President Trump bid farewell to a 35-year-old Boeing 747 serving as Air Force One on Thursday, as the Trump administration prepares to replace it with a Qatari-donated Boeing 747-8 that is nearing delivery this summer, marking the end of an era for one of the world’s most iconic aircraft.
Top White House officials said goodbye to the aging presidential jet on June 18, 2026, according to reporting from the Washington Post. The aircraft, known by its tail number SAM 29000 and designated a VC-25A, has carried U.S. presidents around the world for 35 years—since 1990, when it first flew as Air Force One under President George H.W. Bush, according to Britannica.
The departure of the current Air Force One comes as the U.S. Air Force has confirmed that the Qatar-gifted Boeing 747-8, formally designated the VC-25B Bridge, is on track for delivery by summer 2026, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. The $400 million aircraft, a former luxury jet from Qatar’s royal fleet, will serve as an interim presidential transport while Boeing continues work on two purpose-built VC-25B replacement aircraft that have been delayed until 2028, according to Defense News and Arabian Business.
The conversion of the Qatari jet has proceeded rapidly. As of early May 2026, the aircraft had completed modification and flight testing, The War Zone reported. The aircraft was painted in presidential livery and underwent final modifications in June 2026, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. Multiple sources confirmed the aircraft is expected to be operational by the Fourth of July 2026 at the latest, though the exact deployment date has not been publicly announced.
The VC-25A aircraft retiring from service represents a significant chapter in presidential aviation. The two VC-25A jets—SAM 28000 and SAM 29000—have served every president from George H.W. Bush through Donald Trump’s second term. These Boeing 747-200B aircraft became the standard presidential transport in 1990 and 1991, replacing earlier jets that had served since the 1960s.
The Qatari donation addresses an urgent gap in the presidential airlift fleet. Boeing’s replacement VC-25B program has faced years of delays. The two new aircraft were originally scheduled for delivery in 2024 but are now not expected until mid-2028, according to multiple defense sources. The interim bridge aircraft from Qatar fills this gap, allowing the aging VC-25A fleet to be retired while the permanent replacements are completed.
Sources
- The Washington Post — Trump’s final ride in the old Air Force One on June 18, 2026, as the administration prepares for the Qatari replacement
- Britannica — VC-25A aircraft entered service in 1990-1991 and have served as Air Force One for 35 years
- Air & Space Forces Magazine — VC-25B Bridge aircraft expected delivery by summer 2026, intended as interim presidential aircraft while Boeing completes permanent replacements
- Defense News — Boeing VC-25B deliveries delayed to 2028; Qatari aircraft on track for summer delivery
- Arabian Business — Boeing VC-25B aircraft due in 2028, four years behind schedule
- The War Zone — Ex-Qatari aircraft completed modification and flight testing by May 2026
