U.S. Air Force Updates Presidential and VIP Fleet Aircraft Paint Colors to Reflect Current Administration's Preferences
The U.S. Air Force is updating the exterior paint colors of its presidential and VIP fleet aircraft from the Kennedy-era blue and white to President Trump's preferred palette. The new design features dark navy blue, deep red, and gold colors. The classic robin's egg blue scheme is being replaced with the new red, dark blue, and white paint job on planes like the donated Qatari jet and two Boeing aircraft being converted for Air Force One.
The repainting process is underway as the aircraft come in for scheduled repairs and maintenance. The new color scheme is required for Air Force One jets and other executive fleet planes, including the C-32 aircraft and the new 747-8i from Qatar. President Biden canceled the previous paint design proposed by President Trump for the VC-25Bs, the Defense Department's version of the Boeing 747 airliner.
The updated paint requirement also applies to the smaller C-32 aircraft, which transport high-priority personnel like the first lady and top cabinet officials, and serve as Air Force Two when the vice president is onboard. Contractor L3 Harris is upgrading the Air Force Two planes in Texas, while Boeing is working on a new generation of Air Force One planes under a 2018 deal. The refurbished Qatar-donated plane is expected to be ready for use as Air Force One by this summer, with the first C-32 already painted and set for delivery to the Air Force soon.
Images of the C-32 aircraft painted in the new color scheme have been reported by The War Zone, a defense news and analysis website. The transition to the updated paint colors reflects the changing preferences of the current administration and the ongoing modernization efforts within the U.S. Air Force's presidential and VIP fleet.