US Air Force Unveils New Air Force One Paint Scheme

The new design features a color palette of red, white, gold, and dark blue.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The U.S. Air Force is rolling out a new paint scheme across its executive airlift fleet, including the next-generation Air Force One aircraft. The new design marks a departure from the current white and two-tone blue livery dating to President John F. Kennedy's administration, and revives elements of former President Donald Trump's proposed red, white, and blue scheme that was scrapped in 2022 after the Air Force determined darker colors could cause overheating issues.

Why it matters

The Air Force One paint scheme is a highly visible symbol of American presidential power and prestige. The new design aims to modernize the look of the executive aircraft fleet while also addressing technical concerns about overheating from darker colors.

The details

The new color palette for the Air Force One and executive aircraft fleet includes red, white, gold, and dark blue. This replaces the current white and two-tone blue livery that has been in use since the Kennedy administration. The new design revives some elements of a red, white, and blue scheme proposed by former President Trump, but avoids the darker colors that were previously determined to potentially cause overheating issues.

  • The new paint scheme was announced by the U.S. Air Force on February 17, 2026.

The players

U.S. Air Force

The military service branch responsible for the operation and maintenance of the executive airlift fleet, including Air Force One.

John F. Kennedy

The U.S. president during whose administration the current white and two-tone blue livery for Air Force One was introduced.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who had proposed a red, white, and blue paint scheme for Air Force One, which was later scrapped.

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What’s next

The Air Force plans to begin implementing the new paint scheme across the executive airlift fleet in the coming months.

The takeaway

The new Air Force One paint scheme represents an effort to modernize the iconic presidential aircraft while also addressing technical concerns. The design revives elements of a previous proposal but avoids the issues that led to that plan being scrapped, showcasing the Air Force's careful consideration of both form and function.