good and faithful servant.”
— Steven Cheung (@StevenCheung47) June 18, 2026
The Last Ride. pic.twitter.com/YGNCDvjRSB
The aircraft is one of two VC-25As due to be replaced by an ex-Qatari Royal Family Boeing 747-8 BBJ that was gifted to the US president last year. Known by the USAF as the Air Force One ‘Bridge’ aircraft, the plane was acquired in 2025 to fill the gap between the retirement of the two VC-25As and the introduction of two new VC-25Bs.
These were originally ordered in 2017 but have been marred by delays and cost escalations for years. They are now due to enter service in mid-2028, just months before President Trump leaves office.
The Pentagon, along with its designated defence contractor, L3Harris, worked to an accelerated schedule to refurbish the Bridge plane to meet Trump’s desire for a new aircraft in the interim. The USAF announced last month that the Qatari jet had completed modification and flight testing and was ready to enter service, save for some final modifications being carried out.
The United States Air Force spent $400 million upgrading the Qatari Boeing 747-8 to VC-25B. https://t.co/vnaJVFvK4M
— Laurence (Larry) Boorstein (@LarryBoorstein) June 19, 2026
The aircraft was recently photographed at an airport in Texas wearing the new ‘Trump-era’ red, white and navy colour scheme introduced on other US government jets over recent months, including a Department of Homeland Security Boeing 737 BBJ and other US Coast Guard aircraft in recent months.
The Bridge aircraft’s current location is unclear. Last week, unconfirmed reports emerged that the aircraft had flown discreetly from Texas to Andrews Air Force Base near Washington DC, where the two VC-25As, as well as various other Air Force executive aircraft, are based.
Will the VC-25As be retained after all?
Despite the social media posts and speculation in the US media that 92-9000 was due to be retired after completing its last mission this week, the USAF has since confirmed to media outlet TWZ that both of its existing VC-25As will continue to serve in the immediate future, although possibly not acting in an Air Force One capacity.
The USAF spokesperson told TWZ, “Once the Qatari plane enters the rotation this summer, the VC-25As will continue to serve in the executive fleet and could still be used by the president as Air Force One.”
The source also indicated that the VC-25B Bridge aircraft would “soon” be joining the active executive airlift fleet alongside the VC-25As and the C-32 (Boeing 757-200) while not offering further insight into the specific timelines.
When asked by TWZ whether this meant that both of the VC-25As would remain in the service’s active executive airlift fleet, the same spokesperson replied “yes.”
When will the Bridge VC-25B enter service?
It is not yet clear whether or when the new Bridge aircraft will be cleared to fly the president on overseas trips. In a statement to The Washington Post, the USAF said that “the Presidential Airlift Group will select the appropriate aircraft for each mission based on operational requirements.”
“We coordinated closely with appropriate government entities to ensure all functional mission requirements were strictly met for transporting the President,” the Air Force added.
In the meantime, there have been growing signs that President Donald Trump’s next trip on an Air Force One jet will be aboard the new Bridge aircraft.
Trump could use the jet for a planned trip to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota on 3 July 3, said the Washington Post, citing an unnamed White House official.
However, another source familiar with the matter told Reuters back in May that the Bridge aircraft would make its public debut the following day, operating a specially organised 4 July flyover set to take place over downtown Washington DC.
The presidential fleet remains in a state of flux
The future Air Force One fleet will likely require alternate options to be available at all times to allow for redundancy in the fleet. Currently, both VC-25As often accompany the president on international trips, with the second acting as a backup option.
The arrival of the Bridge aircraft could still allow the Air Force to retain at least one VC-25A in a reserve status, particularly for lower-risk trips. The full replacement plan might eventually reach a point where the USAF may deem it possible to cannibalise 92-9000 to provide spare parts for its sistership 82-8000.
In 2025, the USAF also announced the acquisition of two former Lufthansa Boeing 747-8s to support the Air Force One fleet.
The first of the aircraft has already been delivered and is being used for crew training and engineer familiarisation before the service entry of the VC-25Bs. The second will likely act as a source of spare parts to keep the VC-25B fleet serviceable.
Featured image: Matheus Obst / stock.adobe.com
