U.S. Air Force’s Boeing 757-based C-32A executive transports has re-emerged in a striking new red, white, gold, and dark blue paint scheme, marking a significant visual shift for one of America’s most recognizable VIP aircraft fleets and signaling broader changes across the U.S. government’s executive airlift enterprise.
The aircraft, serial number 99-0003, was spotted departing Majors Airport in Greenville, Texas, this week wearing the new livery. The sighting was captured by an aviation enthusiast who posts under the handle @tt_33_operator on Instagram. At the time, the jet was operating under the callsign “Vader 20.” Flight tracking data confirms that the aircraft had been at Greenville since at least December of last year.
Majors Airport is home to L3Harris Technologies’ Mission Integration facility, a hub for conversions, avionics upgrades, secure communications installations, and other specialized work on large government aircraft. The C-32 fleet frequently visits the site for modernization efforts and heavy maintenance, making it a logical location for a full repaint and systems refresh.
The C-32As are widely referred to as “Air Force Two” when carrying the Vice President of the United States, although that callsign applies only when the vice president is actually onboard. In practice, the aircraft are used to transport the president, cabinet members, senior military leaders, congressional delegations, and foreign dignitaries. Their flexibility, range, and comparatively smaller size relative to the Boeing 747-based presidential aircraft make them essential to executive airlift operations.
For decades, the C-32A fleet wore a white-over-light-blue paint scheme with gold trim, closely echoing the iconic livery of the Boeing 747-based VC-25A aircraft that serve as Air Force One. That scheme dates back to the administration of President John F. Kennedy and was developed with the help of famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy at the urging of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.
The new scheme seen on 99-0003 is markedly different. The aircraft now features a white upper fuselage over a dark blue underside, separated by bold red and gold cheat lines. A large American flag, stylized to appear as if blowing in the wind, adorns the tail. “United States of America” appears in prominent lettering along the fuselage, accompanied by the standard U.S. military “stars-and-bars” insignia.
The tail flag closely resembles the design seen on President Donald Trump’s personal Boeing 757, widely known as “Trump Force One.” The similarities are not coincidental. The paint scheme on the C-32A is nearly identical to the one President Trump unveiled in 2019 for the future VC-25B Air Force One aircraft during his first term in office.
Notably absent from the exterior is a readily visible serial number. This reflects a policy change enacted under the Biden administration by Air Mobility Command, which reduced the prominence of identifying markings on certain executive aircraft for operational security reasons.
The Air Force has now confirmed that the repainting of 99-0003 is not a one-off. In a statement, a service spokesperson said that the new livery requirement will apply to the VC-25B program as well as additional executive airlift aircraft, including four C-32As and a newly acquired Boeing 747-8i.
“The Air Force is implementing a new paint scheme requirement (red, white, gold and dark blue) for VC-25B as well as the additional executive airlift fleet, which will include the new 747-8i and four C-32 aircraft,” the spokesperson said. “The C-32s will be painted during regularly scheduled maintenance. The first C-32 has been painted and is expected to be delivered to the Air Force in the next few months.”
This confirmation indicates that the red, white, and blue livery is set to become the new standard look for U.S. executive airlift platforms, replacing the Kennedy-era design that has endured for more than six decades.
The Boeing 747-based VC-25A aircraft currently serving as Air Force One are set to be replaced by the VC-25B, also based on the 747-8i airframe. The VC-25B program has faced years of delays, cost overruns, and shifting requirements.
In 2019, President Trump publicly unveiled a dramatic new paint scheme for the VC-25B, abandoning the pale blue and gold of the Kennedy design in favor of a bold red, white, and dark blue configuration. The proposal generated debate over aesthetics, cost implications, and potential thermal considerations related to darker paint absorbing more heat.
After President Joe Biden took office, the Air Force reverted to a modified version of the traditional Kennedy-era livery for the VC-25B. In 2023, the service released updated renderings showing the future presidential aircraft in a design closely aligned with the historic scheme.
However, following President Trump’s re-election in 2024, the Air Force acknowledged in August 2025 that it was implementing a new livery requirement for the VC-25B, though it did not provide details at the time. The repainting of C-32A 99-0003 and the official confirmation of the broader repaint plan now make clear that the Trump-era red, white, and blue design has been reinstated and expanded beyond the presidential fleet.
The C-32A is not the first U.S. government aircraft to appear in the updated color scheme. Observers first noted the design on a Boeing 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) carrying civil registration N471US and reportedly linked to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). That aircraft has been operating domestically and internationally since late last year, though details about its exact mission set remain limited.
The U.S. Coast Guard, which falls under DHS in peacetime, has also received the first of two modified Gulfstream G700 aircraft in the same red, white, and blue livery. These jets, designated as Long Range Command and Control Aircraft (LRCCA), provide VIP transport for the Secretary of Homeland Security and other senior officials, while also serving as airborne command posts under continuity-of-government plans.
Continuity-of-government aircraft are designed to ensure that U.S. leadership can continue functioning in the event of catastrophic emergencies, including major natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or nuclear conflict. The Coast Guard’s new G700-based LRCCAs replace older Gulfstream models that have become increasingly difficult to sustain.
The adoption of a common livery across Air Force, DHS, and Coast Guard executive aircraft suggests a coordinated effort to visually unify the U.S. government’s top-tier airlift assets under a single, more assertive aesthetic identity.
The U.S. Air Force currently operates eight C-32As, all derived from the Boeing 757-200 airliner. The type offers a range of approximately 5,500 nautical miles and can operate from smaller airports than the larger 747-based VC-25A, making it a versatile complement to the presidential fleet.
In addition to the C-32A, the Air Force operates a small number of more secretive C-32B aircraft, sometimes referred to as Gatekeepers. These aircraft, based on the 757 as well, support special operations and other sensitive missions and typically wear a plain white paint scheme.
The 757 production line closed in 2004, and the aircraft type has been steadily disappearing from airline fleets worldwide. As commercial operators retire their 757s, the global supply chain for parts and maintenance support becomes more constrained. This reality has prompted the Air Force to explore replacement options for the C-32A fleet in recent years.
At one point, the service considered combining a C-32 replacement program with efforts to recapitalize the Boeing 747-based E-4B Nightwatch and Boeing 707-based E-6B Mercury command-and-control aircraft. Ultimately, that approach was abandoned.
The E-4B fleet is now set to be replaced by the E-4C Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC), based on newer 747-8i airframes. These aircraft, often dubbed “doomsday planes,” provide airborne command-and-control capabilities in the event of nuclear war and can support national leadership during crises.
Separately, the Air Force has floated the idea of replacing both the C-32 and at least part of the Boeing 737-based C-40 Clipper fleet with a single common platform. Such a move would simplify logistics, training, and sustainment compared to maintaining two different narrow-body airliner types.
In the meantime, the service has continued investing in upgrades for the existing C-32 fleet. Enhancements have included improvements to secure communications systems, defensive countermeasures, avionics, and interior refurbishments designed to meet evolving executive transport requirements.
The repainting of the C-32A comes amid a broader surge in executive aircraft developments under the current Trump administration. In addition to the revived VC-25B paint scheme, the Air Force has acquired second-hand Boeing 747s from German carrier Lufthansa to support the presidential aircraft program. These jets are intended to provide training support and serve as sources of spare parts for the delayed VC-25B fleet.
The service is also repurposing a highly modified former Qatari VVIP Boeing 747-8i, reportedly gifted to the U.S. government, as a so-called “VC-25 bridge aircraft.” That platform is expected to provide interim presidential airlift capability if required while the VC-25Bs complete development and testing.
Together, these moves reflect an administration keen to reshape the appearance and composition of America’s most visible government aircraft.
Paint schemes may appear cosmetic, but for aircraft that serve as airborne symbols of national authority, they carry significant symbolic weight. The Kennedy-era design was intended to convey dignity, continuity, and understated strength during the Cold War. Its restrained palette became globally recognizable and synonymous with American presidential power.
The new red, white, and dark blue scheme projects a more assertive and contemporary image. The large, wind-swept American flag on the tail emphasizes overt patriotism and visual impact. For supporters, the updated design represents modernization and a bold reassertion of national identity. Critics may view it as a departure from tradition.
Regardless of the debate, the Air Force’s confirmation that multiple C-32As, the future VC-25Bs, and a new 747-8i will share the same livery indicates that the change is systemic rather than experimental.
Serial number 99-0003 is expected to return to operational service in the coming months following completion of its maintenance cycle. As additional C-32As rotate through scheduled depot-level work, they too will receive the new paint scheme.
By the time the VC-25B aircraft enter service, they will likely be joined by a fleet of identically painted executive airlift platforms across multiple agencies. From Air Force Two missions to continuity-of-government operations, a unified red, white, gold, and dark blue livery could soon define the visual identity of America’s highest-profile government aircraft.
For now, the reappearance of a single C-32A in its bold new colors offers a clear sign that the transformation is underway — not just in paint, but in the evolving structure and symbolism of U.S. executive air power.
