New paint design for ‘Next Air Force One’
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --
President of the United States Joe Biden
has selected the livery design for the "Next Air Force One," VC-25B, a
design that will closely resemble the livery of the current Air Force
One, VC-25A, while also modernizing for the 21st century.
While accounting for the VC-25B’s larger 747-8i aircraft, the VC-25B
livery has three primary differences with the VC-25A’s livery. The light
blue on VC-25B is a slightly deeper, more modern tone than VC-25A's
robin's egg blue. Additionally, the VC-25B engines will use the darker
blue from the cockpit area vice the VC-25A’s robin’s egg blue. Finally,
there is no polished metal section on the VC-25B because modern
commercial aircraft skin alloys don't allow for it.
A formal contractual decision for a VC-25B livery was not required until
this year for Boeing to conduct engineering, certification preparation,
and supplier selection activities for the program. The Air Force
previously displayed a red, white, and blue livery for the VC-25B
because it had been publicly expressed as a preferred livery in 2019. A
thermal study later concluded the dark blue in the design would require
additional Federal Aviation Administration qualification testing for several commercial components due to the added heat in certain environments.
The VC-25B Program will deliver a new fleet of aircraft to enable POTUS
to execute the duties of Head of State, Chief Executive, and Commander
in Chief. The aircraft will be uniquely modified to provide the POTUS,
staff, and guests with safe and reliable air transportation with the
equivalent level of communications capability and security available in
the White House.
The VC-25B aircraft will replace the current VC-25A fleet, which faces
capability gaps, rising maintenance costs, and parts obsolescence.
Modifications to the aircraft will include electrical power upgrades, a
mission communication system, a medical facility, an executive interior,
a self-defense system, and autonomous ground operations capabilities.
VC-25B deliveries are projected for 2027 for the first aircraft and 2028
for the second aircraft. The Air Force remains postured to keep VC-25A
available and mission-ready until delivery of the VC-25B.
