That terse salute, posted on X on June 18 alongside a photo of tail number 92-9000, helped trigger a viral wave of reports and social posts saying a VC-25A Air Force One jet had been retired. The U.S. Air Force moved quickly to correct the record: both VC-25A aircraft remain part of the active executive airlift fleet and will continue to fly in the immediate future.
U.S. Air Force confirmation: both VC-25As remain active
An Air Force spokesperson told TWZ that “the VC-25B Bridge aircraft will soon join the active executive airlift fleet alongside the VC-25A and C-32,” and explicitly answered “yes” when asked whether that meant both VC-25As would remain in the service’s active executive airlift fleet. That clarification aligns with NBC News reporting from last week that, even after the Bridge joins the rotation this summer, the VC-25As “will continue to serve in the executive fleet and could still be used by the president as Air Force One,” cited to an unnamed U.S. official.
VC-25B “Bridge” aircraft: conversion, schedule, and paint
The so-called VC-25B Bridge is a converted ex‑Qatari VVIP Boeing 747‑8i that the Air Force is using to relieve strain on the aging VC-25A fleet. The service has said the Bridge will enter rotation “soon,” though no firm timeline was provided to TWZ. The Air Force is also acquiring two fully equipped VC-25Bs from Boeing and currently expects delivery of the first of those in mid‑2028.
The Bridge has already received its new livery and was undergoing “final modifications” ahead of formal entry into service, an Air Force spokesperson told TWZ. Media reports have tied the Bridge’s debut to high‑profile July events — NBC News said the jet could be used for a planned Mount Rushmore trip on July 3, and Reuters reported the ex‑Qatari 747 might appear during a July 4 flyover — but the Air Force has not confirmed a public debut date.
VC-25A sustainment: life‑extension, spares, and supply challenges
The Air Force’s proposed FY2027 budget states that on‑going VC-25A modifications are intended “to extend the service life until the VC-25B aircraft are fielded.” The two VC-25As and four E‑4B Nightwatch command posts are based on the 747‑200 airframe, a model the source describes as increasingly difficult and expensive to operate and sustain. The piece notes that 200‑series 747s have “all but evaporated from service worldwide,” supply chains are strained, and Boeing shuttered the 747 line in 2023.
To shore up sustainment, the Air Force has bought two additional 747‑8is from Lufthansa: one has been delivered and is being used as a trainer for aircrew and maintainers, while the other will serve as a source of spare parts. The service has also acknowledged the practical possibility of moving at least one VC-25A into a more reserve status for lower‑risk trips or, ultimately, cannibalizing tail number 92‑9000 (commonly called 29000) for spares if necessary.
Operational security and capability questions about the Bridge
TWZ and others have highlighted concerns about whether a former foreign‑operated VVIP 747‑8i can support the “full spectrum” of Air Force One missions. The VC-25As have hardened features — the source notes shielding against electromagnetic pulses (EMP) and other systems that enable operation “even in the midst of a nuclear exchange.” Operational security concerns about using an ex‑Qatari jet have been raised publicly, though U.S. officials have downplayed those risks. The Air Force has framed the Bridge program as a focused effort to “deliver a bridge capability as soon as possible to relieve pressure on the aging VC‑25A fleet,” in the words of Gen. Dale White, Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Critical Major Weapon Systems.
What this means for President Donald Trump, the U.S. Air Force, and aircrew/maintainers
- President Donald Trump: The Bridge could become the president’s preferred Air Force One option once it is in rotation; reporting and Air Force statements indicate the Bridge may be used on near‑term trips.
- The U.S. Air Force: Keeping both VC‑25As active preserves the current practice of using multiple aircraft on international trips so one can act as a backup. The Bridge’s entry will allow the Air Force to redistribute risk and potentially shift a VC‑25A toward reserve taskings.
- Aircrew and maintainers: The first Lufthansa 747‑8i delivered to the Air Force is already serving as a trainer on the ground, and the other Lufthansa airframe will be a source of spares — concrete steps aimed at building sustainment capacity while newer VC‑25Bs are still months or years away.
The immediate takeaway is straightforward: despite viral social posts and commemorative messages about tail number 92‑9000, the Air Force says both VC‑25As remain in service. The Bridge is close to joining the fleet and will ease short‑term pressures, but the dual realities of 747‑200 aging airframes and a staggered VC‑25B delivery schedule mean the Air Force will keep working a careful balancing act between sustainment, training, and operational readiness in the months ahead.
