The current aircraft typically used as Air Force One, which are two Boeing VC-25As, are over 35 years old. This means that the aging planes are increasingly unreliable and are becoming expensive to maintain. In addition, the VC-25As are some of the last examples of the Boeing 747-200B that they’re based on, which means parts are more expensive than a newer aircraft type like a Boeing 767. The 747-200B is also less fuel-efficient than many newer airliners, further increasing operating costs.

The United States Air Force has acquired new aircraft to replace the VC-25As, which are currently being modified for the mission. However, the USAF is converting two Boeing 747-8s for the mission, which will be redesignated as the VC-25B. These are the largest American airliners ever built, and with this size comes enormous costs. The planes themselves were expensive to acquire, but they’re also among the most expensive airliners currently in service due to their size and fuel burn.

Overview Of Air Force One

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Air Force One is the US president’s primary mode of air transport. Air Force One is not actually an aircraft, but rather the callsign of any Air Force aircraft carrying the US president. Similarly, Marine One, Navy One, Army One, and Coast Guard One are the callsigns for any aircraft in those divisions carrying the president. However, only the US Air Force and Marine Corps currently maintain aircraft for regular presidential use. In addition, Executive One is the callsign for a civilian aircraft carrying the president.

The aircraft most commonly used as Air Force One are two Boeing VC-25As. They’re modified versions of the Boeing 747-200B, delivered new from the factory in 1990 and 1991. Powered by four General Electric CF6-80 high bypass turbofans, they’re among the last 747-200Bs ever built, and they’re equipped with more high-tech defensive systems than a Star Wars battlecruiser. These include anti-missile defenses, infrared and electronic countermeasures, shielded wiring, and more. While none of its features are groundbreaking today, the VC-25As are undoubtedly the world’s most protected aircraft.

The main issue is with the aircraft’s age today. While any aircraft is safe and airworthy with competent maintenance, the VC-25As need more expensive, more frequent maintenance and repairs. On January 20, 2026, for instance, one of the VC-25As was transporting the president to Switzerland when it experienced major electrical problems. This prompted a return to Andrews Air Force, where the president boarded a C-32 for the trip. Events like these can be costly, disruptive, and embarrassing for the country.

The New Air Force One Aircraft

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Boeing is working on modifying two Boeing 747-8s into VC-25Bs to replace the VC-25As as the primary method of long-distance travel for the US president. Unlike the VC-25As, which were newbuilds, the two VC-25Bs were NTUs (non-taken units) that were originally intended for Russian carrier Transaero, which had gone out of business after ordering the jets. The two aircraft, line numbers 1519 and 1523, were selected for the job in 2017, two years after the 747-8 was chosen as the base for the VC-25B, and were flown to Boeing’s San Antonio facility in 2019.

Boeing has experienced numerous delays with the program, and the company has incurred over $2.8 billion in cost overruns over the original fixed-price budget of $3.9 billion. It was believed that refurbishing pre-built aircraft would save costs and time, but most of the aircraft’s capabilities come from new wiring. This meant that the existing wires needed to be ripped out and the new wiring needed to be installed, rather than the plane being built with the wiring. Boeing has had enormous difficulty with designing and installing the wiring, while also suffering from staff shortages and quality control issues.

The United States Air Force believes that the first VC-25B will be delivered in mid-2028. When they arrive, the VC-25Bs will deliver superior fuel efficiency and range compared to before, while carrying more passengers and cargo. In addition, the VC-25Bs will feature significantly improved defensive technologies, and while much of the aircraft’s new capabilities are classified, they’re certain to be among the most advanced planes ever built. One notable omission compared to the VC-25A, however, is that these planes won’t be capable of aerial refueling, as this was never used.

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Why Use The Boeing 747-8 As A Replacement?

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On the surface, it makes sense to replace a Boeing 747 with a Boeing 747, and the 747-8 is the newest, most modern variant of the 747 family. Parts unique to the 747-8 will be widely available for decades, and there is a prestige factor as well, given that the 747-8 is the largest American-built aircraft ever. But as big as a 747-200B is, the 747-8 is a completely different beast. Its wingspan places it under ICAO Code F, whereas the 747-200B is Code E, and the aircraft as a whole requires exceptionally long runways with airport surfaces designed to sustain its weight.

The Boeing 747-8 is restricted from flying into many commercial airports, and it’s also extremely expensive to operate. Although its GEnx-2B engines are efficient, the 747-8 is a massive quadjet that burns more fuel than a modern twinjet. However, one of the base requirements set by the USAF for a VC-25A replacement was a quadjet. If a twinjet loses an engine, it has to divert immediately, whereas a quadjet can continue to its destination. This left two choices: The Boeing 747-8 or a modified variant of the Airbus A380-800.

EADS (now Airbus SE) did not participate in the contest, as the company wouldn’t make a profit on assembling a handful of A380s in the US. This left the 747-8 as the only aircraft option. While it’s expensive to procure and will cost the American taxpayer millions per year to operate, the USAF is committed to the type. It purchased two of Lufthansa’s 747-8s in December 2025 to provide staff training and serve as part donors. In addition, the USAF has also acquired four former Korean Air 747-8s to be modified by Sierra Nevada as Boeing E-4Cs.

Why Air Force One Needs To Be A Huge Jet

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Air Force One is intended as more than just transport for the US president. The president’s quarters, used by the president and the first family, are contained entirely within the VC-25A’s nose. A smaller aircraft, like a Boeing C-32 or a business jet, could therefore do the job of transporting the president and first family just as effectively, while being significantly cheaper. But the VC-25A is designed as more of a flying White House, complete with a full office for the president and a conference room.

The VC-25A features a medical annex stocked with medical supplies, an operating table, and a full pharmacy. The conference room includes a 50-inch (127-centimeter) plasma television, while the president can address the nation from his office. In addition, the VC-25A can accommodate over 70 passengers, most of whom are press reporting on the US president. Of course, this means a heavy US Secret Service onboard the aircraft, and the VC-25As are also filled with telephones, screens, fax machines, and data communications centers.

The VC-25A is designed to be fully self-sufficient, and given its air-to-air refueling capability, it can remain airborne essentially until food runs out. The USAF requires a capable jet rather than a flexible, cost-effective one, and only a large widebody aircraft can serve this role without significant compromises. With the quadjet requirement, this narrowed down the field to the 747-8 or Airbus A380, and the 747-8 was the only aircraft that entered the competition, making it the default choice.

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The Interim Air Force One 747

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Because of delays with the Boeing VC-25B program, US president Donald Trump began searching for a solution. This would present itself in the form of a Boeing 747-8 BBJ owned by the government of Qatar. The plane was given as a “gift” to the US Department of Defense, and it was flown to Texas, reregistered as N7478D, to be modified to USAF standards. The work is reportedly being performed by L3Harris, and it’s expected that this 747-8 will be ready by summer 2026 to serve as the new Air Force One.

This aircraft has been described as an interim aircraft to augment the VC-25A fleet until the VC-25Bs are ready. The transaction has drawn significant controversy as to its legality, ethics, and practicality, but there is merit in using a third aircraft to decrease utilization of the increasingly unreliable VC-25As. While much of the work being done on the Qatari 747-8 is classified, it’s believed that this aircraft will largely keep its BBJ interior, while receiving some communications, defensive, and medical equipment.

The 747-8 will essentially serve as a simple transport for the US president, rather than the flying White House that the VC-25A and VC-25B are designed to be. Despite the hundreds of millions that are being spent on refurbishing it, aircraft may be restricted to operating missions with less security risk or domestic flights. In addition, the Qatari 747-8 may leave presidential service once President Trump leaves office, which is another point of controversy.