The Liberty Daily 
(The Epoch Times)—Members of President Donald Trump’s White House have bid farewell to a long-serving aircraft frequently used as Air Force One as they prepare to welcome another.
They shared their thoughts on June 18, during the plane’s final flight, while returning to the United States from France, where Trump attended the G7 and signed a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran. The jet, a heavily modified Boeing 747-200B, is one of three in the current fleet.
“Well done, good and faithful servant,” White House Communications Director Steve Cheung wrote in a post with a picture of the plane. “The Last Ride.”
“I was honored to be aboard Air Force One last night on its final flight,” Ambassador Monica Crowley, chief of protocol, said on X, also with a picture of the airplane. “For nearly 40 years, it carried every President since George H.W. Bush. It wasn’t the most modern plane, but it was cozy. And every flight with President Trump was incredibly special. Farewell and thank you, SAM 2900. You served all of us well.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino posted on X a video of the plane, writing that he has “been fortunate to fly around the world on this iconic plane for 5 1/2 years — of the 35 years it has been serving US presidents… THANK YOU…”
Three Boeing 747-8 aircraft are being prepared to serve as the next generation of presidential planes under the VC-25B program. Among them is a luxury aircraft donated by the Qatari government, which will act as a temporary Air Force One until Boeing completes upgrades on two other planes, a project expected to take roughly two more years.
“The VC-25B Bridge aircraft will soon join the active executive airlift fleet alongside the VC-25A and C-32,” an Air Force spokesperson told The Epoch Times. “The Air Force anticipates the first VC-25B to be delivered in mid-2028.”
However, the Air Force announced in May that the Qatari jet is scheduled to enter service this summer after all required modifications and flight testing were successfully completed.
According to Gen. Dale White, manager of the Department of War’s reporting portfolio, the team accomplished a task many believed was impossible while maintaining a strong focus on safety, security, and the importance of the mission. Before entering service, the aircraft will receive a red, white, and blue paint scheme.
White explained that the temporary aircraft program was created to provide an immediate solution and reduce strain on the aging VC-25A fleet currently used by the president. The jet will fill this role until the fully upgraded VC-25B aircraft are delivered sometime around the end of Trump’s second term.
The VC-25B program has faced significant delays. Although the aircraft were originally scheduled for delivery in 2024, they are now not expected to be flight-ready until the middle of 2028.
The Air Force stated that the interim aircraft will meet a vital short-term need, ensuring uninterrupted presidential air transport operations while supporting the transition to the future fleet.
