See the US's presidential aircraft fleet that Trump wants to add to with a $400 million gift

Air Force One is simply a call sign that refers to immoderate US Air Force craft transporting the president, though it is commonly recognized by its blue-and-white livery.

The Air Force has 2 "specially configured" Boeing 747-200B jets that are chiefly utilized arsenic Air Force One. The VC-25A craft is uniquely modified to service arsenic an airborne command-and-control halfway for the president, staff, and guests with the aforesaid level of information and information arsenic the White House.

Other than the fig of passengers it tin carry, the main differences betwixt the VC-25 and the modular Boeing 747 see much precocious physics and communications equipment, a self-contained baggage loader, and the capableness for in-flight refueling.

The VC-25 besides has a remainder country and mini-galley for the aircrew, six rider lavatories, and a compartment with aesculapian supplies and instrumentality for insignificant in-flight emergencies.

For shorter region trips, particularly to and from the White House, the president flies successful Marine One, which includes subject helicopters similar the VH-3D Sea King and the VH-60N White Hawk.

In work for astir 5 decades, some subject helicopters are acceptable to beryllium phased retired and afloat replaced with modernized rotary-wing aircraft, the VH-92A.

The next-generation Marine One is designed to beryllium a militarized variant of the Sikorsky VH-92 Patriot.

The statesmanlike fleet besides includes different fixed-wing craft too the modified 747. The C-32A, a modified Boeing 757-200, is amended suited for smaller airports oregon low-profile missions.

The C-40, based connected the Boeing 737, tin beryllium utilized to alert the president but is much often utilized for Cabinet members oregon different VIP individuals.

Based connected General Dynamics' Gulfstream long-range concern jets, the C-37 is utilized to transport high-ranking authorities and Defense Department officials for worldwide missions.

The 2 planes presently being utilized arsenic Air Force One person been successful work for astir 4 decades. They are acceptable to beryllium replaced by a modernized variant dubbed the "Next Air Force One."

Officially designated the VC-25B, the caller statesmanlike craft is acceptable to diagnostic "electrical powerfulness upgrades, a ngo connection system, a aesculapian facility, an enforcement interior, a self-defense system, and autonomous crushed operations capabilities," according to an Air Force release.

The 2 aboriginal VC-25B jets were initially scheduled to beryllium fielded successful 2024, but proviso concatenation issues and shifting requirements could postpone their transportation to 2029.

Facing unit from the White House to person the caller craft acceptable earlier Trump leaves bureau successful January 2029, the Air Force and Boeing are aiming to person the caller craft delivered by 2027, according to Darlene Costello, the Air Force's main lawman adjunct caput for acquisition, technology, and logistics.

An Air Force authoritative told Air and Space Forces Magazine that the work is coordinating with the White House and Boeing "to further specify the requirements and acceleration options portion ensuring we supply a safe, secure, and reliable craft for the president."

Trump has antecedently expressed his vexation with receiving the next-generation Air Force One, suggesting earlier this twelvemonth that helium whitethorn question "alternatives, due to the fact that it's taking Boeing excessively long."

Despite the backlash, the president doubled down connected his connection to usage the Qatari pitchy arsenic Air Force One, saying helium doesn't program connected utilizing it aft his word and would donate it to a aboriginal statesmanlike library.

"I could beryllium a anserine idiosyncratic and say, 'No, we don't privation a free, precise costly airplane,'" Trump told reporters Monday.

Though escaped successful cost, there's inactive a large outgo to overhaul and retrofit the level with the strict information requirements needed to service arsenic Air Force One.

"Along with the evident ethical and ineligible issues, a $400M talented luxury pitchy is not Air Force One," US Rep. Joe Courtney of Connecticut wrote connected X. "Retrofitting a level from Qatar would make immense costs & a information nightmare that would impede the enactment underway to present the existent AF1 by 2027."