The converted Boeing 747-200 aircraft (known as the VC-25A) that bear the callsign ‘Air Force One’ when operating flights with the American President on board are among the most recognizable planes in the sky. However, they are not getting any younger, and a replacement is planned in the form of the VC-25B (based on the 747-8). Unfortunately, the US Government has long been frustrated by delays, forcing it to take another route.
Specifically, it has been gifted a ‘stopgap’ 747-8 by Qatar, which has been in the news of late due to beginning its test flight program. Avgeeks around the world have been tracking the VIP quadjet online as it takes to the skies over the US time and time again under the striking callsign ‘Vader 01.’ The news comes ahead of the stopgap jet’s anticipated entry into service, which is reportedly now set to take place as early as this summer.
Test Flights Have Commenced
According to historical tracking data made available by Flightradar24, the ex-Qatari Air Force One stand-in bears the registration 25-3300. At the time of writing, four test flights involving the luxurious double-decker aircraft have been logged by the tracking website, with the first having taken place on Friday, April 17, 2026. The second, as detailed in the map above, took to the skies a day later, on April 18, and was in the air for over four hours.
Indeed, this Saturday evening affair saw the jet take off from Majors Airport (GVT) near Greenville, Texas, at 5:09 pm, and it didn’t touch back down there until 9:28 pm local time. This test flight saw it fly a long clockwise loop with a series of several tighter circuits near Shreveport, during which time it reached a maximum barometric altitude of 37,000 feet. According to The War Zone, a USAF spokesperson offered this statement on the matter:
“I can confirm that the VC-25B Bridge Aircraft has begun flight tests. We expect the aircraft will be delivered to the Presidential Airlift Group no later than summer 2026.”
Where & Why?
The first of the test flights, on Friday, April 17, 2026, was also an evening affair, with the plane taking off from Greenville at 6:51 pm. However, the shape of its flightpath was rather different, as it began by flying circuits at Majors Airport before eventually heading east on a looping course that, once again, took it over Shreveport. All in all, it was in the air for about five hours, representing a thorough first workout for the stopgap Air Force One.
Moving onwards to Sunday, the third of the three test flights began at 12:36 pm local time, and saw the aircraft fly southwest across Texas. The jet almost reached Mexico, but ultimately stopped short and flew circuits near Sanderson before heading home. By the time it landed, it had been airborne for over seven hours. The fourth test flight took place yesterday afternoon, and was much shorter, as it saw the jet fly to nearby Waco (ACT).
Situated just east of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolis, Majors Airport in Greenville might seem an odd choice as a base for the 747’s test flights. However, the logic becomes clear when you see that the airport is home to the L3Harris Mission Integration Division, which has been responsible for its conversion.
Confirmed: Ex-Qatari Luxury Boeing 747-8 To Be Delivered As Interim Air Force One This Summer
The aircraft will be used as a stopgap solution until new models arrive.
The Current State Of The USAF’s Boeing 747-8 Fleet
According to current fleet data made available by Planespotters.net, the United States Air Force presently has four examples of the Boeing 747-8 at its disposal. As previously noted, the one currently undertaking test flights bears the registration 25-3300, having been reregistered as this (from its previous designation as N7478D) earlier. It is 14 years old, having first flown for the Qatar Amiri Flight as a VIP aircraft way back in April of 2012.
The site lists two other units of the Boeing 747-8 as currently being converted for their future full-time roles as the Boeing VC-25B under the ‘Air Force One’ callsign when the President is on board. These jets bear the registrations N894BA (seen above) and N895BA, and they are 9.5 and 9.8 years old respectively, having not been taken up by Transaero. The fourth USAF 747-8 (25-3200) is an ex-Lufthansa jet that now serves as a crew trainer.
