Inflight 200 VC-25A USAF 29000 Plus Retirement Coin 1/200 IFVC25A1226P

Farewell to VC-25A SAM 29000: A Presidential Aviation Icon Nears Retirement

VC-25A SAM 29000, one of the most recognisable aircraft in presidential aviation, appears to have completed its final presidential mission after returning President Trump from the 2026 G7 Summit in France.

Together with sister aircraft SAM 28000, SAM 29000 has formed part of America’s presidential airlift fleet for decades. Operated by the 89th Airlift Wing from Joint Base Andrews, the VC-25A aircraft are specially configured Boeing 747-200B airframes built to transport the President of the United States securely around the world.

Although the aircraft is best known as Air Force One, that callsign applies only when the President is on board. Recent farewell messages from senior White House staff, including references to “The Last Ride”, strongly suggest that SAM 29000’s G7 return flight was its final planned presidential sortie. However, no formal U.S. Air Force statement has yet confirmed its final official-duty flight.

SAM 28000 is expected to remain in service while the delayed VC-25B Boeing 747-8 replacement programme continues. An interim 747-8 “Bridge” aircraft has also reportedly begun commissioning flights, helping prepare for the next generation of presidential transport.

To mark this significant moment, InFlight 200 is releasing limited-edition 1:200-scale models of both the SAM 29000 and the SAM 28000. The SAM 29000 release includes a retirement coin, while the SAM 28000 model includes a collector’s coin. Both are also expected to feature InFlight’s new magnetic undercarriage design.

For collectors, SAM 29000 represents far more than a model aircraft subject — it marks the possible end of a historic chapter in U.S. presidential aviation.