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Join the Air ForceInformation > Factsheets > VC-25 - Air Force One                                                             VC-25 - Air                                 Force OnePosted 1/27/2006                                 Printable Fact SheetPhotos1 of 3Download                                 HiResDownload                                 HiResDownload                                 HiResMission The                                 mission of the VC-25 aircraft -- Air Force One                                 -- is to provide air transport for the president                                 of the United States.                                 Features 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                                 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                                 Thrust: 56,700 pounds, each                                 engine Length: 231 feet, 10                                 inches (70.7 meters)                                 Height: 63 feet, 5 inches                                 (19.3 meters) Wingspan: 195                                 feet, 8 inches (59.6 meters)                                 Speed: 630 miles per hour                                 (Mach 0.92) Ceiling: 45,100                                 feet (13,746 meters) Maximum Takeoff                                 Weight: 833,000 pounds (374,850                                 kilograms) Range: 7,800                                 statute miles (6,800 nautical miles) (12,550                                 kilometers) Crew: 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)                                 Inventory: Active force, 2;                                 ANG, 0; Reserve, 0Point 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 Inside                               AF.milSearchAdvanced                                 SearchView All RSS AircraftA-10                               Thunderbolt IIAC-130H/UB-1B                               LancerB-2                               SpiritB-52                               StratofortressC-130                               HerculesC-17                               Globemaster IIIC-20C-21C-32C-37AC-40B/CC-5                               GalaxyCV-22                               OspreyE-3                               Sentry (AWACS)E-4BE-8C                               Joint StarsE-9AEC-130H                               Compass CallEC-130J                               Commando SoloF-15                               EagleF-15E                               Strike EagleF-16                               Fighting FalconF-22                               RaptorHC-130P/N                               KingHH-60G                               Pave HawkKC-10                               ExtenderKC-135                               StratotankerMC-12MC-130E/H                               Combat Talon I/IIMC-130P                               Combat ShadowMC-130W                               Combat SpearOC-135B                               Open SkiesRC-135U                               Combat SentRC-135V/W                               Rivet JointT-1A                               JayhawkT-37                               TweetT-38                               TalonT-43AT-6A                               Texan IIU-2S/TU-2SUH-1N                               IroquoisVC-25                               - Air Force OneWC-130                               HerculesWC-135                               Constant                         Phoenix            The Official Web site of the United States Air             Force Site MapContact                   UsQuestionsSecurity and                   Privacy noticeE-publishing