The aircraft was donated by the Qatari Royal Family.
It looks excellent.
The U.S. Air Force has published the first pictures of the VC-25B Bridge, a heavily modified variant of a Boeing 747-8I Business Jet donated to the United States by the Qatari Royal Family for use as Air Force One by President Donald J. Trump, having now arrived for Commissioning Flights with the Presidential Airlift Group (89th Airlift Wing) based out of Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.
Positive users praise the VC-25B's new livery as beautiful, classic and timeless while negative users call the tail cheap, the scheme basic like a generic airliner and prefer the prior design.
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At first I didn’t like the new livery but it’s grown on me. It was time for something new and proud.
The VC-25B Bridge aircraft has officially arrived at Joint Base Andrews!
More info: https://dvidshub.net/r/2osuf8
@bscholl I agree. It looks MUCH better on the plane than it did in the renderings.
I was a little sad to see the old scheme go until seeing these photos.
@bscholl I don’t understand how this could be fitted out with required tech faster than the remaining time to complete the real AF1. Something doesn’t seem kosher. So the USA now has a donated presidential plane. I’m a supporter but this kind of stinks to me.
@bscholl I think it looks great. Classically beautiful 🇺🇸
@bscholl Disagree.
@bscholl @Portavino I read the only difference militarily is that it can’t refuel in the sky.
@Portavino @bscholl Consider withdrawing your support because the last few months are a disaster enabled by blanket approval.
@rail_breaker31 @bscholl I honestly don’t get it. How could anyone think this is a good idea? I’m generally a supporter but this does stink to high heaven. Grrrrrrrrrr
@bscholl You should create a supersonic AF1 and donate it. Great marketing!
@Portavino @bscholl The new Boeing AF1 has way more requirements. I don't think this can be refuelled mid-air or has the sophisticated missile defense requirements.
@Evan_EveryDay @bscholl So how is it permitted? Am I missing something? Have we lowered our standards because someone wants a shiny new toy?
@Portavino My guess is the requirements for VC-25B were massively overdone and a simpler airplane was much easier to do. Potentially they’ll still use VC-25A for some missions.
@bscholl Wait until you see it after it has been in the sun for a few days! Becomes American Reflecting Pool Blue
@nicksortor @bscholl I’m sure the pilots and crew are excited to have a fairly new plane. Only has 800 hours on it. The level of luxury cannot be understated. The new glass cockpit will make monitoring 1000 times easier
@Portavino @bscholl The official line from the Air Force is that the VC-25A fleet is over 35 years old and requires frequent and expensive maintenance. This is a bridge option to compliment VC-25A while we wait on the highly delayed VC-25B fleet.
@bscholl I love it
@bscholl Could use a little color up top i think but its beautiful regardless
@bscholl The question remains, can it fly?
@bscholl The colors look alot like his own personal airplane ✈️🛩️
White red gold and a very dark blue/charcoal 🎨🖌️
Flip this upside-down and bingo!
@bscholl The livery works well...