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747-8 | BIZLINERS | Boeing Business Jets

President Joe Biden Approves Next Air Force One Paint Design

The US Air force announced that the president of the United States selected livery design for the “Next Air Force One,” VC-25B, will closely resemble the livery of the current Air Force One, VC-25A. The classic blue and white color, with a few tweaks, is a complete reversal from the red, white, and blue livery selected by former President Donald Trump.
The US Air force announced that the president of the United States selected livery design for the “Next Air Force One,” VC-25B, will closely resemble the livery of the current Air Force One, VC-25A. The classic blue and white color, with a few tweaks, is a complete reversal from the red, white, and blue livery selected by former President Donald Trump.

While accounting for the VC-25B’s larger 747-8i aircraft, the VC-25B livery has three primary differences with the VC-25A’s livery. The light blue on VC-25B is a slightly deeper, more modern tone than VC-25A’s robin’s egg blue. Additionally, the VC-25B engines will use the darker blue from the cockpit area vice the VC-25A’s robin’s egg blue. Finally, there is no polished metal section on the VC-25B because modern commercial aircraft skin alloys don’t allow for it.

The US Air Force announced that a formal contractual decision for a VC-25B livery was not required until this year for Boeing to conduct engineering, certification preparation, and supplier selection activities for the program. The US Air Force previously displayed a red, white, and blue livery for the VC-25B because it had been publicly expressed as a preferred livery in 2019. A thermal study later concluded the dark blue in the design would require additional FAA qualification testing for several commercial components due to the added heat in certain environments.

Photo : Courtesy US Air Force

The VC-25B aircraft will replace the current VC-25A fleet, which faces capability gaps, rising maintenance costs, and parts obsolescence. Modifications to the aircraft will include electrical power upgrades, a mission communication system, a medical facility, an executive interior, a self-defense system, and autonomous ground operations capabilities.

VC-25B deliveries are projected for 2027 for the first aircraft and 2028 for the second aircraft. The US Air Force plans to keep VC-25A available and mission-ready until delivery of the VC-25B.