Air Force One Today
The current Presidential aircraft, Boeing VC-25As SAM 28000 and 29000 (modified Boeing 747-200B airliners), are the most capable Presidential aircraft ever. Boasting more than 4,000 square feet of floor space on three levels, the jets are equipped with the President’s office, conference room, bedroom, bathroom, gym, and other amenities. Capable of communicating with just about anyone, anywhere, anytime, the jets are also hardened against electronic interference, are equipped with all manner of countermeasures, and can fly more or less until the food runs out. A couple of newer 747-8 airframes have recently been identified as the next Presidential aircraft.
Other Trivial Tidbits-
Columbine III
High-resolution (at the time) cameras were installed in the wheel wells of the Lockheed VC-121E Super Constellation (modified Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation) named Columbine III for a short period of time during 1959 while Ike was POTUS.
Columbine III was the last propeller-driven aircraft to be designated Air Force One before the VC-137 entered service in 1962.
Air Force One Callsign is Born
The Air Force One callsign was first used during the Eisenhower administration.
Tiny Air Force One
Two Aero U-4B Commander twin engine aircraft were the smallest aircraft to use the Air Force One designation and the first to sport the blue and white paint scheme.
The VC-137 Arrives
In 1958 the Air Force added three standard Boeing 707 jets (designated VC-137s and assigned Air Force serial numbers SAM 970, 971, and 972). Though it would be several more years before SAM 26000 became synonymous with Air Force One, these were Boeing’s first Presidential transports.
LBJ and His Texas Special Air Force One
A Beech VC-6A King Air (a B90 King Air) served as Air Force One when LBJ flew between Bergstrom AFB near Austin in Texas and his family ranch near Johnson City. The aircraft wore no special paint scheme but like all aircraft aboard which the POTUS flies, it carried the callsign. LBJ also used a Lockheed JetStar business jet for this commute.
Navy One
President George W Bush flew from Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island in San Diego out to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CNV-72) offshore on May 1st 2003. The Sea Control Squadron THREE FIVE (VS-35) Blue Wolves Lockheed S-3B Viking carried the callsign Navy 1 while W was aboard. W was the first sitting president to log a trap aboard an aircraft carrier (though he wasn’t flying Navy 1), and he and his father are the only two Presidents to snag a cross-deck pendant.
Usually Your Takeoffs and Landings Should Match…
VC-137C SAM 27000 took off as Air Force One and landed as SAM 27000 in 1974 when Richard Nixon left Washington for California and President Ford (38th President- 1974-1977) was sworn in while Nixon was airborne. For that reason SAM 27000 has 1,440 takeoffs but only 1,439 landings as Air Force One.
