Overview
- President Donald Trump unveiled the converted Boeing 747-8i at Joint Base Andrews after the aircraft arrived and was accepted by the Air Force, with officials announcing on Friday that it will begin commissioning flights before carrying the president.
- The plane is designated the VC-25B Bridge and will operate alongside the two existing VC-25A jets as a temporary presidential transport until Boeing-built VC-25B replacements enter service, now projected around mid‑2028.
- Air Force and Pentagon officials say conversion and security work stayed under $400 million, but independent aviation experts and reporting estimate the total overhaul including classified systems could exceed $1 billion, creating a sharp cost dispute.
- Lawmakers and analysts from both parties have raised ethical and national security concerns about accepting a foreign-government gift for presidential use, and the White House says the jet will transfer to Trump’s future presidential library after his term.
- The handover follows the retirement of the long-serving VC-25A fleet and highlights broader program issues: Boeing’s delays have forced new screening and modification procedures for used aircraft and could change how the military sustains presidential airlift in the future.