The US Air Force will apply this design to the VC-25B program, the designation for the Boeing 747-8I aircraft that will serve as Air Force One, the specialized aircraft for the US President.

Four smaller Boeing 757-200 aircraft, designated C-32, used to transport the Vice President and other senior US officials, will also receive the new paint scheme during routine maintenance.

"The first C-32 has completed repainting and is expected to be delivered to the Air Force in a few months," a US Air Force spokesperson confirmed to CNN.

Air Force One, in its two-tone white and blue livery, in Los Angeles, California, on 24/1. Photo: *Reuters*

The new design marks a significant departure from the white and blue paint scheme, which has been in use since President John F. Kennedy's era. During his first term from 2017 to 2021, President Donald Trump had proposed changing Air Force One's colors to red, white, and blue.

The Air Force canceled this color option in 2022 after determining that dark colors could cause the aircraft's fuselage to absorb more solar heat, increasing internal temperatures and potentially leading to unforeseen issues.

The US Air Force did not specify how the new four-color design addresses these concerns about heat absorption.

The Air Force One program has experienced multiple delays and cost overruns since Boeing signed a 3.9 billion USD fixed-price contract in 2018 to deliver two modified 747-8s to replace the current fleet. Boeing is scheduled to deliver the first VC-25B in mid-2028, coinciding with the end of President Trump's second term.

In 12/2025, the US Air Force acquired two additional used 747-8 aircraft for 400 million USD, intended for crew training and to secure a source of spare parts prior to the conversion.

By Nhu Tam (Reuters, CNN)