President Donald Trump was the last commander-in-chief to fly aboard one of the aging Boeing 747-200s used as Air Force One, as the aircraft made its final flight returning him from Europe earlier this week. The plane, designated VC-25A by the Air Force, ends a 35-year run transporting U.S. presidents.
White House communications director Steven Cheung posted a photo of the plane on X early Thursday with the message: “Well done, good and faithful servant. The Last Ride.” Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino also shared a farewell video on social media, writing: “I have been fortunate to fly around the world on this iconic plane for 5 ½ years — of the 35 years it has been serving the U.S. Presidents…THANK YOU…”
Two of these heavily customized Boeing 747-200s have been in service: tail codes 29000, which is now retiring, and 28000. The first president to fly on 29000 was George H.W. Bush in 1990. Trump’s final trip marks the end of an era for a fleet that has seen decades of diplomatic travel and crises.
The Air Force is now working to replace these aircraft with three new Boeing 747-800s, which are being outfitted as presidential planes. One of these is a luxury jet donated by the Qatari government, which the service expects to serve as a temporary Air Force One as soon as this summer. In May, the Air Force said it had finished modifying and testing that plane. General Dale White, Department of Defense direct reporting portfolio manager for Critical Major Weapon Systems, stated that the Qatari-donated jet will “relieve pressure on the aging VC-25A fleet.”
The two other new planes from Boeing have faced repeated delays. Originally scheduled for delivery in 2024, they are now expected to arrive by mid-2028. The new aircraft will feature a color scheme of red, white, gold, and navy blue — a preference of President Trump — a departure from the two-toned lighter blue used on current and past planes.
The retirement comes amid broader debates about defense spending and presidential travel logistics. Trump’s administration has faced scrutiny on multiple fronts, including allegations of unprecedented graft and controversial moves on Iran, but the Air Force One transition is a routine operational milestone. The VC-25A’s final flight underscores the long timeline and high cost of maintaining the presidential fleet.
For now, the two 747-200s have logged countless hours shuttling presidents to global summits and crisis zones. Scavino’s tribute highlighted the personal connection many staffers feel to the plane. As the new 747-800s prepare to take over, the old guard gets a quiet send-off from the White House.
