The US Air Force on February 17 (US time) announced the deployment of a new paint color design for the flight team specializing in serving senior leaders, including Air Force One. The new color scheme includes four tones: red, white, dark blue and yellow.
This design will be applied to the VC-25B program, the designation of the Boeing 747-8I series will take on the role of Air Force One, a specialized aircraft serving the US President. In addition, four Boeing 757-200 aircraft coded C-32, usually carrying the Vice President and senior officials, will also be repainted during periodic maintenance.
A US Air Force spokesman confirmed that the first C-32 has completed the repainting process and is expected to be delivered in the next few months.
This change marks a significant adjustment compared to the white and blue color scheme maintained since President John F. Kennedy's term. In his first term in 2017-2021, Donald Trump once proposed switching to red, white and blue tones.
That option was cancelled in 2022 after the US Air Force determined that dark colors could cause the fuselage to absorb more heat under sunlight, increasing temperature and posing technical risks. The agency has not yet announced the new four-color design that will address concerns related to heat absorption.
Air Force One has faced repeated delays and incurred costs since Boeing signed a package contract worth 3.9 billion USD in 2018 to supply two converted 747-8s to replace the current squadron. According to the plan, the first VC-25B will be handed over in mid-2028, when Mr. Trump is about to end his second term.
In December 2025, the US Air Force bought two more used 747-8s for 400 million USD. These aircraft are used to train flight crews and ensure spare parts before switching configurations.
The move to change the paint color reflects an adjustment in the program to modernize the fleet specializing in serving US leaders, amidst the context that progress and costs are still issues of concern.
