Trump Completes First Flight Aboard New Air Force One
US President Donald Trump has completed his first official journey aboard the newly introduced VC-25B Bridge presidential aircraft.
The Boeing 747-8 departed Joint Base Andrews in Maryland carrying the president. As Trump was on board, the aircraft operated under the “Air Force One” call sign, marking its first official presidential mission.
During the flight, the current VC-25A aircraft bearing tail number 92-9000 operated as a backup under the call sign “SAM 47.” The VC-25B Bridge is intended to reduce the operational burden on the ageing VC-25A fleet and serve as an interim solution until Boeing delivers the permanent VC-25B aircraft.
The VC-25B Bridge was transferred to the Presidential Airlift Group in June and subsequently began acceptance flights to verify its safety, communications and mission systems before entering active presidential service. Trump also inspected the aircraft at Joint Base Andrews on June 19.
The aircraft is based on a Boeing 747-8 gifted to the United States by Qatar and extensively modified for presidential operations. The donation and subsequent use of the aircraft have prompted legal, ethical and security-related debate in the United States.
