Trump Takes Inaugural Flight Aboard Refurbished Air Force One
President Donald Trump made history on Wednesday, taking the inaugural presidential flight aboard the newly refurbished VC-25B “Bridge” aircraft — a Boeing 747-8i donated by the government of Qatar and converted into a presidential transport. The flight carried Trump from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to Medora, North Dakota, for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.
A Historic First Flight
The aircraft, valued at $400 million, represents a new chapter for the presidential fleet, replacing the aging VC-25A (Boeing 747-200) that has served as Air Force One for over three decades. Speaking to reporters before departure, Trump hailed the plane as “maybe the greatest commercial plane ever built,” according to Fox News.
“I’m excited about the first flight. It’s something nobody’s ever seen anything like it,” Trump said. “They just completed it. They made it appropriate for a president. That means the security and all of the different bells and whistles they put on — very complex stuff.”
The aircraft, designated VC-25B by the U.S. Air Force with serial number 25-3300, was originally built for Qatar’s VVIP fleet and carried Qatari registrations A7-HJA and A7-HJB. Defense contractor L3Harris performed the conversion in just 10 months, a timeline that The War Zone noted has raised questions about whether the aircraft can meet the full spectrum of Air Force One mission requirements.
The Qatari Gift and Controversy
The aircraft was gifted by Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani after Trump approached Qatar about borrowing the plane for a “limited period of time.” Instead, the emir offered it as a gift, saying he wanted “to make a contribution to the country.”
However, the gift has drawn significant bipartisan criticism. The Guardian reported that Democrats have described the arrangement as the “definition of corruption,” raising conflict of interest questions given Trump’s business dealings and Qatar’s lobbying interests in Washington. While the aircraft itself was gifted, conversion costs have been estimated at up to $1 billion, with critics arguing the expense diverts funding from other defense priorities.
Trump defended the arrangement, telling reporters: “Frankly, we couldn’t build a plane like this because we wouldn’t be willing to spend the kind of money necessary. They spent top dollars.”
Security and Conversion
Jason Lambert, President of ISR at L3Harris, addressed security concerns about the former foreign VIP jet in an interview with The War Zone. “One of the first things we have to do on this aircraft, in conjunction with the U.S. government, is ensure it is safe,” Lambert said. “I can assure you that was very effectively managed to the highest degree.”
Lambert explained that the aircraft underwent extensive “electronic scrubbing” to ensure no surveillance devices remained, with experts in cybersecurity and electronic warfare examining “every square inch of that plane.” The Air Force has said upgrades focused on operational readiness rather than aesthetics, with the interior “minimally changed.”
According to CBS News, the aircraft features large conference tables, leather seating, and a press cabin with lie-flat seats featuring massage functions and individual TV screens. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung shared interior photos on social media.
The New Livery
The aircraft sports a new red, white, and blue paint scheme preferred by Trump, departing from the Kennedy-era design that had been standard for 60 years. Trump remarked that the previous aircraft “really didn’t look appropriate for our country” when parked next to modern planes.
Destination: Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
The inaugural flight’s destination was Medora, North Dakota, site of the newly opened Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the former North Dakota governor, arrived with a ceremonial Rough Riders horseback escort before touring the presidential center.
Trump signed the “Great American Outdoors Act Reauthorization,” which continues approximately $1.9 billion per year in funding for deferred maintenance on public lands. An Interior Department spokesperson said the legislation would “accelerate long-overdue infrastructure improvements, restore our most treasured public lands, and ensure America’s iconic places continue to thrive.”
What’s Next
The VC-25B Bridge aircraft is expected to remain in service until two fully-equipped VC-25B jets are delivered by Boeing, now projected for 2027-2028 at a cost of approximately $5 billion. The Bridge aircraft is scheduled to fly over Washington, D.C., as part of July 4th weekend celebrations. Trump has stated the Qatari-gifted plane will eventually be donated to his future presidential library.
One of the Air Force’s two existing VC-25A aircraft served as a backup for Wednesday’s flight, confirming that the older fleet remains operational as the transition to the new generation of presidential aircraft continues.