Meanwhile, Boeing’s official Air Force One replacement, the VC‑25B, is based on the same 747‑8 platform. It was awarded in 2018 under a $3.9 billion deal, and was aimed for a 2024 delivery.

These days, the Air Force says that term "Air Force One" is generally used to refer to a duo of retrofitted Boeing 747-200B planes that have tail codes 28000 and 29000.

Air Force One at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. Photographer: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images By Anthony Capaccio June 11, 2025 at 8:43 AM PDT Save ...

The Air Force on May 21, following the Pentagon’s premature announcement of the acceptance of the Qatar plane, said it was preparing to award a contract to convert the 747-8 into an Air Force One.