Despite being posted on Feb. 18 after news broke about the reversal to Trump’s preferred VIP livery design, the rendering is in fact identical to one that has been used by Boeing for some time.
After a U.S. Air Force C-32A broke cover with a fresh paint scheme, replacing the traditional egg-blue and white livery, sources from the U.S. Government soon confirmed that the design – based on one first proposed by President Donald Trump in 2019 – would now become the fleet standard for U.S. VIP aircraft, including those used as Air Force One.
Now, on Feb. 18, 2026, a new rendering has been uploaded to the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, or DVIDS, showing a Boeing 747-8 based VC-25B in the scheme. This image, listed as a courtesy photo, appears to have been used as a final confirmation that the dark blue, red, gold, and white livery will find its way onto the next generation of Air Force One aircraft. However, perhaps revealing how long this policy change has been set in stone, the rendering was in fact first issued by Boeing some time ago.
Indeed, The Aviationist used the image last month to cover the news about the expected service entry of the 747-8 interim Presidential aircraft donated by Qatar. Using The Internet Archive it is possible to see that Boeing has been using the image at least as far back as Dec. 18, 2025.
This new livery also matches the model displayed prominently in President Trump’s Oval Office throughout his second term. This replaced a model from his first term, which showed an older variant of the scheme.
The rendering depicts the aircraft flying over the tallest mountain in North America, Alaska’s Denali. This mountain has been of political significance to Trump in his second term, where the decision was made to reverse the Obama administration’s order from 2015 to rename the mountain for the purposes of federal communications from Mount McKinley to Denali. Alaska has officially known the peak as Denali for many decades, and coincidentally the Alaska-based E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft that deployed towards the Middle East in recent days flew using DENALI 01 and DENALI 02 as their callsigns.
Changes to Trump’s Design
Compared to the original design proposed in 2019, the current rendering of the scheme shows a few notable variations.
Firstly, the U.S. flag featured on the tail – previously in the same flat style as the current VC-25A livery – has been updated to a waving design. This style of flag was also featured on the newly repainted C-32A (shown below), and, as we noted in our article on that topic, it is also carried by Donald Trump’s personally owned Boeing 757, N757AF.
C-32A (99-0003) as VADER20 landing at KGVT sporting the new livery https://t.co/fKuTd7EObo pic.twitter.com/7cgJejavzy
— TT-33 operator (@Tt33operator) February 17, 2026
Secondly, the aircraft’s four engines are shown in the standard white colour, while the model and previous renderings show them in a dark blue colour. As speculated by Brian Everstine, Pentagon Editor for Aviation Week, this change may reflect concerns regarding the thermal characteristics of the aircraft in the new paint scheme.
New design (left). First Trump admin (right).
Much larger flag on the tail, different color on the engines–possibly related to the thermal concerns raised a couple years back. pic.twitter.com/e5GPwczads
— Brian Everstine (@beverstine) February 18, 2026
The same thermal concerns have also been raised over some of the more delicate components, including communications antennas and self-protective systems, though most of these are not likely to be modeled in significant detail on these renderings so we could have to wait to see the finished product to find out if any workarounds have had to be developed.
Interim 747
The interim VIP aircraft, currently registered N7478D and formerly owned by the Qatari Royal Family, is planned to carry the new paint scheme too, and based on the present delivery timeframe for the continually delayed VC-25B this may be the only 747-based aircraft in these colours that Trump will have the chance to fly on. With service entry, previously scheduled for 2024, now pushed back to 2028, there will at most be only a few months between the aircraft’s arrival and Trump’s last day in office on Jan. 20, 2029 – providing timelines don’t slip once more.
Thanks to FlightRadar24 for showing this 747-8 departure out of Alliance Fort Worth at 2 p.m.
She ended up running a little late which worked out even better for the lighting.
What makes this one special is that she’s now N7478D. This is the 747 that was gifted to Trump from… pic.twitter.com/uigKGQNQY3
— Tori Mae Fontana (@LensOfMae) August 8, 2025
It’s not known exactly how the configuration of the interim 747-8 will differ to that of the VC-25B, though with the much shorter conversion process there will undoubtedly be many differences. Both aircraft types, unlike the current 747-200B-based VC-25As, will not be capable of refueling in mid air. This capability has never, as far as is publicly known, actually been utilised on the current aircraft – reportedly being considered too risky, even during the events of Sep. 11, 2001. Even for training, VC-25A crews are understood to instead hitch a ride on an E-4B Nightwatch to maintain their currency.
Aerial refueling on the E-4B✈️
One of the coolest things I’ve ever gotten to witness. @DeptofDefense pic.twitter.com/SeJ4Ou2quO
— Royce Chamberlin (@RoyceChamberlin) May 29, 2025
While a certain level of advanced communications and self-defence capability will be required regardless, it’s unlikely that the interim aircraft will come close to meeting the standards of the VC-25B in these areas. Some have raised the notion that the interim aircraft may only serve Presidential travel within the United States, in order to mitigate the potential effects of any shortfalls in capability. Overseas trips would, until replacements are ready, continue to be flown by the venerable VC-25As.
Given the amount of domestic travel undertaken by President Trump, who regularly visits his private residence at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, this will conserve the flight hours of the VC-25A aircraft and reduce wear and tear. Hopefully this would then prevent more situations like that in January where a VC-25A serving as Air Force One was forced to return to the U.S. before crossing the Atlantic to Davos for the World Economic Forum (WEF). The President was quickly transferred from the VC-25A, which had reportedly suffered a “minor electrical issue”, to a C-32A to resume his journey.
