President Biden recently selected a new design for Air Force One after discarding the one former President Trump chose during his administration.
Biden brings in new design
An Air Force release from Friday states that Biden has chosen a design for the “Next Air Force One,” which will be a VC-25B aircraft, that will resemble the design for the current VC-25A aircraft for the next iteration.
The release stated that the new design will account for the VC-25B being larger than the VC-25A and have three main differences.
It will have a light blue tone on the bottom of the plane that is “slightly deeper” than the current “robin’s egg blue.”
It will also use a darker blue in the area surrounding the cockpit and not include a polished metal section because the skin alloy on modern commercial aircrafts do not allow it. The release states the VC-25A has faced gaps in its capabilities and rising maintenance costs and some of its parts have become obsolete. The new VC-25B will have upgrades in electrical power, a mission communications system, a medical facility, an executive interior, a system for self-defense and autonomous ground operations capabilities.
Biden’s decision comes after his administration set aside the design that former President Trump chose for Air Force One that featured a red, white and blue color scheme. A review from the Air Force determined Trump’s design would raise costs and take more time for the updated aircrafts that were already behind schedule.
Trump discarded a robin’s egg blue and white design from the Kennedy administration at the time he made his decision. The Air Force release states that the VC-25B aircraft delivery is expected in 2027, and the second one is expected in 2028. It said the military branch is prepared to keep the VC-25A aircraft available and operational until the VC-25Bs are ready.
President Biden scraps Trump’s plan for a red, white, and blue color scheme for Air Force One. Instead the new fleet will retain the traditional blue and white look. pic.twitter.com/kmRZyE7Fin
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) March 11, 2023
