Kai Greet -TheAviationist.com
VC-25B Bridge aircraft arrives at Joint Base Andrews, begins commissioning flights. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)
SHARE
After it completed a secretive nighttime flight to Joint Base Andrews earlier in June, the VC-25B Bridge aircraft – a rapidly converted 747-8 gifted by Qatar – has now been officially shown off by the U.S. Air Force in its service paint scheme for the very first time.
The VC-25B will now begin a series of certification flights ahead of its official entry into service with the 89th Airlift Wing’s Presidential Airlift Group.
In their official press release, the U.S. Air Force confirmed that the aircraft’s comparatively rapid (compared to the two fully-fledged VC-25Bs being converted by Boeing) conversion process was aided by keeping the interior ‘minimally changed’. As a former VIP jet operated by the state of Qatar, the aircraft’s interior already features many luxury accommodations for passengers – in fact, even moreso than the VC-25A, which leans further towards function than absolute luxury.
After it completed a secretive nighttime flight to Joint Base Andrews earlier in June, the VC-25B Bridge aircraft – a rapidly converted 747-8 gifted by Qatar – has now been officially shown off by the U.S. Air Force in its service paint scheme for the very first time.
The VC-25B will now begin a series of certification flights ahead of its official entry into service with the 89th Airlift Wing’s Presidential Airlift Group.In their official press release, the U.S. Air Force confirmed that the aircraft’s comparatively rapid (compared to the two fully-fledged VC-25Bs being converted by Boeing) conversion process was aided by keeping the interior ‘minimally changed’. As a former VIP jet operated by the state of Qatar, the aircraft’s interior already features many luxury accommodations for passengers – in fact, even moreso than the VC-25A, which leans further towards function than absolute luxury.
Rumors have circulated that the VC-25B Bridge’s first Presidential flight could be the planned trip to Mount Rushmore as part of the U.S. 250th Anniversary celebrations.
Speaking at the aircraft’s unveiling, President Trump confirmed plans to include the jet in the 4th July flyover of Washington D.C., alongside F-22 Raptors, F-35 Lightning IIs, and other military aircraft.