WASHINGTON (AFNS) —
President of the United States Joe Biden has selected the livery design for the “Next Air Force One,” VC-25B, a design that will closely resemble the livery of the current Air Force One, VC-25A, while also modernizing for the 21st century.
While accounting for the VC-25B’s larger 747-8i aircraft, the VC-25B livery has three primary differences with the VC-25A’s livery. The light blue on VC-25B is a slightly deeper, more modern tone than VC-25A’s robin’s egg blue. Additionally, the VC-25B engines will use the darker blue from the cockpit area vice the VC-25A’s robin’s egg blue. Finally, there is no polished metal section on the VC-25B because modern commercial aircraft skin alloys don’t allow for it.
A formal contractual decision for a VC-25B livery was not required until this year for Boeing to conduct engineering, certification preparation, and supplier selection activities for the program. The Air Force previously displayed a red, white, and blue livery for the VC-25B because it had been publicly expressed as a preferred livery in 2019. A thermal study later concluded the dark blue in the design would require additional Federal Aviation Administration qualification testing for several commercial components due to the added heat in certain environments.
The VC-25B Program will deliver a new fleet of aircraft to enable POTUS to execute the duties of Head of State, Chief Executive, and Commander in Chief. The aircraft will be uniquely modified to provide the POTUS, staff, and guests with safe and reliable air transportation with the equivalent level of communications capability and security available in the White House.
The VC-25B aircraft will replace the current VC-25A fleet, which faces capability gaps, rising maintenance costs, and parts obsolescence. Modifications to the aircraft will include electrical power upgrades, a mission communication system, a medical facility, an executive interior, a self-defense system, and autonomous ground operations capabilities.
VC-25B deliveries are projected for 2027 for the first aircraft and 2028 for the second aircraft. The Air Force remains postured to keep VC-25A available and mission-ready until delivery of the VC-25B.
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
Wow such bold and assertive color and font choice, it does evokes subtle fragility and weakness at all.
Yes, a font modeled on the Declaration of Independence certainly does evoke fragility and weakness.
Shame that there’s no polished metal section anymore, but otherwise the mostly classic livery looks good. Glad they’re keeping that up.
I know it is only a paint job on a plane, but this and epic fail and a total lack of imagination in Washington DC. This “failure of imagination” is the reason why the US is stuck in the mud. No ability to think critically or outside the box of Washington group think and that is why so many problems have just gotten worse not better over the years. Plenty of blame to go around here.
Please expand. What was the failure of imagination? Recognizing history? Would you prefer a rainbow plane? Maybe something in red and gold? Do tell?
Maybe a escalator so dip shit don’t fall down the steps.
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Given the “Elect Methuselah” trend that shows no signs of slowing, that money might’ve been more prudently spent on an escalator with handrails…or go all in with a stair lift where at least the old codger can wave to the crowds real or imagined. Then again, with the economy we’ve got, maybe just bolt a couple of hangers to the fuselage for the POTUS belay.
THIS
They should have painted it disruptive colors to distract from POTUS falling up the stairs
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