Qatari Boeing 747-8 Air Force One ‘bridge aircraft’ begins test flights
April 20, 2026
The interim VC-25B Bridge Aircraft is now in test flights as Trump demands his luxury presidential jet. Meanwhile, the existing VC-25As age and the replacement VC-25Bs are delayed, although Boeing plans to deliver the first in 2028.
VC-25B ‘Bridge Aircraft’ begins test flights as interim Air Force One
Last week, The War Zone reported that the ex-Qatari Boeing 747-8i, being retrofitted as the presidential transport VC-25B Bridge Aircraft, is now undergoing test flights.
🇺🇸 Rendering of the new Air Force One livery, released by the USAF.
— Colby Badhwar (@ColbyBadhwar) February 18, 2026
"This artist rendering depicts the VC-25B in its new livery. The U.S. Air Force is implementing this red, white, gold and dark blue paint scheme for the VC-25B, 747-8i as well as the executive airlift fleet,… pic.twitter.com/mxfYh8VQFz
The War Zone quoted an Air Force spokesperson as saying, “I can confirm that the VC-25B Bridge Aircraft has begun flight test. We expect the aircraft will be delivered to the Presidential Airlift Group no later than summer 2026.”
OSINT accounts have tracked and photographed the aircraft, showing it is not yet painted.
The Planespotter, Nick H, tracked the flight over Texas on the 17th of April, posting, “VC-25B 25-3300 / N7478D up on a test flight out of Majors as VADER01.”
VC-25B 25-3300 / N7478D up on a test flight out of Majors as VADER01#AF83F3 pic.twitter.com/AQ74lvxlTb
— Nick H. ✈︎ (@N214WN) April 16, 2026
Bearing the callsign VADER01, the aircraft took off from Majors Field in Greenville, Texas and flew over Tulsa, Amarillo, and Abilene before returning to Majors.
Limited modifications suggest reduced capability for VC-25B bridge aircraft
Not much is known about the modifications it is getting. To be a true VC-25 Air Force One military aircraft, it will need a range of very expensive and time-consuming modifications, including in-air refuelling, missile warning systems, hardening from electromagnetic pulses from nuclear strikes, a new secure communications suite, and more.
Often, aircraft modifications are visible due to added antennas and bulges in the aircraft. However, the photographs of the aircraft show remarkably few modifications to the interim Air Force One’s communications system.
As a Qatari VIP aircraft, it already had an extensive broadband satellite communications suite. Visible additions include a handful of new aerials that The War Zone says “appear to be two UHF satcom ‘platter’ antennas.”
The publication surmises that, based on the photo, it is likely impossible that it has received electromagnetic pulse hardening. Nothing on the aircraft shows the addition of an integrated self-defence suite.
No paint yet pic.twitter.com/yYP7V36JSk
— Kyle Gist (@kylegist) April 16, 2026
It seems likely that . L3 Technologies is known to be carrying out the retrofit programme, but it has previously refused to comment on the work.
US Air Force faces gap as VC-25A ages and VC-25B delivery slips
The US Air Force’s existing fleet of two VC-25A ‘Air Force One’ presidential jets is ageing. Even so, they are far more capable as military aircraft than the Bridge Aircraft is likely to be. These were delivered in the 1990s and are based on the Boeing 747-200.
The existing presidential aircraft are “speckled” with missile approach warning sensors, and they have many laser countermeasures turrets (DIRCM). They also have legacy Matador infrared countermeasure systems. That is in addition to the other defensive systems they are known to have, but are less visible and classified.
The Bridge Aircraft likely has some defensive capabilities, but it will likely be far from the full thing.
The complexity of the VC-25B aircraft is indicated by how delayed and over budget they are. Boeing is taking billions of dollars in losses on these two aircraft and is now expecting to deliver the first in 2028.
All this said, the existing VC-25As are becoming unreliable. In January 2026, the VC-25A carrying Trump to the NATO summit in Switzerland was forced to divert and return to Joint Base Andrews due to technical issues with the aircraft.
Trump then took the backup Air Force C-32, based on the Boeing 757, to Europe. C-32s typically carry the Vice President and have the callsign Air Force Two.
Note the callsign “Air Force One” and “Air Force Two” refer to the president or vice president on board, not the type of aircraft as such.
Featured Image: Alec Wilson / Flickr
