President Biden selected the livery of the “Next Air Force One,” VC-25B , that will resemble the livery of the current Air Force One

The US Air Force has unveiled a new Livery (color scheme) for the next  Air Force One jets under development , doing away with the darker red, white, & blue chosen by previous President Trump — opting for a modernized version of the classic design of the president's aircraft.

The official release said,

President of the United States Joe Biden has selected the livery design for the "Next Air Force One," VC-25B, a design that will closely resemble the livery of the current Air Force One, VC-25A, while also modernizing for the 21st century.

While accounting for the VC-25B’s larger 747-8i aircraft, the VC-25B livery has three primary differences with the VC-25A’s livery. The light blue on VC-25B is a slightly deeper, more modern tone than VC-25A's robin's egg blue.

Additionally, the VC-25B engines will use the darker blue from the cockpit area vice the VC-25A’s robin’s egg blue. Finally, there is no polished metal section on the VC-25B because modern commercial aircraft skin alloys don't allow for it.

• Boeing had started modifying the two B747-8 aircraft slated to become VC-25Bs in February 2020 at its facility in San Antonio.

• As per the arrangement, the $3.9 billion firm , fixed-price contract included the cost of two Boeing 747 aircraft , which were previously built for a now-bankrupt Russian carrier that never accepted them.
• Apart from Pandemic , bankruptcy of a defunct subcontractor GDC Technics is being blamed for the delay in the project , that was planned to be completed in the year 2024.

A formal contractual decision for a VC-25B livery was not required until this year for Boeing to conduct engineering, certification preparation, and supplier selection activities for the program.

The Air Force previously displayed a red, white, and blue livery for the VC-25B because it had been publicly expressed as a preferred livery in 2019. A thermal study later concluded the dark blue in the design would require additional Federal Aviation Administration qualification testing for several commercial components due to the added heat in certain environments.

The VC-25B Program will deliver a new fleet of aircraft to enable POTUS to execute the duties of Head of State, Chief Executive, and Commander in Chief. The aircraft will be uniquely modified to provide the POTUS, staff, and guests with safe and reliable air transportation with the equivalent level of communications capability and security available in the White House.

The VC-25B aircraft will replace the current VC-25A fleet, which faces capability gaps, rising maintenance costs, and parts obsolescence. Modifications to the aircraft will include electrical power upgrades, a mission communication system, a medical facility, an executive interior, a self-defense system, and autonomous ground operations capabilities.

VC-25B deliveries are projected for 2027 for the first aircraft and 2028 for the second aircraft. The Air Force remains postured to keep VC-25A available and mission-ready until delivery of the VC-25B.

Source : Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs