U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet

VC-25 - AIR FORCE ONE

Mission

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

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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, 0

Point of Contact

Air 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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