Air Force One
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AIR FORCE ONE Boeing VC-25 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia This article is about the current primary aircraft used as Air Force One. For the history of the callsign and the use of aircraft, see Air Force One . VC-25 Air Force One a VC-25 over Mount Rushmore . Role Presidential transport Manufacturer Boeing Introduction August 23, 1990 (No. 28000) December 23, 1990 (No. 29000) Status In service Primary user United States Air Force
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AIR FORCE ONE
Boeing VC-25From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the current primary aircraft used as Air Force One. For the history of the callsign and the
use of aircraft, see Air Force One.
VC-25
Air Force One a VC-25 over Mount Rushmore.
Role Presidential transport
Manufacturer Boeing
Introduction August 23, 1990 (No. 28000)
December 23, 1990 (No. 29000)
Status In service
Primary user United States Air Force
Produced 1986
Number built 2
Unit cost US$325 million
Developed from Boeing 747
Career
Registration tail codes "28000" and "29000"
The Boeing VC-25 is the designation of a United States Air Force passenger transportation aircraft, a military
version of the Boeing 747 airliner. The A-model (VC-25A) is the only variant of the VC-25.
The VC-25 is most famous for its role as Air Force One, the call sign of any U.S. Air Force aircraft carrying
the President of the United States. The two aircraft currently in U.S. service are highly modified versions of
Boeing's 747-200B, with tail numbers 28000 and 29000. Although the Air Force One designation technically
applies to the aircraft only while the President is aboard, the term is commonly applied to the VC-25s more
generally. They often operate in conjunction with Marine One helicopters that ferry the President to airports in
circumstances where a vehiclemotorcade would be inappropriate.
Contents
[hide]
1 Development
2 Design and configuration
o 2.1 "The White House"
3 Operational history
o 3.1 Future
4 Operators
5 Specifications (VC-25A)
6 Notable appearances in media
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
[edit]Development
By 1985, the pair of Boeing 707-based VC-137s used as the Presidential aircraft had been in service for 23 and
13 years respectively, and the USAF began searching for an eventual replacement. The Request for
Proposal issued stated that the aircraft to be selected should have at least three engines and an unrefueled
range of at least 6,000 miles (9,700 km). Both Boeing with its 747 and McDonnell Douglas with the DC-10 were
in competition to be selected, with the Boeing entry eventually selected.[1] The fabrication of the current 747s
began during the presidency ofRonald Reagan (1981–1989). Reagan ordered two identical Boeing 747s to
replace the Boeing 707s that he used for transport.[2]
Boeing VC-25 Air Force One video
The VC-25s were completed in 1986 and first flew in 1987.[3] The interior designs were created by First
Lady Nancy Reagan, who used designs reminiscent of the American Southwest.[2] Problems with interior wiring
for communication systems delayed delivery of the two aircraft until 1990,[3] during the administration of George
H.W. Bush.
[edit]Design and configuration
While the VC-25 has three decks, like a regular Boeing 747, its 4,000 square feet (370 m²) of floor space has
been reconfigured for presidential duties. Its lowest deck is mostly cargo space, carrying luggage and the
onboard food supply.
The main passenger area is on the second floor or main deck.[4] There are three entrances onboard, two on the
lower and one on the main deck. Typically the president boards and deplanes from the front, main deck
entrance via an airstair, while journalists and other passengers enter at the lower rear door. Facilities for the
press and other passengers are configured like an ordinary airliner's first-class cabin.[5]
[edit]"The White House"
President George W. Bush, Bill McGurn, Stephen Hadley and Ed Gillespie gather in the president's office aboard Air Force
One en route to Bahrain in January 2008.
President Barack Obama meets with Rep.Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, aboard Air Force One en route to Cleveland, Ohio,
March 15, 2010.
The President and First Lady's private quarters. The couches can fold out into beds.
The conference room.
The corridor that runs down the port (left) side of the aircraft. Secret Service agents are stationed in the two chairs.
The front of the aircraft is referred to as the "White House" of the aircraft.[4] The president's executive suite
includes sleeping quarters with two couches that can be converted into beds, lavatory and shower, vanity,
double sink, and a private office, or the president’s "Oval Office aboard Air Force One". If necessary, the
president can address the nation from the office. This capability was added after the September 11 attacks,
during which the aircraft had to land at Barksdale Air Force Base in order for President George W. Bush to
address the nation.[6] These offices, including the president's suite, are mostly located on the starboard (right),
and a long corridor runs along the port(left) side. There is an area along the corridor for two Secret
Service agents.[citation needed] The aircraft also contains a conference room, originally designed as situation room
but now used for meeting with staff while traveling. This room includes a 50-inch plasma screen television
which can be used for teleconferencing. The aircraft have fully equipped office areas with telecommunication
systems (including 87 telephones and 19 televisions).[4]
On board the VC-25 is a medical annex, which includes a fold-out operating table, emergency medical
supplies, and a well-stocked pharmacy; George W. Bush had a treadmill added to Air Force One during his
term in office. Every flight is staffed by a doctor and nurse. The aircraft is self-sufficient, such as carrying all the
food it will need. Meals are prepared in two galleys, which together are equipped to feed up to 100 people at a
time.[4] The President gets his own menu. An area where guests sit is near the center of the aircraft, outside of
the "White House".[4]
There are separate quarters for guests, senior staff, Secret Service and security personnel, and the news
media located in the aft area of the main deck. Protocol states that one may wander aft of wherever one's
assigned seat is, but not forward.[4] Communications equipment and the cockpit are on the upper deck. There
are also secure and non-secure voice, fax and data communications facilities. [4] While the aircraft's luggage
capacity is adequate to carry the belongings of the passengers, the logistics train of the President means that
the aircraft must fly preceded by an aerial convoy of several cargo transports, which carry the helicopters,
motorcade vehicles, and other equipment required by the presidential entourage.[4]
The VC-25A is capable of flying 7,800 miles (12,600 km)—roughly one-third the distance around the world—
without refueling. It can be refuelled during flight from a tanker aircraft. The VC-25A can accommodate more
than 70 passengers. Each VC-25A cost approximatelyUS$325 million. When a VC-25 taxis to an airport's ramp
for events, it comes to a stop with the port side of the aircraft facing gathered onlookers.
[edit]Operational history
The VC-25s replaced the VC-137C (a military version of the Boeing 707) as the mainstays of the Air Force
One fleet. On some occasions, the VC-25s are used to transport the Vice President of the United States, for
which service they adopt the callsign Air Force Two. These aircraft are maintained and operated as military
operations by the Presidential Airlift Group, part of Air Mobility Command's 89th Airlift Wing, based at Andrews
Air Force Base in Camp Springs, Maryland.
A VC-25 at MacDill Air Force Base inFlorida on June 16, 2004
The aircraft can also be operated as a military command center in the event of an incident such as a nuclear
attack. Operational modifications include aerial refueling capability and anti-aircraft missile countermeasures.
The electronics on board are connected with approximately 238 miles (383 km) of wiring, twice that of a regular
747. All wiring is covered with heavy shielding for protection from an electromagnetic pulse in the event of a
nuclear attack. The aircraft also has electronic countermeasures (ECMs) to jam enemy radar, flares to avoid
heat-seeking missiles, and chaff to avoid radar-guided missiles. All small arms and ammunition stores not
under the physical possession of the Secret Service on board the VC-25s are stowed and secured in separate
locked compartments each with a different locking mechanism by the Secret Service for added security. Many
of the VC-25's other capabilities are classified for security reasons.
After a Presidential inauguration in which there is a change in office, the outgoing President is provided a flight
aboard one of the VC-25A aircraft to their home destination. The aircraft is not known as Air Force One for this
flight because it is not carrying the President in office. For both Presidents Bill Clinton andGeorge W. Bush, the
flight was known as Special Air Mission 28000, with 28000 representing the aircraft's tail number.[7][8]
The VC-25A has also been used to transport deceased former presidents. The guest area aft of "the White
House" has chairs and tables that can be removed and the casket laid in their place.[4] The remains of
both Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford were transported by SAM 28000 and 29000 respectively to Washington
for their state funerals, and then onto their final resting places. Colonel Mark Tillman, pilot for President George
W. Bush, said, "We’ll take care of the president from basically when he’s in office to when he lays in
state."[4] For the funeral of President Ronald Reagan in 2004, Tillman said that the crew converted the front of
the aircraft to look the way it would have appeared when Reagan was president; President and Nancy
Reagan’s Air Force One jackets were placed on the chairs to “make them feel at home”.[4] A specially designed
hydraulic lifter (similar to the type used by airline catering) with the presidential seal affixed to the sides lifts the
casket up to the door to enter the VC-25A. The tradition of placing the caskets inside the passenger cabin
dates back to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, when the crew refused to allow the president's body to be
placed in the cargo hold,[9] and again during the state funeral of Lyndon B. Johnson.[10]
[edit]Future
These aircraft are expected to be replaced as they have become less cost-effective to operate. The USAF Air
Mobility Command is looking into possible replacements and press coverage suggested that the USAF would
consider the Boeing 747-8 and the Airbus A380 from the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company
(EADS).[11] On January 7, 2009, the USAF Materiel Command issued a new Sources Sought notice for a
replacement aircraft to enter service by 2017 with an additional two aircraft to follow in 2019 and 2021.[12] As of
January 2009, Boeing is the only interested aircraft manufacturer in supplying the replacement aircraft,[13] and is
reported to be exploring a 787 option also.[14] On January 28, 2009, EADS North America confirmed the
company will not respond to a US Air Force notice, as assembling only three planes in the US would not make
financial sense.[15]
[edit]Operators
United States
United States Air Force
89th Airlift Wing
Presidential Airlift Group (PAG)
[edit]Specifications (VC-25A)
Data from Boeing BDS[16]
General characteristics
Crew: 26: 2 pilots, flight engineer, navigator,[3] and cabin crew
Capacity: 76 passengers
Length: 231 ft 5 in (70.6 m)
Wingspan : 195 ft 8 in (59.6 m)
Height: 63 ft 5 in (19.3 m))
Max. takeoff weight : 833,000 lb (375,000 kg)
Powerplant : 4 × General Electric CF6-80C2B1 turbofans, 56,700 lbf (250 kN)
each
Zero fuel weight: 526,500 lb (238,800 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed : Mach 0.92 (630 mph, 1,015 km/h) at 35,000 ft altitude
Cruise speed : Mach 0.84 (575 mph, 925 km/h) at 35,000 ft altitude
Range : 6,800 nmi (7,800 mi, 13,000 km)
Service ceiling : 45,100 ft (13,700 m)
[edit]Notable appearances in media
Main article: Aircraft in fiction#Boeing 747
The VC-25 "Air Force One" is a prominent symbol of the American presidency and its power; with the White
House and presidential seal, it is one of the most familiar presidential symbols. Air Force One has often
appeared in popular culture and fiction, most notably as the setting of the 1997 action movie Air Force
One where the aircraft had an escape pod and a parachute ramp, unlike the actual Presidential aircraft.[17]
[edit]See also
United States Air Force portal
Air Force One photo op incident
Air Force Two
Air transports of heads of state
Related development
Boeing 747
E-4 "Nightwatch"
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
VC-137C SAM 26000
VC-137C SAM 27000
Boeing C-32
C-40 Clipper
[edit]References
Notes
1. ̂ Thomas, H. "U.S. considers Air Force One from Airbus." heraldnet.com.
Retrieved: June 26, 2009.
2. ^ a b Williams, Rudi. "Reagan Makes First, Last Flight in Jet He
Ordered." United States Department of Defense, June 10, 2004. Retrieved:
September 9, 2011.
3. ^ a b c Jenkins 2000, pp. 55-56.
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Wallace, Chris (host). "Aboard Air Force One." Fox News,
November 24, 2008. Retrieved: November 28, 2008.
5. ̂ Harris, Tom. "How Air Force One Works." HowStuffWorks.com. Retrieved:
October 10, 2006.
6. ̂ Stebner, Greg (narrator). "On Board Air Force One." National Geographic
Channel, January 25, 2009. Retrieved: June 26, 2009.
7. ̂ Felsenthal, Carol. "When Bill Clinton Left the White House.[dead link] Chicago
Daily Observer, January 22, 2009. Retrieved: June 26, 2009.
8. ̂ "Bush flies to Texas to begin post-presidential life." New York Times,
January 20, 2009. Retrieved: September 9, 2011.
9. ̂ Bernstein, Adam (April 29, 2006). "Col. James Swindal; Piloted Air Force
One After Kennedy's Death". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 16,
2011.
10. ̂ Foley, Thomas (January 25, 1973). "Thousands in Washington Brave Cold
to Say Goodbye to Johnson". The Los Angeles Times: p. A1.
11. ̂ "US considers Airbus A380 as Air Force One and potentially a C-5
replacement". Flight Global. 17 October 2007.
12. ̂ "USAF Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization (PAR) Program." USAF
Material Command, January 7, 2009. Retrieved: January 8, 2009.
13. ̂ "USAF Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization (PAR) Program, Interested
Vendors List." USAF Materiel Command, January 7, 2009. Retrieved:
January 8, 2009.
14. ̂ Butler, Amy. "Boeing Only Contender for New Air Force One." Aviation
Week, January 28, 2009. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
15. ̂ "EADS waves off bid for Air Force One replacement". Flight Global.
January 28, 2009.
16. ̂ "Air Force One Technical Specs." Boeing Defense, Space and Security.
Retrieved: June 26, 2009.
17. ̂ Hardesty 2003, p. 15.
Bibliography
"Air Force One Fact Sheet." United States Air Force, January 2006.
Albertazzie, Ralph and Jerald F. Terhorst. Flying White House: The Story of Air
Force One. Book Sales, 1979. ISBN 0-698-10930-9.
Braun, David. Q&A: U.S. Presidential Jet Air Force One. National Geographic
News, May 29, 2003.
Dorr, Robert F. Air Force One. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International,
2002. ISBN 0-7603-1055-6.
Hardesty, Von. Air Force One: The Aircraft that Shaped the Modern Presidency.
Chanhassen, Minnesota: Northword Press, 2003. ISBN 1-55971-894-3.
Harris, Tom. "How Air Force One Works". HowStuffWorks.com. Retrieved:
October 10, 2006.
Jenkins, Dennis R. Boeing 747-100/200/300/SP (AirlinerTech Series, Vol. 6).
North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2000. ISBN 1580070264.
"Technical Order 00-105E-9, Segment 9, Chapter 7."
Walsh, Kenneth T. Air Force One: A History of the Presidents and Their Planes.
New York: Hyperion, 2003. ISBN 1-4013-0004-9.
[edit]External links
Wikimedia Commons has
media related to: Boeing VC-
25A
USAF VC-25 fact sheet
USAF Photo gallery
Interior pictures of Air Force One from Airliners.net
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Air Force OneFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the current aircraft, see Boeing VC-25.
For other uses, see Air Force One (disambiguation).
Air Force One
SAM 28000, one of the two VC-25s used as Air Force One, above Mount
Rushmore
Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying
the President of the United States.[1] In common parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft whose
primary mission is to transport the president; however, any U.S. Air Force aircraft may carry the "Air Force
One" call sign while the president is on board. Air Force One is a prominent symbol of the American
presidencyand its power,[2] with the aircraft being the most famous and most photographed in the world.[3]
The idea of designating specific military aircraft to transport the President arose in 1943, when officials of the
United States Army Air Forces – the predecessor to the U.S. Air Force – became concerned with relying on
commercial airlines to transport the President. A C-87 Liberator Express was reconfigured for use as a
presidential transport; however, it was rejected by the Secret Service amid concerns over the aircraft's safety
record. A C-54 Skymaster was then converted for presidential use; this aircraft, dubbed the Sacred Cow,
transported President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference in February 1945, and was subsequently
used for another two years by President Harry S. Truman.
The "Air Force One" call sign was created after a 1953 incident involving a flight carrying President Dwight D.
Eisenhower entered the same airspace as a commercial airline flight using the same call sign. Several aircraft
have been used as Air Force One since the creation of the presidential fleet. Since 1990, the presidential fleet
has consisted of two Boeing VC-25As – specifically configured, highly customized Boeing 747-200B series
aircraft. The Air Force is looking into replacing the two VC-25 aircraft with three replacement aircraft beginning
in 2017.
Contents
[hide]
1 History
o 1.1 Boeing 707s
o 1.2 Boeing 747s
1.2.1 On 9/11
o 1.3 Future replacement
2 Other presidential aircraft
3 Air Force One aircraft on display
4 See also
5 References
6 External links
[edit]History
On 11 October 1910, Theodore Roosevelt became the first U.S. President to fly in an aircraft, although at the
time of the flight in an early Wright Flyer from Kinloch Field (near St. Louis, Missouri), he was no longer in
office, having been succeeded by William Howard Taft. The record-making occasion was a brief overflight of
the crowd at a country fair but was nonetheless, the beginning of presidential air travel.[4]
Prior to World War II, overseas and cross-country presidential travel was rare. Lack of wireless
telecommunication and quick transportation made long-distance travel impractical, as it took much time and
isolated the president from events in Washington, D.C. Railroads were a safer and more reliable option if the
President needed to travel to distant states. By the late 1930s, with the arrival of aircraft such as the Douglas
DC-3, increasing numbers of the U.S. public saw passenger air travel as a reasonable mode of transportation.
All-metal aircraft, more reliable engines, and new radio aids to navigation had made commercial airline travel
safer and more convenient. Life insurance companies even began to offer airline pilots insurance policies,
albeit at extravagant rates, and many commercial travelers and government officials began using the airlines in
preference to rail travel, especially for longer trips.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to fly in an aircraft while in office. The first aircraft obtained
specifically for presidential travel was a Douglas Dolphin amphibian delivered in 1933 which was designated
RD-2 by the US Navy and based at the Naval base at Anacostia D.C. The Dolphin was modified with a luxury
upholstery for four passengers and a small separate sleeping compartment.[5]The aircraft remained in service
as a presidential transport from 1933 till 1939.[6] There are no reports as to whether the president ever flew in
the aircraft though. During World War II, Roosevelt traveled on the Dixie Clipper, a Pan Am-crewed Boeing
314 flying boat to the 1943 Casablanca Conference, in Morocco, a flight that covered 5,500 miles (in three
"legs").[7] The threat from the German submarines throughout the Battle of the Atlantic made air travel the
preferred method of transatlantic transportation.[8]
President Franklin D. Roosevelt's C-54 Skymaster aircraft, nicknamed "the Sacred Cow".
Concerned about relying upon commercial airlines to transport the president, USAAF leaders ordered the
conversion of a military aircraft to accommodate the special needs of the Commander in Chief.[9] The first
dedicated aircraft proposed for presidential use was a C-87A VIP transport aircraft. This aircraft, number41-
24159, was re-modified in 1943 for use as a presidential VIP transport, the Guess Where II, intended to carry
President Franklin D. Roosevelt on international trips.[10] Had it been accepted, it would have been the first
aircraft to be used in presidential service, in effect the first Air Force One. However, after a review of the C-87's
highly controversial safety record in service, the Secret Service flatly refused to approve the Guess Where II for
presidential carriage.[10] Also, the C-87 was a derivative of the B-24 Liberator bomber, so it presented strong
offensive impressions to both enemy fighter aircraft as well as foreign dignitaries being visited, an issue not
present with airframes that were used purely for transport. The Guess Where II was then used to transport
senior members of the Roosevelt administration on various trips. In March 1944, it transported Eleanor
Roosevelt on a goodwill tour of several Latin American countries. The C-87 was scrapped in 1945.[10]
The Secret Service subsequently reconfigured a Douglas C-54 Skymaster for duty as a presidential transport.
This VC-54C aircraft, nicknamed the Sacred Cow, included a sleeping area, radio telephone, and retractable
elevator to discreetly lift Roosevelt in his wheelchair. As modified, the VC-54C was used by President
Roosevelt only once, on his trip to the Yalta Conference in February 1945.[9]
The Independence used primarily by President Truman
After Roosevelt died in spring 1945, Vice President Harry S. Truman became President. The legislation that
created the U.S. Air Force, the National Security Act of 1947, was signed by Truman while on board the VC-
54C.[9] He replaced the VC-54C in 1947 with a modified C-118 Liftmaster, calling it the Independence (also the
name of Truman's hometown in Missouri). This was the first aircraft acting as Air Force One that had a
distinctive exterior–a bald eagle head painted on its nose.
The presidential call sign was established for security purposes during the administration of Dwight D.
Eisenhower. The change stemmed from a 1953 incident where an Eastern Airlines commercial flight (8610)
had the same call sign as a flight the president was on (Air Force 8610). The aircraft accidentally entered the
same airspace, and after the incident the unique call sign "Air Force One" was introduced for the presidential
aircraft. The first official flight of Air Force One was in 1959 during the Eisenhower administration.
The Columbine III used by President Eisenhower
Eisenhower also introduced four other propeller aircraft, the Lockheed C-121 Constellations (VC-121E) to
presidential service. These aircraft were named Columbine II and Columbine III by Mamie Eisenhower after
thecolumbine, the official state flower of Colorado, her adopted home state. Two Aero Commanders were also
added to the fleet and earned the distinction of being the smallest aircraft ever to serve as Air Force One.
President Eisenhower also upgraded Air Force One's technology by adding an air-to-ground telephone and an
air-to-ground teletype machine.
[edit]Boeing 707s
Main articles: VC-137C SAM 26000 and VC-137C SAM 27000
Towards the end of Eisenhower's term in 1958, the Air Force added three Boeing 707 jets (as VC-137s
designated SAM 970, 971, and 972), into the fleet.[11]Eisenhower became the first president to use the VC-137
during his "Flight to Peace" Goodwill tour, from 3 December through 22 December 1959. He visited 11 Asian
nations, flying 22,000 miles (35,000 km) in 19 days, about twice as fast as he would have on Columbine.
Boeing 707 (SAM 26000) served Presidents Kennedy to Clinton.
It was under John F. Kennedy that presidential air travel officially entered the jet age.[12] He had used the
Eisenhower-era jets for trips to Canada, France, Austria and the United Kingdom.[13] However, in October 1962,
the administration purchased a C-137 Stratoliner, a modified long-range 707—Special Air Mission (SAM)
26000.[14]
The Air Force had attempted a special presidential livery of their own design: a scheme in red and metallic
gold, with the nation's name in block letters. Kennedy felt the aircraft appeared too regal, and, on advice from
his wife, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, he contacted the French-born American industrial designer Raymond
Loewy for help in designing a new livery and interiors for the VC-137 jet.[2] Loewy met with the president, and
his earliest research on the project took him to the National Archives, where he looked at the first printed copy
of the United States Declaration of Independence, and saw the country's name set widely spaced and in upper
case in a typeface called Caslon. He chose to expose the polished aluminum fuselage on the bottom side, and
used two blues; a slate-blue associated with the early republic and the presidency, and a more
contemporary cyan to represent the present and future. Thepresidential seal was added to both sides of the
fuselage near the nose, a large American flag was painted on the tail, and the sides of the aircraft read "United
States of America" in all capital letters. Loewy's work won immediate praise from the president and the press.
The VC-137 markings were adapted for the larger VC-25 when it entered service in 1990.[15]
SAM 26000 was in service from 1962 to 1998, serving Presidents Kennedy to Clinton. On 22 November 1963,
SAM 26000 carried President Kennedy to Dallas, Texas, where it served as the backdrop as President and
Mrs. Kennedy greeted well-wishers at Dallas' Love Field. Later that afternoon, Kennedy was assassinated, and
Vice President Lyndon Johnson assumed the office of president and took the oath of office aboard SAM 26000.
At Johnson's request, the plane carried Kennedy's body back to Washington.[16] Seats and a bulkhead in the
rear of the plane were removed so Jacqueline Kennedy could sit with the slain president–avoiding the indignity
of transporting the casket in the cargo hold.[17] It also flew over Arlington National Cemetery as Kennedy was
being laid to rest, following 50 fighter jets. A decade later, it brought Johnson's own body to Washington for
his state funeral and then back home to Austin, Texas.[18][19][20]As the former president was laid to rest at his
ranch, a former pilot of SAM 26000 presented the flag to Lady Bird Johnson.[21] The former pilot also escorted
her during the state funeral, rather than commanding general of the Military District of Washington (MDW).[22]
Boeing 707 SAM 27000 as Air Force One SAM 27000 served Presidents Nixon to George H. W. Bush, and was the primary
transport for Nixon to Reagan.
SAM 26000 was replaced in 1972 by another VC-137, Special Air Mission 27000, although SAM 26000 was
kept as a backup until it was finally retired in 1998.[18] SAM 26000 is now on display at the National Museum of
the United States Air Force. Richard Nixon was the first president to use SAM 27000, and the newer aircraft
served every president until it was replaced by two VC-25 aircraft (SAM 28000 and 29000) in 1990. After
announcing his intention to resign, Nixon boarded SAM 27000 to travel to California. Colonel Ralph Albertazzie,
then pilot of Air Force One recounted Nixon's trip to California the day he resigned. After Mr. Ford was sworn in
as president, the plane had to be redesignated as SAM 27000, indicating no president was on board the
aircraft. “Air Force One was 39,000 feet over a point 13 miles southwest of Jefferson City, Missouri,”
Albertazzie wrote. “The time was 3 minutes and 25 seconds past noon." He "picked up his microphone and
spoke to ground control: ‘Kansas City, this was Air Force One. Will you change our call sign to SAM 27000?’
Back came the reply: ‘Roger, SAM 27000. Good luck to the President.’ “‘Roger, 27000.’”[23]
SAM 27000 was decommissioned in 2001 by President George W. Bush, flown to San Bernardino International
Airport in California, and later dismantled and taken to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley,
where it was reassembled and is currently on permanent display.
[edit]Boeing 747s
Air Force One and Air Force Two atParis-Orly Airport
See also: Boeing VC-25
Though Ronald Reagan's two terms as president saw no major changes to Air Force One, the manufacture of
the presidential aircraft version of the 747 began during his presidency. The USAF issued a Request For
Proposal in 1985 for two wide-body aircraft with a minimum of three engines and an unrefueled range of 6,000
miles. Boeing with the 747 and McDonnell Douglas with the DC-10 submitted proposals, and theReagan
Administration ordered two identical 747s to replace the aging 707s he used.[24] The interior designs were
drawn up by First Lady Nancy Reagan, and were reminiscent of the American Southwest.[24] The first of two
aircraft designated VC-25A was delivered in 1990, during the administration of George H. W. Bush. Delays
were experienced to allow for additional work to protect the aircraft from electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effects.
The VC-25 is equipped with both secure and unsecure phone and computer communications systems,
enabling the president to perform duties while in the air in the event of an attack on the United States.
President George W. Bush and First LadyLaura Bush walk on the tarmac as Air Force One sits at Bagram Air Base in
Afghanistan, 1 March 2006.
The presidential air fleet is maintained by the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.
Air Force One usually does not have fighter aircraft to escort the presidential aircraft over the United States, but
this has occurred. In June 1974, while President Nixon was on his way to a scheduled stop in Syria, Syrian
fighter jets intercepted Air Force One to act as escorts. However, the Air Force One crew was not informed in
advance and, as a result, took evasive action including a dive.[25]
[edit]On 9/11
One of the most dramatic episodes aboard Air Force One happened during the 9/11 attacks. President George
W. Bush was interrupted at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, after the attack on the
World Trade Center South Tower in New York City. He took off on a VC-25 from Sarasota-Bradenton
International Airport with Colonel Mark Tillman, the senior pilot of Air Force One that day, in charge. Air traffic
controllers gave Air Force One an ominous warning that a passenger jet was close to Air Force One and was
unresponsive to calls. "As we got over Gainesville, Florida., we got the word from Jacksonville Center. They
said, 'Air Force One you have traffic behind you and basically above you that is descending into you, we are
not in contact with them - they have shut their responder off.' And at that time it kind of led us to believe maybe
someone was coming into us in Sarasota, they saw us take off, they just stayed high and are following us at
this point. We had no idea what the capabilities of the terrorist were at that point."[26]
In response to this reported threat, Col. Tillman said he flew Air Force One out into the Gulf of Mexico to test
whether the other aircraft would follow. The other jet continued on its route, and Tillman said that it was later
explained to him that an airliner that had lost its transponder and that the pilots on-board had neglected to
switch to a new radio frequency. The transponder of a plane transmits an electronic identification signal of
itself. [26]
A threat came again when Tillman received a message warning of an imminent attack on Air Force One. "We
got word from the vice president and the staff that 'Angel was next,' Angel being the classified call sign of Air
Force One. Once we got into the Gulf [of Mexico] and they passed to us that 'Angel was next,' at that point I
asked for fighter support. If an airliner was part of the attack, it would be good to have fighters on the wing to go
ahead and take care of us." At this point, Tillman said that the plan to fly the president back to Washington, DC
was aborted and instead Tillman landed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana and Offutt Air Force
Base, Nebraska, where the president made a speech. Tillman explained that this was due to his concern that
because of the reported threat, Air Force One would be attacked when he returned to Andrews Air Force
Base. [26]
After the preliminary stops, the president was returned to Washington. The next day, officials at the White
House and the Justice Department explained that President Bush did this because there was "specific and
credible information that the White House and Air Force One were also intended targets."[27] The White House
later could not confirm evidence of a threat made against Air Force One, and subsequent investigation found
the original claim to be a result of miscommunication.[28]
President Barack Obama meets with staff in the conference room, 3 April 2009.
When President Bush came to the end of his second term in 2009, a VC-25 was used to transport him to
Texas. For this purpose the craft was called Special Air Mission 28000, as the aircraft did not carry the current
President of the United States. Similar arrangements were made for former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill
Clinton.
On 27 April 2009, a low-flying VC-25 circled New York City for a photo-op and training exercise and caused a
scare for many in New York.[29] Fallout from thephoto op incident led to the resignation of the director of
the White House Military Office.
[edit]Future replacement
The VC-25As are expected to be replaced, as they have become less cost-effective to operate. The USAF Air
Mobility Command has been charged with looking into possible replacements, including the new Boeing 747-
8 and the Airbus A380.[30] On 7 January 2009, the Air Force Materiel Command issued a new requirement for a
replacement aircraft to enter service beginning in 2017.[31] On 28 January 2009, EADS announced they would
not bid on the program, leaving Boeing the sole bidder, with either their Boeing 747–8 or Boeing 787
Dreamliner being proposed.[32][33]
[edit]Other presidential aircraft
Air Force One, the presidential state carand Secret Service Agents[34]
United Airlines was the only commercial airline to have operated Executive One, the designation given to a
civilian flight on which the U.S. President is aboard. On 26 December 1973, then-President Richard Nixon flew
as a passenger aboard a Washington Dulles to Los Angeles International flight. His staff explained that this
was done to conserve fuel by not having to fly the usual Boeing 707 Air Force aircraft.[35] However, the
President undertook only the outbound flight by commercial air, and used the usual Air Force craft for the return
journey.[citation needed]
In November 1999, President Bill Clinton flew from Ankara, Turkey, to Cengiz Topel Naval Air Station outside
Izmit, Turkey, aboard a marked C-20C (Gulfstream III) using the call sign "Air Force One", escorted by three F-
16s.
On 8 March 2000, President Clinton flew to Pakistan aboard an unmarked Gulfstream III while another aircraft
with the call sign "Air Force One" flew on the same route a few minutes later. This diversion was reported by
several U.S. press outlets.[36][37][38]
On 1 May 2003, President George W. Bush flew in the co-pilot seat of a VS-35 S-3 Viking from NAS North
Island, California to USS Abraham Lincoln off the California coast, where Bush delivered his "Mission
Accomplished" speech. During the flight, the aircraft used the callsign of "Navy One" for the first time.
In May 2009, President Barack Obama took the first lady on a date to New York City in a Gulfstream 500.[39] On
16 July 2010, the First Family flew to Mainefor vacation in a Gulfstream III painted in presidential colors.[40]
The president also flies in Marine One helicopters operated by the U.S. Marine Corps.
[edit]Air Force One aircraft on display
In 2005, President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, and former First LadyNancy Reagan toured SAM 27000, the
aircraft that served seven presidents from 1972–2001; it is now housed at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
Several presidential aircraft that have formerly served as Air Force One (Sacred
Cow, Independence, Columbine III, SAM 26000, and other smaller presidential aircraft) are on display in the
presidential hangar of the National Museum of the United States Air Force (located at Wright-Patterson
AFB nearDayton, Ohio) and at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington (earlier VC-137B SAM 970). The
Boeing 707 that served as Air Force One from the Nixon years through the George H. W. Bush administration
(SAM 27000) is on display in Simi Valley, California at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The library's Air
Force One Pavilion was opened to the public on 24 October 2005.
A VC-118A Liftmaster used by John F. Kennedy is on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson,
Arizona.
[edit]See also
United States Air Force portal
Aviation portal
Air Force One photo op incident
Air Force Two
Air transports of heads of state and government
Boeing C-32
Johnson Administration occasional Air Force One
List of official vehicles of the President of the United States
[edit]References
Notes
1. ̂ "Order 7110.65R (Air Traffic Control)." Federal Aviation Administration, 14
March 2007. Retrieved: 27 August 2007.
2. ^ a b Walsh 2003.
3. ̂ Wallace, Chris. "Aboard Air Force One." Fox News via FoxNews.com, 24
November 2008. Retrieved: 28 November 2008.
4. ̂ Hardesty 2003, pp. 31–32
5. ̂ "Mayflower Of The Air Ready For President." Popular Mechanics, May
1933.
6. ̂ "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft page 364,published by Orbis
Publishing Ltd ISBN 0-7607-0592-5
7. ̂ Hardesty 2003, p. 38.
8. ̂ Hardesty 2003, p. 39.
9. ^ a b c "Factsheet: Douglas VC-54C SACRED COW." National Museum of the
United States Air Force. Retrieved: 19 October 2009.
10. ^ a b c Dorr 2002, p. l34.
11. ̂ Associated Press (28 April 1959). "First of 3 Jets for President and Top
Aides Is Unveiled". The New York Times: p. 3.
12. ̂ Walsh 2003, p. 60
13. ̂ terHorst Albertazzie, pp. 198–201
14. ̂ Walsh 2003, p. 63
15. ̂ Hardesty 2003, p. 70
16. ̂ Johnson, Lyndon B. (1971). The Vantage Point: Perspectives of the
Presidency, 1963–1969. New York: Holt, Reinhart, & Winston. pp. 11–17.
17. ̂ Vogel, Steve (17 March 1998). "Countdown for the First Air Force
One". The Washington Post: p. B1.
18. ^ a b Thomma, Steve (20 May 1998). "Presidential Plane Heads for History;
This Air Force One Served Every President Since Kennedy. A Museum is
Next".The Philadelphia Inquirer: p. A14.
19. ̂ Foley, Thomas J. (25 January 1973). "Thousands in Washington Brave
Cold to say Goodbye to Johnson". The Los Angeles Times: p. A1.
20. ̂ Provence, Harry (25 January 1973). "Thousands Fill Capitol to Bid Lyndon
Farewell". The Waco Tribune-Herald.
21. ̂ Johnson, Haynes; Witcover, Jules (26 January 1973). "LBJ Buried in
Beloved Texas Hills". The Washington Post: p. A1.
22. ̂ Gamino, Denise (13 July 2007). "LBJ Library vigil to resemble late
president's". Austin American-Statesman: p. A10.
23. ̂ Hevesi, Dennis (16 August 2011). "Ralph Albertazzie, Nixon’s Pilot, Dies at
88". The New York Times: p. B16. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
24. ^ a b Williams, Rudi. "Reagan Makes First, Last Flight in Jet He
Ordered."United States Department of Defense, 10 June 2004. Retrieved: 23
June 2009.
25. ̂ "Washington Post Online conversation with Kenneth Walsh on his Air Force
One: A History of the Presidents and Their Planes ." Washington Post, 22
May 2002. Retrieved: 18 October 2009.
26. ^ a b c "'Angel is next': The terrifying message pilot of Air Force One got as he
flew President Bush on 9/11" The Daily Mail, 7 September 2011.
27. ̂ "Press Briefing by Ari Fleischer." White House News releases, September
2001. Retrieved: 18 October 2009.
28. ̂ Allen, Mike. "White House Drops Claim of Threat to Bush." The Washington
Post, 27 September 2001, p. A08. Retrieved: 28 February 2007.
29. ̂ Rao, Mythili and Ed Henry. " 'Furious' Obama orders review of NY plane
flyover." cnn.com, 28 April 2009. Retrieved: 18 October 2009.
30. ̂ Trimble, Stephen. "US considers Airbus A380 as Air Force One and
potentially a C-5 replacement." Flight Global, 17 October 2007. Retrieved: 23
June 2009.
31. ̂ Horine, Daniel. "USAF Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization (PAR)
Program." USAF Materiel Command, 7 January 2007. Retrieved: 8 January
2009.
32. ̂ Butler, Amy. "Boeing Only Contender for New Air Force
One".AviationWeek.com, 28 January 2009. Retrieved: 23 June 2009.
33. ̂ Gearan, Anne (January 23, 2009). "Air Force Searching for Air Force One
Replacement". Associated Press.
34. ̂ "Homeland Security Budget-in-Brief Fiscal Year 2009." United States
Department of Homeland Security, 2009. Retrieved: 31 January 2010.
35. ̂ Mudd, Roger and Richard Wagner. Vanderbilt Television News Archive
"President / Commercial Airline Flight." CBS News, 27 December 1973.
Retrieved: 23 June 2009.
36. ̂ Sammon, Bill. "Clinton uses decoy flight for security." Washington Times,
26 March 2000, p. C.1.
37. ̂ Haniffa, Aziz. "Playing hide-and-seek on trip to Islamabad." India Abroad.
New York: 31 March 2000, Vol. XXX, Issue 27, p. 22.
38. ̂ "Clinton's trip to Asia cost at least $50 million." Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
9 April 2000, p. 175 A.
39. ̂ Hurt, Charles and Stefanie Cohen. "Barack Obama takes Michelle on NYC
Date." nypost.com, 30 May 2009. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
40. ̂ Metzler, Rebekah. "Obama arrives for MDI vacation." Portland Press
Herald,16 July 2010. Retrieved: 16 July 2010.
Bibliography
Abbott, James A. and Elaine M. Rice. Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White
House Restoration. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1998. ISBN 0-442-02532-
7.
Albertazzie, Ralph and Jerald TerHorst Flying White House: The Story of Air Force
One. New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1979. ISBN 0-698-10930-9.
Braun, David "Q&A: U.S. Presidential Jet Air Force One." National Geographic
News, 29 May 2003.
Dorr, Robert F. Air Force One. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International,
2002. ISBN 0-7603-1055-6.
Hardesty, Von. Air Force One: The Aircraft that Shaped the Modern
Presidency. Chanhassen, Minnesota: Northword Press, 2003. ISBN 1-55971-894-
3.
Harris, Tom. "How Air Force One Works." HowStuffWorks.com. Retieved: 10
October 2006.
Walsh, Kenneth T. Air Force One: A History of the Presidents and Their
Planes. New York: Hyperion, 2003. ISBN 1-4013-0004-9}}
[edit]External links
Wikimedia Commons has
media related to: Air Force
One
VC-25 – Air Force One Fact Sheet on US Air Force site
SAM 26000 fact sheet on the National Museum of the United States Air Force
site
Presidential Gallery, featuring Boeing VC-137C known as SAM (Special Air
Mission) 26000
Air Force One page on WhiteHouse.gov
Facts and History of 707 as Air Force One and "Where they are Now?" on
707sim.com
Air Force One page on WhiteHouseMuseum.org
Air Force One Pavilion on ReaganFoundation.org
Truman Library & Museum
US Air Force image gallery
Boeing History of Air Force One
Technical Order 00-105E-9, Segment 9, Chapter 7
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How Air Force One Worksby Tom Harris
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Stuff They Don't Want You to Know Videos »Inside this Article
1. Introduction to How Air Force One Works
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Flight Image Gallery
Flight Image Gallery Air Force One flies over Mount Rushmore. See more pictures of flight.
Photo courtesy U.S. Air Force
Air Force One is a prominent symbol of the United States in general and the office of the presidency in
particular. Whenever the president travels overseas or across the country, he takes his high-tech deluxe
jumbo jet with him. On September 11th, the president's plane showed that it was much more than an
executive jet -- it became a mobile bunker when all ground positions seemed vulnerable to attack.
In this article, we'll see what sets Air Force One apart from otherplanes, and we'll find out what it takes to
send the president around the world. With all of the things that Air Force One carries, it's no wonder the
media calls it the "flying White House."
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Inside this Article1. Introduction to How Air Force One Works
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Air Force One
No matter where in the world the President travels, if he flies in an Air Force jet, the plane is called Air Force One. Technically, Air Force One is the call sign of any Air Force aircraft carrying the President. In practice, however, Air Force One is used to refer to one of two highly customized Boeing 747-200B series aircraft, which carry the tail codes 28000 and 29000. The Air Force designation for the aircraft is VC-25A.
Air Force One is one of the most recognizable symbols of the presidency, spawning countless references not just in American culture but across the world. Emblazoned with the words "United States of America," the American flag, and the Seal of the President of the United States, it is an undeniable presence wherever it flies.
Capable of refueling midair, Air Force One has unlimited range and can carry the President wherever he needs to travel. The onboard electronics are hardened to protect against an electromagnetic pulse, and Air Force One is equipped with advanced secure communications equipment, allowing the aircraft to function as a mobile command center in the event of an attack on the United States.
Inside, the President and his travel companions enjoy 4,000 square feet of floor space on three levels, including an extensive suite for the President that features a large office, lavatory, and conference room. Air Force One includes a medical suite that can function as an operating room, and a doctor is permanently on board. The plane’s two food preparation galleys can feed 100 people at a time.
Air Force One also has quarters for those who accompany the President, including senior advisors, Secret Service officers, traveling press, and other guests. Several cargo planes typically fly ahead of Air Force One to provide the President with services needed in remote locations.
Air Force One is maintained and operated by the Presidential Airlift Group, part of the White House Military Office. The Airlift Group was founded in 1944 as the Presidential Pilot Office at the direction of President Franklin D.
Roosevelt. For the next 20 years, various propeller driven aircraft served the President. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy became the first President to fly in his own jet aircraft, a modified Boeing 707. Over the years, several other jet aircraft have been used, with the first of the current aircraft being delivered in 1990 during the administration of President George H. W. Bush.
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Inside this Article1. Introduction to How Air Force One Works
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AIR FORCE ONE - INFORMATIONCONTENTS1. Overview 2. History 3. Capability and features 4. Transition to Boeing 747s
OVERVIEWAir Force One is the air traffic control call sign of any U.S. Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. Since 1990, the presidential fleet has consisted of two specifically configured, highly customized Boeing 747-200B series aircraft—tail numbers 28000 and 29000—with Air Force designation VC-25A. While these planes are referred to as "Air Force One" only while the president is on board, the term is commonly used to describe either of the two aircraft normally used and maintained by the U.S. Air Force solely for the president.
The VC-25A is capable of flying 12 600 km (7,800 miles)—roughly one-third the distance around the world—without refueling and can accommodate more than 70 passengers. Before these planes entered service, two Boeing 707-320B-type aircraft—tail numbers 26000 and 27000—had operated as Air Force One starting in 1962. The Air Force designation for these aircraft was VC-137. Since its inception, Air Force One has become a symbol of presidential power and prestige. Each VC-25A costs approximately US$325 million.
HISTORYTheodore Roosevelt became the first president to fly in a plane on October 11, 1910. At the time he was no longer in office, having been succeeded by William Howard Taft. However, prior to World War II, overseas and cross-country presidential travel was rare. Lack of wireless telecommunications and quick transportation made long-distance travel impractical, as it took up much time and isolated the president from events in Washington, D.C..
The first "flying presidents"
In the 1940s and 1950s, air travel became much more convenient. The first president to fly in an aircraft while in
office was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who traveled on a Boeing 314 flying boat to a 1943 conference in Casablanca on the progress of World War II. The threat from the German Navy's U-boats in the Atlantic made air travel the preferred method of transportation. The continuing threat from submarines established air travel as a usual means of intercontinental transportation for the president.
The first aircraft officially designated for presidential flight was the C-87A Liberator Express, a reconfigured B-24 bomber. This plane was called Guess Where Two. However, after a different C-87A crashed, Guess Where Two was no longer used for Roosevelt; the Secret Service reconfigured a C-54 Skymaster as a replacement. This plane was nicknamed the Sacred Cow and included a sleeping area, radio telephone, and retractable elevator for Roosevelt's wheelchair. It carried the president to several important events, most notably the Yalta Conference. The Secret Service, not wishing to waste resources, put the C-87A plane to use by having First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt use it instead.
After Roosevelt died in spring 1945, Vice President Harry S. Truman became President. He replaced the C-54 with a modified C-118 Liftmaster, calling it the Independence, possibly in reference to President Truman's hometown of Independence, Missouri. This was the first aircraft acting as Air Force One that had a distinctive exterior—a bald eagle head painted on its nose.
The presidential call sign was established for security purposes during the administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower. The change stemmed from a 1953 incident where an Eastern Airlines commercial flight (8610) had the same call sign as a flight the President was on (Air Force 8610). The planes accidentally entered the same airspace, and after the incident the unique call sign "Air Force One" was introduced for the presidential aircraft.
Eisenhower also introduced two other propeller aircraft, the Lockheed C-121 Constellations (VC-121E) to Presidential service. These planes were named Columbine II and Columbine III by Mamie Eisenhower after the columbine, the official state flower of Colorado, her adopted home state. President Eisenhower also upgraded Air Force One's technology by adding an air-to-ground telephone and an air-to-ground teletype machine. Towards the end of Eisenhower's term, in 1958, the Air Force added three Boeing 707 jets (designated SAM 970, 971, and 972) into the fleet. "Ike" became the first president to use the 707 during his "Flight to Peace" Goodwill tour, from Dec. 3 through 22, 1959. He visited 11 Asian nations, flying 22,000 miles in 19 days, about twice as fast as he would have on "Columbine"
CAPABILITY AND FEATURESThe VC-25A differ from the standard Boeing 747 in size, features, and security precautions. While Air Force One has three floors, like a regular Boeing 747, its interior has been reconfigured for presidential duties. The planes' 4,000 square feet (370 m²) of interior floor space include multiple modifications. The planes' lowest levels are mostly cargo space, carrying luggage and the plane's food supply. The plane has storage and freezer capacity to provide up to 2,000 meals when fully loaded. Meals are prepared in two galleys, which together are equipped to feed about 100 people at a time.
The main passenger area is on the second floor, and communications equipment and the cockpit are on the third floor. There are three entrances onboard, two on the lower and one on the main deck. Typically the president boards and deplanes from the front, main deck entrance via an airstair, while journalists and other passengers enter at the lower rear door. Facilities for the press and other passengers are configured like an ordinary airliner's first-class cabin.[1]
On board Air Force One are medical facilities, including a fold-out operating table, emergency medical supplies, and a well-stocked pharmacy; President George W. Bush had a treadmill added to Air Force One during his term in office. Every flight is staffed by a doctor. There are separate quarters for guests, senior staff, Secret Service and security personnel, and the news media. The president's executive suite includes a sleeping quarters with two couches that can be converted into beds, lavatory and shower, and private office. These offices, including the president's suite, are mostly located on the starboard, and a long corridor runs along the port. When Air Force One taxis to an airport's ramp for events, it comes to a stop with the left side of the aircraft facing gathered onlookers.[citation needed]
In the office areas, Air Force One has photocopying, printing, and word processing services, as well as telecommunication systems (including 85 telephones and 19 televisions). There are also secure and non-secure voice, fax, and data communications facilities.
The planes can also be operated as a military command center in the event of an incident such as a nuclear attack. Operational modifications include aerial refueling capability and anti-aircraft missile countermeasures. The electronics on board are connected with approximately 238 miles (383 km) of wiring, twice that of a regular 747. All wiring is covered with heavy shielding for protection from an electromagnetic pulse in the event of a nuclear attack. The planes also have electronic countermeasures (ECMs) to jam enemy radar, flares to avoid heat-seeking missiles, and chaff to avoid radar-guided missiles. Many of Air Force One's other capabilities are classified for security reasons.
The VC-25A has also been used to fly former presidents on their final flights after death. Both President Reagan's
(aboard SAM 28000) and President Ford's (aboard SAM 29000) caskets were transported to and from Washington for their state funerals, and on to their final resting place aboard the VC-25A. The casket is placed within the mid - aft section of the 747 on the main deck, and enters/exits via the fourth door on the port side of the plane. Chairs in this area which normally serve as a staff cabin are removed and the casket is strapped down. A specially designed hydraulic lifter (similar to the type used by airline catering) with the presidential seal affixed to the sides lifts the casket up to the door to enter the 747.
TRANSITION TO BOEING 747SThough Ronald Reagan's two terms as President saw no major changes to Air Force One, the fabrication of the current 747s began under his presidency. Most of the interior was completed in Wichita, Kansas.[citation needed] The first aircraft was delivered in 1990, during the administration of George H. W. Bush. The delays were to allow for additional work to protect the aircraft from electromagnetic pulse (EMP).
One of the most dramatic episodes aboard Air Force One happened on September 11, 2001, when it flew President George W. Bush from Sarasota, Florida, where he was interrupted at an education event because of a second attack on New York. President Bush flew on Air Force One to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, and then flew to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, before returning to Washington. The next day, officials at the White House and the Justice Department said that Bush did this because there was "credible evidence that the White House and Air Force One were targets."
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VC-25 - AIR FORCE ONEPosted 1/27/2006 Printable Fact Sheet
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The mission of the VC-25 aircraft -- Air Force One -- is to provide air transport for the president of the United States.
The presidential air transport fleet consists of two specially configured Boeing 747-200B's -- tail numbers 28000 and 29000 -- with the Air Force designation VC-25. When the president is aboard either aircraft, or any Air Force aircraft, the radio call sign is "Air Force One."
Principal differences between the VC-25 and the standard Boeing 747, other than the number of passengers carried, are the state of the art navigation, electronic and communications equipment, its interior configuration and furnishings, self-contained baggage loader, front and aft air-stairs, and the capability for in-flight refueling.
Accommodations for the president include an executive suite consisting of a stateroom (with dressing room, lavatory and shower) and the president's office. A conference/dining room is also available for the president, his family and staff. Other separate accommodations are provided for guests, senior staff, Secret Service and security personnel, and the news media.
Two galleys provide up to 100 meals at one sitting. Six passenger lavatories, including disabled access facilities, are provided as well as a rest area and mini-galley for the aircrew. The VC-25 also has a compartment outfitted with medical equipment and
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supplies for minor medical emergencies. The aircraft is one of a kind.
Background These aircraft are flown by the Presidential Airlift Group, and are assigned to Air Mobility Command's 89th Airlift Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.
Presidential air transport began in 1944 when a C-54 -- the "Sacred Cow" -- was put into service for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Then came the "Independence," a DC-6 (Liftmaster), which transported President Harry S. Truman during the period 1947 to 1953. President Dwight D. Eisenhower traveled aboard the "Columbine II" and "Columbine III" from 1953 to 1961. While the call sign "Air Force One" was first used in the 50s, President Kennedy's VC-137 (Boeing 707) was the first aircraft to be popularly known as "Air Force One."
In 1962, a C-137C specifically purchased for use as Air Force One, entered into service with the tail number 26000. It is perhaps the most widely known and most historically significant presidential aircraft. Tail number 26000 is the aircraft that carried President Kennedy to Dallas, Nov. 22, 1963, and returned the body to Washington, D.C., following his assassination. Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn into office as the 36th president on board the aircraft at Love Field in Dallas. This fateful aircraft also was used to return President Johnson's body to Texas following his state funeral Jan. 24, 1973. In 1972 President Richard M. Nixon made historic visits aboard 26000 to the People's Republic of China and to the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Tail number 26000 was retired May 1998, and is on display at the U.S. Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
Tail number 27000 replaced 26000 and carved its own history when it was used to fly Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter to Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 19, 1981, to represent the United States at the funeral of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.
The first VC-25A -- tail number 28000 -- flew as "Air Force One" on Sept. 6, 1990, when it transported President George Bush to Kansas, Florida and back to Washington, D.C. A second VC-25A, tail number 29000 transported Presidents Clinton, Carter and Bush to Israel for the funeral of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The VC-25A will usher presidential travel into the 21st century, upholding the proud tradition and distinction of being known as "Air Force One."
General Characteristics Primary Function: Presidential air transport Contractor: Boeing Airplane Co. Power Plant: Four General Electric CF6-80C2B1 jet engines
56,700 pounds, each engine 231 feet, 10 inches (70.7 meters) 63 feet, 5 inches (19.3 meters)
Wingspan: 195 feet, 8 inches (59.6 meters) 630 miles per hour (Mach 0.92) 45,100 feet (13,746 meters)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 833,000 pounds (374,850 kilograms) 7,800 statute miles (6,800 nautical miles) (12,550 kilometers)
26 (passenger/crew capacity: 102) Introduction Date: Dec. 8, 1990 (No. 28000); Dec. 23, 1990 (No. 29000) Date Deployed: Sept. 6, 1990 (No. 28000); Mar. 26, 1991 (No. 29000)
Active force, 2; ANG, 0; Reserve, 0
Point of ContactAir Mobility Command, Office of Public Affairs; 503 Ward Drive, Suite 217; Scott Air Force Base, Ill. 62225-5335; DSN 779-7843 or (618) 229-7843
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