President Donald Trump has become the last commander in chief to fly aboard one of the iconic Boeing 747-200 aircraft that has served as Air Force One for more than three decades, bringing a historic chapter in presidential aviation to a close.
The aircraft completed what officials described as its final presidential mission earlier this week, returning Trump to the United States from Europe. The moment prompted tributes from White House staff and longtime aides who reflected on the aircraft’s decades of service transporting American presidents across the globe.
“Well done, good and faithful servant,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung wrote Thursday on X while sharing a photograph of the aircraft. “The Last Ride.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino also paid tribute to the plane, posting a video and expressing gratitude for the role it played during his years of government service.
“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…,” Scavino wrote.
Known officially by the Air Force designation VC-25A, the aircraft has long been among the most recognizable symbols of the American presidency. Two Boeing 747-200 aircraft currently serve in the Air Force One fleet, carrying tail numbers 29000 and 28000.
The aircraft bearing tail number 29000 first entered presidential service in 1990, when President George H.W. Bush became the first commander in chief to fly aboard it. Since then, it has transported multiple presidents on domestic and international trips, serving as a flying White House during times of peace, crisis, and major diplomatic events.
Now, the federal government is preparing for a transition to a new generation of presidential aircraft.
Three Boeing 747-800 jets are currently being outfitted for presidential use. Among them is a luxury aircraft donated by the Qatari government, which the Air Force refers to as a VC-25B and has described as a temporary “bridge” aircraft.
The Air Force indicated in May that the Qatari jet could begin serving as a temporary Air Force One as early as this summer. According to the service, modifications and testing of the aircraft have already been completed.
Military officials say the aircraft is intended to help ease demands on the aging fleet currently used by the president.
“The plane will be used to relieve pressure on the aging VC-25A fleet,” Gen. Dale White, the Department of Defense’s direct reporting portfolio manager for critical major weapons systems, said in a statement released in May.
Even with the arrival of newer aircraft, the current VC-25As are not being retired immediately. An Air Force spokesperson told NBC News last week that the existing planes will remain part of the executive fleet and could still be called upon for presidential travel.
Meanwhile, the two Boeing aircraft originally expected to replace the current fleet have faced repeated delays. Initially scheduled for delivery in 2024, they are now projected to arrive in mid-2028.
When they do enter service, they will feature a dramatically different appearance. The new aircraft are expected to carry a color scheme of red, white, gold, and navy blue, reflecting Trump’s preferred design. The current aircraft, along with previous versions of Air Force One, have traditionally featured a lighter two-tone blue paint scheme.
As one storied aircraft completes its final presidential journey, the transition underscores both the passage of time and the continuing evolution of one of America’s most visible symbols of executive power.
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