Before-and-after photos show the changes that were made inside the $400M Boeing 747 gifted to the US by Qatar to become new Air Force One
Published on Jul 15, 2026 at 12:07 AM (UTC+4)
by Alessandro Renesis
Last updated on Jul 15, 2026 at 12:07 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
The US Air Force turned a Qatar’s royal Boeing 747 into the new Air Force One – or VC-25B Bridge as they sometimes call it.
They did it quickly, and they did it efficiently.
No corners were cut.
And that’s what makes these before-and-after pictures look even more incredible.
The US Air Force modified the Boeing 747 in just over a year
Interestingly, when we look at it from the outside, it feels like the decision phase took almost as long as the execution phase.
Qatar gave the US this Boeing 747 in May 2025 but what followed was a few months of red tape, paperwork, and political debate.
Below: this is what VC-25B Bridge looked like when the US took delivery of it
Below: VC-25B Bridge with a blank livery during a test flight
Then, a few months later in September 2025, the US officially began working on the plane.
In just nine months or so, they completely overhauled the plane and turned it into Air Force One.
We would like to tell you a bit more about the cost too but that’s classified.
However, in July 2025, The New York Times did report that an unexplained transfer of $934 million from the missile project was transferred to retrofit the Qatari jet.
Below: inside VC-25B Bridge before the US took delivery of it
Here are the key differences between this and the old Air Force One
Visually, the main difference is the livery.
Not only is it different when compared to the old one, but it’s also a completely new livery for an Air Force One plane.
Instead of using the traditional white and blue livery, the US opted for a white, red, and blue livery with a splash of gold.
Below: the new Air Force One right next to the old Air Force One
Nothing was to do the engines (apart from maintenance, obviously) and the interior remained largely the same as well.
This was mostly to save time.
Aside from some necessary changes – for example the ‘Exit’ signs in English instead of Arabic – the cabin looks roughly the same as it ever did.
Below: latest images from inside the new Air Force One
The key difference is underneath the surface.
The aircraft had to be completely dismantled and rebuilt from the ground up.
This had to be done for two reasons.
First, the US Air Force (and the Secret Service) had to make sure there were no bugs or no security risks.
Second, they had to fit the plane with Air Force One-grade technology to turn this into a plane that can safely transport POTUS.
The fact that they managed to do that in just nine months is actually mind-blowing.
Alessandro is an automotive journalist with 10 years of experience covering supercars, automotive history, emerging vehicle technology, and luxury transportation. He wrote the first article published on SupercarBlondie.com when the website launched in 2022 and has since built a reputation for insightful reporting across the automotive and transportation industries. His expertise is grounded in hands-on experience. Alessandro has driven every Tesla model ever produced, from the original Roadster to the Cybertruck, and regularly covers the latest developments in electric vehicles and automotive innovation. His passion for transportation extends beyond cars, he has even flown a Boeing 787 Dreamliner simulator in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. His reporting spans everything from classic American muscle cars and rare automotive discoveries to luxury yachts, private aircraft, high-end watches, and cutting-edge vehicle technology. Known for his deep knowledge of automotive history and ability to uncover the stories behind iconic vehicles, Alessandro brings readers a blend of historical context, technical expertise, and first-hand experience.
