Air Force One jets are set to receive a new colour scheme of red, white and blue in keeping with US President Donald Trump’s vision for the aircraft, US media have reported.
Previously, the aircraft have been adorned with a blue and white design that dates back to the 1960s as President John F Kennedy was in office.
Trump already wanted the refurbishment carried out during his first term in office from 2017 to 2021, but the order was cancelled by the Air Force under the administration of Joe Biden for reason of cost and technical concerns regarding the heating effect of darker colours.
Air Force One is the name given to any of the aircraft used to transport the president of the US, which are usually heavily modified Boeing 747s.
The new Air Force One design
In addition to the above-mentioned colours of the American flag, the planes are expected to receive a gold stripe, reflecting another predilection of the president, who has made over the Oval Office with a plethora of gold trimming.
The new design is expected to resemble that of Trump’s personal jet, which bears the colours of navy blue and white with a red stripe.
A US Air Force spokesperson told CBS News that the new design will be used for the Air Force One jets used by the president and his entourage, and other aircraft in the executive fleet, including the smaller Boeing C-32 aircraft used to carry other top US officials and the first lady.
The luxury Boeing jet that Qatar donated to the US last year amid considerable controversy is also to receive the new livery, the spokesperson said.
That plane, worth US$400mn, could be ready for use by the president by summer, while CBS says the first C-32 has already been painted and is likely to be delivered in the coming months.
The White House has so far not commented on the changes in plane design.
But in 2018, Trump used his customary superlatives to describe the paint job in comments to CBS News. “Air Force One is going to be incredible,” he said. “It’s gonna be the top of the line, the top in the world. And it’s gonna be red, white and blue, which I think is appropriate.”
DW
