politics
Trump's Air Force One Designs Echo TWA, US Airways, Obama's Charter, and Other Past Planes
If you think President Donald Trump’s designs for the paint job on the new aircraft that will serve as Air Force One look familiar, you are not alone.
TL;DR
- The new Air Force One paint scheme, selected by President Trump, features red, white, gold, and dark blue.
- This design is nearly identical to a previous proposal by Trump and bears striking resemblances to the former livery of Trans World Airlines (TWA).
- Comparisons have also been made to paint jobs used by US Airways, Donald Trump's private Boeing 757, and charter aircraft used by George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
- The Biden administration had previously reversed Trump's design in favor of blue and white, but Trump resurrected his preferred scheme after leaving office.
- The new livery will be applied to two Boeing 747-800s being modified under the VC-25B program.
- The darker blue paint could absorb more sunlight, potentially requiring more robust cooling systems.
- Changes to the paint scheme would reopen the $4.3 billion fixed-price contract, likely increasing costs.
- Modifications to the aircraft, including security and telecommunications upgrades, are ongoing, with timelines extending to mid-2028 for some planes.