dailynewsnblog
One of the United States Air Force’s modified 
Boeing 757-200 aircraft, also known as the C-32, has been spotted in a shiny new livery that marks a significant departure from the light blue color scheme that has adorned these jets, and other American executive transports, for many years. The fresh paint job features a dark blue belly with smaller red and gold stripes, as well as an image of the US flag ‘mid-wave’ on the aircraft’s tail.
While aircraft repaints are all part and parcel of the modern aviation industry, this particular scheme represents a larger shift in US military aviation. Indeed, US executive aircraft have worn the light blue paint job since the Kennedy administration, but this is something that President Donald Trump proposed changing in his first term in office. While this was scrapped by the Biden administration, Trump has reversed this move in his second term.
The First Of Many Repaints
Trump’s initial proposal for a new livery for the Boeing VC-25B, a modified 747-8 that will eventually replace the aging VC-25A as ‘Air Force One’ when flying the President, featured a dark blue belly with a red cheatline and the US flag on the tail. As such, the scheme that has now been pictured on the C-32, which serves as ‘Air Force Two’ when carrying the Vice President, fits this brief quite closely, albeit with a gold strip between the red and blue.
However, a key difference between the initial renderings and the finished product is that the US flag, rather than being a solid rectangle as planned, is, instead, a flowing ‘mid-wave’ design that eagle-eyed viewers have noticed also features on Trump’s private 757. According to The War Zone, the repaint took place at Majors Airport (GVT) in Greenville, Texas, with a spokesperson for the USAF confirming that other jets will also wear this livery:
“The Air Force is implementing a new paint scheme requirement (red, white, gold, and dark blue) for the VC-25B as well as the additional executive airlift fleet, which will include the new 747-8 and four C-32 aircraft.”
The Scheme Has Divided Opinions Online
As noted by AeroTime, the existing light blue paint scheme for executive aircraft at the United States Air Force, as seen in the photograph above on a Boeing C-32 landing at Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) in Scotland, dates back more than 60 years. As such, the thought of making a significant change to this scheme was considered quite radical, and one that Joe Biden was happy to reverse during his tenure as the President of the US.
However, with Trump back in power for a second term, the Republican leader has pushed forward with these plans, with the new scheme having divided opinions in online forums. Indeed, the US flag on the aircraft’s tail has been a particular talking point, given the contrast between the ‘mid-wave’ design and the more straightforward rectangle it replaced, with some Reddit users calling it “tacky” and likening it to a clip art design.
Others have noted that, beyond having the same flag design as Trump’s 757, the newly painted C-32 effectively features the same color scheme as this aircraft, just in reverse, indicating the President’s desire for the aircraft to be seen as ‘his’ rather than his country’s. Another user called the livery “uninspired and bland compared to the elegance of the blue one,” and highlighted its similarity to that of the likes of TWA and North American Airlines.
Air Force One Livery In Peril Again: Trump Vows To “Absolutely” Reverse Biden’s Pick Of Kennedy Blue
Trump’s livery was rejected as it would lead to overheating problems.
The Aircraft In Question Hasn’t Flown Regularly Since Last Spring
According to tracking data made available by Flightradar24, the C-32A that recently received the new livery is 27 years old and bears the registration 99-0003. As shown in the map above, the modified Boeing 757-200 last flew on Wednesday morning, taking an eastbound journey from Greenville to Atlanta.
The best part of the last 12 months has been relatively quiet on the flying front for this aircraft, suggesting that, alongside its repaint, maintenance work may have been carried out. Indeed, its last foreign foray saw it fly from Camp Springs to Rome via Brussels and back, but this took place nine months ago, in May.
