President Donald Trump completed his inaugural operational flight aboard the interim VC-25B Bridge on 1 July 2026, departing Joint Base Andrews for North Dakota. This Boeing 747-8, gifted by Qatar in May 2025 and converted by L3Harris, now serves as Air Force One while awaiting delivery of purpose-built VC-25Bs. The aircraft underwent a record 10-month transformation including military-grade communications, encrypted systems, and defensive upgrades to function as an airborne White House. Commissioning flights concluded over a week prior, confirming full mission capability and finalizing protocols for secure presidential transport. The VC-25B Bridge relieves pressure on aging VC-25A jets, which entered service in 1990 and will enter semi-retirement. Trump described the jet as the world’s most luxurious plane, featuring leather interiors and private conference facilities.