Us aviation geeks tend to be more interested in aircraft liveries than the average person. Along those lines, the United States Air Force jets that carry the country’s top leaders will soon be getting a new look, inspired by Trump’s personal plane.
Top US Air Force jets will get red, white, gold, and blue livery
It has been confirmed that part of the fleet of planes used for Air Force VIP transport will progressively be getting a new paint scheme. Perhaps most significantly, keep in mind that Trump will soon be getting a new Boeing 747-8 that will act as Air Force One, which was a gift from Qatar.
This plane will ultimately go into Trump’s Presidential Library, and is intended as an interim solution, until the two purpose-built modified Boeing 747-8 jets, which are designated as VC-25Bs, are delivered (they’re years behind schedule and billions over budget, given all the modifications required).
Those won’t be the only planes getting the new livery, though. The Air Force also has eight modified Boeing 757-200s, designated as C-32As, which are used for VIP transport, including of the vice president and other top White House officials. Four of those eight planes are expected to get the new livery, and the first of those has just been repainted.
Going as far back as the Kennedy administration, these planes have been painted in a white and baby blue livery. However, Trump has decided that he wants these planes painted in a red, white, gold, and dark blue livery.
This is obviously inspired by Trump’s personal Boeing 757-200, in the past referred to as “Trump Force One.” Obviously it’s a bit different, but I think we all know where the gold inspiration is coming from. 😉
Trump’s new Boeing 747-8 is expected to be in service as soon as this summer, while the four Boeing 757-200s that are expected to get the new livery will get that work done during scheduled maintenance. As mentioned above, the first plane has now been repainted, and it should be flying again in the coming months.
Trump has been wanting this new livery since his first term
The concept of Trump pushing for a new livery for Air Force One and other prominent Air Force jets is nothing new. Trump first presented the new livery during his first term, in 2019.
At the time, Trump said that “Air Force One is going to be incredible,” and “it’s going to be the top of the line, the top in the world, and it’s going to be red, white and blue, which I think is appropriate.”
However, in 2023, Biden reversed Trump’s plan to introduce a totally different livery on the upcoming new Air Force One jets. Biden chose to stick to tradition with the new design, with only some minor changes compared to the previous livery, intended to make it look more modern.
The Biden administration also claimed it was rejecting Trump’s proposed livery for another reason — a thermal study concluded that the dark blue in the design would require additional FAA qualification testing for several commercial components, due to the added heat in certain environments.
Of course now we’re seeing Trump go back to what he wanted the first time, and reversing Biden’s reversal.
Bottom line
It seems that Trump will be getting his wish in terms of the new paint scheme for Air Force One, which will be red, white, gold, and blue. Not only that, but other top Air Force jets used for VIP transport will also get this new livery. This is quite a departure from the old baby blue and white livery, which has been used by the government for decades.
What do you make of the new Air Force One livery?