VC-25 - Air Force One > U.S. Air Force > Fact Sheet Display PRINT | E-MAIL 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 electronic and communications equipment, 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. Background Presidential air transport began in 1944 when a VC-54, nicknamed the "Sacred Cow," was put into service for Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt. President Roosevelt’s successor, President Harry S. Truman, used the aircraft extensively during the first 27 months of his administration. On July 26, 1947, President Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 on board the Sacred Cow. This act established the US Air Force as an independent service, making the Sacred Cow the “birthplace” of the US Air Force. Then came a VC-118, nicknamed the "Independence,” which transported President Harry S. Truman during the period 1947 to 1953. It was nicknamed “Independence” after President Truman’s hometown, Independence, Missouri. President Dwight D.

Eisenhower traveled aboard a VC-121A and VC-121E, both nicknamed "Columbine II" and "Columbine III", from 1953 to 1961. These two aircraft were named after the official state flower of Colorado in honor of Mrs. Eisenhower’s home state. While the call sign "Air Force One" was first used in the 50s, President Kennedy's VC-137 was the first aircraft to be popularly known as "Air Force One." In 1962, a VC-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. 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 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. Tail number 29000 also carved its name in history on September 11, 2001, when President George W. Bush was interrupted as he attended an event at Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, after the attack on the World Trade Center South Tower in New York City.

The aircrew safely returned the President and staff members back to Washington, D.C. despite increased threats. On March 23, 2016, tail number 28000 had the honor of transporting President Barrack H. Obama on a historic trip to Cuba. It was the first visit by a sitting U.S. president since President Calvin Coolidge in 1928. Today, these aircraft are operated and maintained by the Presidential Airlift Group, and are assigned to Air Mobility Command's 89th Airlift Wing located at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The VC-25A continues the unique mission of presidential travel, 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: 30 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 (Current as of June 2016) President Barack Obama boards Air Force One touches down in Malaysia (20/11/15) 4K UHD - YouTube President Barack Obama boards Air Force One touches down in Malaysia (20/11/15) 4K UHD Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Nov 20, 2015 The Boeing 747 known as Air Force One (Boeing VC-25), carrying President Barack Obama of the United States, has landed at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Base in Subang this afternoon. President Barack Obama arrived here today on a three-day working visit to attend the 27th Asean Summit and related summits.

美国总统奥巴马乘＇空军一号＇专机抵达馬來西亞吉隆坡进行为期三天的访问 (27th Asean Summit)。 大統領専用機 エアフォースワン Boeing Is Jet of Choice for US Presidents Picture | Air Force One: US Presidents and Their Planes Since 1943 - ABC News ABC News Air Force One: US Presidents and Their Planes Since 1943 + − Boeing Is Jet of Choice for US Presidents A Boeing VC-137C, also known as the 707, was used as Air Force One for three more decades and serviced seven presidents after John F. Kennedy, before being retired in 1998. The jet, seen here landing at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, was the first presidential aircraft painted blue and white instead from the standard military colors. U.S. Air Force The Current Air Force One Plane President Barack Obama arrives at Love Field Airport, Nov. 6, 2013, in Dallas on one of two identical, highly-customized Boeing VC-25 aircraft in the U.S. Air Force fleet.

The plane with tail number 29000 -- known commercially as a 747-200 -- flew its first presidential mission in March 1991.&nbsp; Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo President Obama Has Flown 1 Million Miles President Barack Obama arrives on Air Force One at Sky Harbor International Airport, March 13, 2015, in Phoenix. &nbsp;Obama has visited 48 states and 49 countries aboard the plane, flying more than 1.1 million miles since taking office, according to the U.S. Air Force.&nbsp; Matt York/AP Photo FDR First Airborne US President President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is seen on board a Boeing 314 Clipper aircraft returning to the United States after the Casablana Conference, circa 1945. Roosevelt was the first American president to be transported by aircraft, starting in 1943.&nbsp; Fox Photos/Getty Images 'Sacred Cow' First Official Presidential Plane The Douglas VC-54C &quot;Sacred Cow,&quot; seen here at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, became the first official presidential airplane in 1944.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to use the &quot;Sacred Cow&quot; in 1945 just before he died. The plane features an elevator that would lift FDR in his wheelchair aboard the plane. U.S. Air Force Plane Becomes 'Air Force One' Under Eisenhower President Dwight D. Eisenhower talks with his advisors on board Air Force One while flying to Turkey, Dec. 1, 1959. The president plane received its radio call sign &quot;Air Force One&quot; in the mid-1950s.&nbsp; Paul Schutzer/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Presidential Prop Plane Becomes Trainer for Parachuters The Aero Commander U-4B, seen here at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, was used by President Eisenhower from 1956 - 1960. Once the plane was decommissioned it was sent to the Air Force Academy to help cadets with parachute training. U.S. Air Force The First Presidential Helicopter <p> The Bell UH-13J Sioux, seen here at the National Museum of the U.S.

Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, is the first helicopter to transport an American president. Dwight Eisenhower became the first commander-in-chief to fly in a chopper. In 1962, the UH-13 was retired from presidential service and later used to transport high-ranking dignitaries.</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> U.S. Air Force Kennedy Inaugurates Presidential Jet Travel President John F. Kennedy and wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, wave goodbye from the doorway of Air Force One as they prepare to embark for Vienna, June 4, 1961. The first presidential jet -- the Boeing 707 -- entered service during the Kennedy administration.&nbsp; AP Photo Boeing Is Jet of Choice for US Presidents A Boeing VC-137C, also known as the 707, was used as Air Force One for three more decades and serviced seven presidents after John F. Kennedy, before being retired in 1998. The jet, seen here landing at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, was the first presidential aircraft painted blue and white instead from the standard military colors. U.S.

Air Force Air Force One Carries Kennedy's Casket Lyndon Johnson takes the oath of office aboard Air Force One after President Kennedy's assassination in Texas. &nbsp;Former First Lady Jackie Kennedy, right, looks on with Lady Bird Johnson, Jack Valenti and Congressman Albert Thomas, Nov. 22, 1963. &nbsp;Kennedy's casket was also on board.&nbsp; Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images LBJ Used Aircraft to Visit Texas Ranch The twin-engine Beech VC-6A entered service in 1966 to transport Lyndon B. Johnson and his family to and from their Texas ranch.&nbsp; Whenever the president was aboard, it received the call sign &quot;Air Force One.&quot; &nbsp;The plane is now on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.&nbsp; U.S. Air Force Nixon Flew Historic Missions Aboard Air Force One <p> President Richard Nixon gestures as he talks with Secretary of State William Rogers, left, and National Security adviser Henry Kissinger, July 18, 1971, as they returned from San Clemente, Calif., to Washington aboard Air Force One.

Nixon flew several historic missions aboard the plane, including the groundbreaking first presidential visit to the People's Republic of China in 1972.&nbsp;</p> AP Photo Air Force One Not Always Jumbo The Lockheed VC-140B Jetstar was used to transport several presidents including Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan. The plane was decommissioned in 1987 and is seen here at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. U.S. Air Force Presidents Behind the Scenes On-board Air Force One, President Ford poses with Candice Bergen, who was on a photo assignment for Ladies' Home Journal, Feb. 4, 1975 in Atlanta. More than 60 photographers had turns at exclusive access to Ford during his time in office, but none created a bigger stir than the famous Ms.Bergen, who was also the first female photographer to shoot a behind-the-scenes story on an American president. David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images Presidents, Press Share Cabin Space President Jimmy Carter and press secretary Jody Powell, right, chat with reporters while standing in the aisle of Air Force One prior to landing at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Oct.

20, 1979. Carter was returning to Washington after attending the dedication of the John F. Kennedy presidential library in Boston, Mass.&nbsp; Charles Tasnadi/AP Photo The Flying Oval Office President Ronald Reagan talks to one of his aides on-board Air Force One during his re-election campaign, June 1, 1984, over Texas. One of the two retired Boeing VC-137C aircraft used as Air Force One now resides at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. &nbsp; Robert R McElroy/Getty Images Airborne Presidential Press Briefings President George H.W. Bush holds a news conference aboard Air Force One as he flies between college commencements speeches in Mississippi, May 13, 1989. Bush urged the people of Defense Forces of Panama to drive Gen. Manuel Noriega from power. &nbsp;Bush inaugurated the current fleet of presidential jet aircraft, which entered service in 1990.&nbsp; Marcy Nighswander/AP Photo Smaller Presidential Planes for Smaller Airports President Bill Clinton waves as he and daughter Chelsea Clinton disembark from Air Force One after arriving in Queenstown, New Zealand, Sept.

14, 1999. The U.S. Air Force regularly employs smaller jets in the fleet to transport the president to small airports with shorter runways unable to accommodate a Boeing 747. &nbsp; Greg Gibson/AP Photo Reporters Rarely See the President On-Board President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton share a box of Valentine's Day chocolates with Ann Compton of ABC News, right, and other members of the press corps aboard Air Force One, Feb. 14, 1999. The Clintons were on their way for a two-day visit with Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo in Merida, Mexico. Presidents rarely visit the press cabin, which is in the far rear of the plane.&nbsp; Greg Gibson/AP Photo Secure Calls From the Sky President Bill Clinton speaks on the telephone aboard Air Force One, July 17, 1993, over Missouri. The modified Boeing 747-200 was first used by George H.W. Bush when it entered service in 1990. The plane has state-of-the-art, fully-secure communications equipment, making it a mobile presidential command center.

&nbsp; Diana Walker/Liaison/Getty Images Safe Haven on 9/11 President George W. Bush speaks to Vice President Dick Cheney by phone aboard Air Force One on Sept. 11, 2001. After the attacks in New York City, Pennsylvania and Washington, Bush directed the federal government's initial emergency response from the safety of the skies. &nbsp;Here he is seen after departing Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.&nbsp; Eric Draper/The White House/Getty Images Presidents Fly Together President Obama and former President George W. Bush turn to joke with White House Doctor Ronny Jackson (off-camera) shortly after they boarded Air Force One for a trip to South Africa, Dec. 9, 2013. Dr. Jackson also worked as a White House physician during the Bush administration. The plane has a medical annex where treatment can be provided to the president, staff and crew.&nbsp; Pete Souza/The White House Productivity on the Plane <p> President Barack Obama signs a bill that will give the Congressional Gold Medal to the foot soldiers who participated in Bloody Sunday in Selma, Ala.

&nbsp;Obama flew Air Force One to Alabama on March 7, 2015, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when civil rights marchers clashed with police during a march to Montgomery.&nbsp;</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Airborne West Wing President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama join staff aboard Air Force One during their flight, April 3, 2009, from Stansted Airport in Essex, England, en route to Strasbourg, France. The plane can accommodate 102 passengers and crew across its 4,000 square feet of interior floor space.&nbsp; Pete Souza Setting Flight Mileage Records President Barack Obama meets with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton aboard Air Force One during a flight from Stansted Airport in Essex, England, to France on April 3, 2009. &nbsp;Clinton traveled more than 957,000 miles with stops in 112 countries as secretary -- an all-time record.

&nbsp;As of April 22, 2015, Obama had flown 1.1 million miles with stops in 49 countries aboard Air Force One.&nbsp; Pete Souza Presidential Plane As Campaign Backdrop <p> President Barack Obama speaks in front of Air Force One at a campaign event at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Oct. 25, 2012. The event capped a 48-hour, eight-state campaign swing covering 6,500 miles. Obama spent one night on-board the plane as it flew from Nevada to Florida. In Cleveland, the last stop, the plane taxied up to the bleachers and stage with Obama's podium and teleprompter.&nbsp;</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> Tony Dejak/AP Photo The Future Air Force One The next generation of Air Force One jets will be Boeing-made, the Pentagon says. They will be twin-engine Boeing 747-8 models, an upgrade from the current design that entered service in 1990.

&nbsp;The planes are expected to begin carrying the American president in 2023.&nbsp; Boeing The Future Air Force One Picture | Air Force One: US Presidents and Their Planes Since 1943 - ABC News ABC News Air Force One: US Presidents and Their Planes Since 1943 + − The Future Air Force One The next generation of Air Force One jets will be Boeing-made, the Pentagon says. They will be twin-engine Boeing 747-8 models, an upgrade from the current design that entered service in 1990. The planes are expected to begin carrying the American president in 2023. Boeing The Current Air Force One Plane President Barack Obama arrives at Love Field Airport, Nov. 6, 2013, in Dallas on one of two identical, highly-customized Boeing VC-25 aircraft in the U.S. Air Force fleet.

The plane with tail number 29000 -- known commercially as a 747-200 -- flew its first presidential mission in March 1991.&nbsp; Tony Gutierrez/AP Photo President Obama Has Flown 1 Million Miles President Barack Obama arrives on Air Force One at Sky Harbor International Airport, March 13, 2015, in Phoenix. &nbsp;Obama has visited 48 states and 49 countries aboard the plane, flying more than 1.1 million miles since taking office, according to the U.S. Air Force.&nbsp; Matt York/AP Photo FDR First Airborne US President President Franklin Delano Roosevelt is seen on board a Boeing 314 Clipper aircraft returning to the United States after the Casablana Conference, circa 1945. Roosevelt was the first American president to be transported by aircraft, starting in 1943.&nbsp; Fox Photos/Getty Images 'Sacred Cow' First Official Presidential Plane The Douglas VC-54C &quot;Sacred Cow,&quot; seen here at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, became the first official presidential airplane in 1944.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to use the &quot;Sacred Cow&quot; in 1945 just before he died. The plane features an elevator that would lift FDR in his wheelchair aboard the plane. U.S. Air Force Plane Becomes 'Air Force One' Under Eisenhower President Dwight D. Eisenhower talks with his advisors on board Air Force One while flying to Turkey, Dec. 1, 1959. The president plane received its radio call sign &quot;Air Force One&quot; in the mid-1950s.&nbsp; Paul Schutzer/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images Presidential Prop Plane Becomes Trainer for Parachuters The Aero Commander U-4B, seen here at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, was used by President Eisenhower from 1956 - 1960. Once the plane was decommissioned it was sent to the Air Force Academy to help cadets with parachute training. U.S. Air Force The First Presidential Helicopter <p> The Bell UH-13J Sioux, seen here at the National Museum of the U.S.

Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, is the first helicopter to transport an American president. Dwight Eisenhower became the first commander-in-chief to fly in a chopper. In 1962, the UH-13 was retired from presidential service and later used to transport high-ranking dignitaries.</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> U.S. Air Force Kennedy Inaugurates Presidential Jet Travel President John F. Kennedy and wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, wave goodbye from the doorway of Air Force One as they prepare to embark for Vienna, June 4, 1961. The first presidential jet -- the Boeing 707 -- entered service during the Kennedy administration.&nbsp; AP Photo Boeing Is Jet of Choice for US Presidents A Boeing VC-137C, also known as the 707, was used as Air Force One for three more decades and serviced seven presidents after John F. Kennedy, before being retired in 1998. The jet, seen here landing at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, was the first presidential aircraft painted blue and white instead from the standard military colors. U.S.

Air Force Air Force One Carries Kennedy's Casket Lyndon Johnson takes the oath of office aboard Air Force One after President Kennedy's assassination in Texas. &nbsp;Former First Lady Jackie Kennedy, right, looks on with Lady Bird Johnson, Jack Valenti and Congressman Albert Thomas, Nov. 22, 1963. &nbsp;Kennedy's casket was also on board.&nbsp; Gamma-Keystone/Getty Images LBJ Used Aircraft to Visit Texas Ranch The twin-engine Beech VC-6A entered service in 1966 to transport Lyndon B. Johnson and his family to and from their Texas ranch.&nbsp; Whenever the president was aboard, it received the call sign &quot;Air Force One.&quot; &nbsp;The plane is now on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.&nbsp; U.S. Air Force Nixon Flew Historic Missions Aboard Air Force One <p> President Richard Nixon gestures as he talks with Secretary of State William Rogers, left, and National Security adviser Henry Kissinger, July 18, 1971, as they returned from San Clemente, Calif., to Washington aboard Air Force One.

Nixon flew several historic missions aboard the plane, including the groundbreaking first presidential visit to the People's Republic of China in 1972.&nbsp;</p> AP Photo Air Force One Not Always Jumbo The Lockheed VC-140B Jetstar was used to transport several presidents including Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan. The plane was decommissioned in 1987 and is seen here at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. U.S. Air Force Presidents Behind the Scenes On-board Air Force One, President Ford poses with Candice Bergen, who was on a photo assignment for Ladies' Home Journal, Feb. 4, 1975 in Atlanta. More than 60 photographers had turns at exclusive access to Ford during his time in office, but none created a bigger stir than the famous Ms.Bergen, who was also the first female photographer to shoot a behind-the-scenes story on an American president. David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images Presidents, Press Share Cabin Space President Jimmy Carter and press secretary Jody Powell, right, chat with reporters while standing in the aisle of Air Force One prior to landing at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, Oct.

20, 1979. Carter was returning to Washington after attending the dedication of the John F. Kennedy presidential library in Boston, Mass.&nbsp; Charles Tasnadi/AP Photo The Flying Oval Office President Ronald Reagan talks to one of his aides on-board Air Force One during his re-election campaign, June 1, 1984, over Texas. One of the two retired Boeing VC-137C aircraft used as Air Force One now resides at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. &nbsp; Robert R McElroy/Getty Images Airborne Presidential Press Briefings President George H.W. Bush holds a news conference aboard Air Force One as he flies between college commencements speeches in Mississippi, May 13, 1989. Bush urged the people of Defense Forces of Panama to drive Gen. Manuel Noriega from power. &nbsp;Bush inaugurated the current fleet of presidential jet aircraft, which entered service in 1990.&nbsp; Marcy Nighswander/AP Photo Smaller Presidential Planes for Smaller Airports President Bill Clinton waves as he and daughter Chelsea Clinton disembark from Air Force One after arriving in Queenstown, New Zealand, Sept.

14, 1999. The U.S. Air Force regularly employs smaller jets in the fleet to transport the president to small airports with shorter runways unable to accommodate a Boeing 747. &nbsp; Greg Gibson/AP Photo Reporters Rarely See the President On-Board President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton share a box of Valentine's Day chocolates with Ann Compton of ABC News, right, and other members of the press corps aboard Air Force One, Feb. 14, 1999. The Clintons were on their way for a two-day visit with Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo in Merida, Mexico. Presidents rarely visit the press cabin, which is in the far rear of the plane.&nbsp; Greg Gibson/AP Photo Secure Calls From the Sky President Bill Clinton speaks on the telephone aboard Air Force One, July 17, 1993, over Missouri. The modified Boeing 747-200 was first used by George H.W. Bush when it entered service in 1990. The plane has state-of-the-art, fully-secure communications equipment, making it a mobile presidential command center.

&nbsp; Diana Walker/Liaison/Getty Images Safe Haven on 9/11 President George W. Bush speaks to Vice President Dick Cheney by phone aboard Air Force One on Sept. 11, 2001. After the attacks in New York City, Pennsylvania and Washington, Bush directed the federal government's initial emergency response from the safety of the skies. &nbsp;Here he is seen after departing Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska.&nbsp; Eric Draper/The White House/Getty Images Presidents Fly Together President Obama and former President George W. Bush turn to joke with White House Doctor Ronny Jackson (off-camera) shortly after they boarded Air Force One for a trip to South Africa, Dec. 9, 2013. Dr. Jackson also worked as a White House physician during the Bush administration. The plane has a medical annex where treatment can be provided to the president, staff and crew.&nbsp; Pete Souza/The White House Productivity on the Plane <p> President Barack Obama signs a bill that will give the Congressional Gold Medal to the foot soldiers who participated in Bloody Sunday in Selma, Ala.

&nbsp;Obama flew Air Force One to Alabama on March 7, 2015, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when civil rights marchers clashed with police during a march to Montgomery.&nbsp;</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Airborne West Wing President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama join staff aboard Air Force One during their flight, April 3, 2009, from Stansted Airport in Essex, England, en route to Strasbourg, France. The plane can accommodate 102 passengers and crew across its 4,000 square feet of interior floor space.&nbsp; Pete Souza Setting Flight Mileage Records President Barack Obama meets with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton aboard Air Force One during a flight from Stansted Airport in Essex, England, to France on April 3, 2009. &nbsp;Clinton traveled more than 957,000 miles with stops in 112 countries as secretary -- an all-time record.

&nbsp;As of April 22, 2015, Obama had flown 1.1 million miles with stops in 49 countries aboard Air Force One.&nbsp; Pete Souza Presidential Plane As Campaign Backdrop <p> President Barack Obama speaks in front of Air Force One at a campaign event at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Oct. 25, 2012. The event capped a 48-hour, eight-state campaign swing covering 6,500 miles. Obama spent one night on-board the plane as it flew from Nevada to Florida. In Cleveland, the last stop, the plane taxied up to the bleachers and stage with Obama's podium and teleprompter.&nbsp;</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> <p> &nbsp;</p> Tony Dejak/AP Photo The Future Air Force One The next generation of Air Force One jets will be Boeing-made, the Pentagon says. They will be twin-engine Boeing 747-8 models, an upgrade from the current design that entered service in 1990.

&nbsp;The planes are expected to begin carrying the American president in 2023.&nbsp; Boeing The Aviationist » Boeing VC-25 18 Commenti U.S. Air Force has identified the Boeing 747-8 platform for next Air Force One A “fully missionized” platform based on the 747-8, the latest and largest version of the iconic Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet , will serve as the presidential aircraft, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James, announced on Jan. 28. The Boeing 747-8 was selected following a market research and the assessment of the capabilities of the two four-engine aircraft that could meet the requirements: the Boeing 747-8 and the Airbus A380 . “This decision is not a contract award to procure 747-8 aircraft,” said Col. Amy McCain, the Presidential Aircraft Recapitalization (PAR) program manager in a release on the U.S. Air Force website.

“We still need to finalize the overall acquisition strategy and conduct risk-reduction activities with Boeing to inform the engineering and manufacturing development contract negotiations that will define the capabilities and cost.” A fleet of three Boeing 747-8 will replace the current, obsolete VC-25 aircraft . Once ready, in 2018, the new aircraft will be more capable and efficient than their predecessors, heavily modified Boeing 747-200 jets. As already explained on The Aviationist, along with the internal design, meeting rooms and wide array of communication systems , what makes the Air Force One different is the self-protection suite. Much information on this topic is classified, still, the VC-25 aircraft is known to be fitted with active electronic counter measures, that are able to jam enemy radar frequencies as well as IRCM (Infrared Counter Measure) systems needed to divert heat seeking Infra Red missiles by disturbing their guidance systems. The one in use on the AF1 is the AN/ALQ-204 Matador produced by the BAe Systems. Such system protect the plane from both IR air-to-air and ground-to-air (MANPADS – Man Portable Air Defense Systems) missiles.

The plane is also equipped with chaff and flares dispensers: the first type is used to divert radar-guided missiles, while the flares are high-temperature heat sources ejected from the aircraft’s dispensers to mislead the missile’s heat-seeking targeting system: since the burn temperature is hotter than that at the engine’s exhaust the burning flares attract and deceive heat-seeking missiles fired at the aircraft. Similar and surely more advanced countermeasures will equip the new ones. When, about three years ago, the selection of the Boeing 747-8 became obvious , we asked our contributor Al Clark to prepare a digital mock-up of the new plane sporting the Air Force One’s traditional light-blue and sky-blue color scheme that you can find on top of this article. Digital mock-up by Al Clark 1 commento Last year, I published a series of articles about the 9-11 for the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks, that you can find here . Recently, I’ve found on Youtube an interesting documentary about the world’s most famous and heavily defended airplane . The National Geographic documentary brings you on board the highly modified Boeing 747, designated VC-25 by the U.S.

Air Force, showing not only the cockpit, but also the quite interesting comms bay. Interestingly, the documentary recalls the 9-11 trip, providing some more interesting details about the flight, including some radio calls recorded on that day as the Air Force One wandered in the U.S. airspace unable to properly deal with the crisis. “There were phones, but I couldn’t invite people. There were meetings, but it was difficult to get in. The equipment was as good as it could have been”, George W Bush says. In other words, the AF1 was unable to interconnect its onboard systems in such a way to give the President the possibility to talk with his top councerlors. Then the documentary explains how the POTUS’s secret flight into Baghdad was flown on the Thanksgiving Day, 2003, when the VC-25 carrying President Bush, pretending to be a Gulfstream, landed into Iraq, unannounced and unexpected. Finally, the video also includes footage of the eight-day tour through six countries in the Middle East in 2008 as well as President Obama’s first flight on Air Force One. Related Articles Lascia un commento Within the end of the decade, the U.S.

Air Force will have to replace its most famous and representative plane, the same that has brought President Obama on his surprise trip to Afghanistan at the beginning of the month: the Air Force One. What is commonly known as “Air Force One” by the radio callsign used when the President of the U.S. is on board is actually a pair of highly modified Boeing 747 aircraft, designated VC-25A. Since Airbus has already said it will not pursue the replacement program, there is only one aircraft manufacturer interested in the bid: Boeing. Although the new B787 dreamliner has been reported as one of the candidates, the most likely VC-25 replacement is the Boeing 747-8. In order to see what a future Presidential 747-8 could look like Al Clark has prepared a digital mock-up of the new plane sporting the plane’s traditional light-blue and sky-blue color scheme, with the Seal of the President of the United States just above front gear and the flag of the United States on the tailfin.

Digital mock-up by Al Clark Related articles 1000+ images about Air Force one on Pinterest | Air force ones, Limo and Air force Learn more at swampland.time.com Obama’s Travels: Photos of Air Force One on the Campaign Circuit Air Force One | whitehouse.gov Air Force One Air Force One Although 'Air Force One' can describe any Air Force aircraft carrying the President, it is now standard practice to use the term to refer to specific planes equipped to transport the Commander-in-Chief. The President of the United States must be ready to travel anywhere in the world on a moment’s notice. Fortunately, modern Presidents have access to a variety of transportation options — including flying aboard Air Force One. Technically, Air Force One is used to describe any Air Force aircraft carrying the President — but since the middle of the 20th century, it has been standard practice to refer to specific planes that are equipped to transport the Commander-in-Chief. Today, this name refers 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 15 years, various propeller-driven aircraft served the President, until President Dwight D. Eisenhower flew to Europe aboard VC-137A, a Boeing 707 Stratoliner, in August 1959. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy became the first President to fly in a jet specifically built for presidential use – 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 .

'Air Force One' returns to Obama after 18-month tune up - CNNPolitics.com 'Air Force One' returns to Obama after 18-month tune up By Allie Malloy, Kristen Holmes and Antoine Sanfuentes , CNN Updated 10:40 AM ET, Tue May 5, 2015 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds. Photos: U.S. Presidents and Air Force One Air Force One flies past an American flag on its way into Daytona Beach, Florida, in 2004. The U.S. Air Force announced Wednesday, January 28, that a customized military version of Boeing's 747-8 will serve as Air Force One for future Presidents. Click through to see the different airplanes that have served as the President's transportation over the years. Hide Caption 1 of 15 Photos: U.S. Presidents and Air Force One The Douglas VC-54C, nicknamed "Sacred Cow," is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, near Dayton, Ohio. Sacred Cow served as President Franklin Roosevelt's official transportation to the Yalta Conference in February 1945.

Hide Caption 2 of 15 Photos: U.S. Presidents and Air Force One President Harry Truman's official aircraft, the Independence, served as the presidential plane for almost six years until 1953. Hide Caption 3 of 15 Photos: U.S. Presidents and Air Force One A presidential plane named Columbine III ferried Dwight D. Eisenhower, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to Washington in November 1957. Hide Caption 4 of 15 Photos: U.S. Presidents and Air Force One From left, astronaut John Glenn, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, and President John F. Kennedy arrive at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in February 1962. Kennedy was the first president to use a customized Boeing VC-137C as Air Force One. The plane was a military version of the Boeing 707. Code-named "SAM 26000," this jet served presidents for more than three decades. Hide Caption 5 of 15 Photos: U.S.

Presidents and Air Force One Following Kennedy's assassination, Johnson was sworn in as the President aboard SAM 26000 -- Special Air Mission, tail number 26000. Hide Caption 6 of 15 Photos: U.S. Presidents and Air Force One With Air Force One in the background, President Richard Nixon delivers a speech at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington after returning from his historic trip to China in February 1972. Hide Caption Photos: U.S. Presidents and Air Force One President Gerald Ford works while aboard Air Force One in 1974. Hide Caption 8 of 15 Photos: U.S. Presidents and Air Force One President Jimmy Carter waves goodbye as he boards a presidential aircraft on his final day in office in 1981. Hide Caption 9 of 15 Photos: U.S. Presidents and Air Force One President Ronald Reagan throws a football toward the press before boarding Air Force One in 1988. Hide Caption 10 of 15 Photos: U.S. Presidents and Air Force One President George H. W. Bush talks with reporters aboard Air Force One in 1990.

The Boeing VC-25 -- a military version of the 747-200B -- served as Air Force One for Bush as well as Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Hide Caption Photos: U.S. Presidents and Air Force One Clinton deplanes Air Force One in Philadelphia in 1996. Hide Caption 12 of 15 Photos: U.S. Presidents and Air Force One President George W. Bush, aboard Air Force One, speaks with Vice President Dick Cheney by phone on September 11, 2001. Hide Caption Photos: U.S. Presidents and Air Force One Obama steps off Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in April. Hide Caption Photos: U.S. Presidents and Air Force One A customized military version of this Boeing 747-8 will serve future Presidents.

Hide Caption VC-25 Air Force One | Info, Features, Replacement, Budget/Costs VC-25 Air Force One Air Force (USAF) - Fleet: 2x VC-25A Aircraft Program Status: The Boeing Company About the VC-25 Program: The VC-25 Air Force One VIP transport aircraft is an extensively modified Boeing 747-200B. The mission of the VC-25 aircraft is to provide air transport for the President of the United States. The presidential air transport fleet consists of two specially configured Boeing 747-200Bs with the Air Force designation VC-25 and tail numbers 28000 and 29000. When the President is onboard either aircraft, the radio call sign is 'Air Force One.' The VC-25 is powered by four General Electric CF6-80C2B1 turbofan engines, each delivering 56,700 pounds of thrust. Because the aircraft, due to its configuration, carries only a light payload, it has a greater range than a normal B747-200 and is able to fly at higher speeds.

The VC-25 aircraft are flown by the Presidential Airlift Group and assigned to Air Mobility Command's 89th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. Air Force One often operates in conjunction with Marine One helicopters that transport the President to and from airports in situations when this option is prefered over a vehicle motorcade. The VC-25 has served as the main aerial transport platform for Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. Principal differences between the VC-25 and the standard Boeing 747-200B, other than the number of passengers and crew, are the cutting-edge navigation, electronic and communications equipment (incl. multi-frequency radios for air-to-air, air-to-ground and satellite communications), the interior configuration and furnishings, self-contained baggage loader, front and aft air-stairs, and the capability for in-flight refueling. The aircraft communications bay is located next to the cockpit on the second floor of the aircraft. For self-defense, the VC-25 is equipped with advanced electronic countermeasures and anti-missile flares.

Accommodations for the President include an executive suite, located at the very front of the aircraft beneath the cockpit, consisting of a stateroom with dressing room, lavatory and shower. The President also has a spacious personal office onboard. A conference/dining room is available for the President, his family and staff, while other separate accommodations are provided for guests, senior staff, Secret Service, Air Force security personnel, and news media. The VC-25 has a compartment outfitted with medical equipment and supplies for minor medical emergencies. Also, six passenger lavatories, including disabled access facilities, are provided as well as a rest area and mini-galley for the aircrew. The aircraft's two galleys can provide up to 100 meals at a time. The decision to procure the VC-25 was made during the Presidency of Ronald Reagan. The first VC-25A, tail number 28000, flew as Air Force One for the first time on September 6, 1990 and transported President George H.W. Bush.

A second VC-25A, tail number 29000, transported Presidents Clinton, Carter and Bush to Israel to attend the funeral of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. The VC-25 was used intesively on September 11, 2001. President George W. Bush spent much of the day in the air because Air Force One was considered the safest place to be at the time. Air Force One carried the President to and between a number of air bases before, later in the day, heading back to Washington, D.C. The VC-25A is not the only Boeing 747 in U.S. military service. The Air Force is also operating four E-4B National Airborne Operations Center (NAOC) aircraft based on the B747-200 platform. According to the latest long-term U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) aviation funding plans, the Air Force expects to begin recapitalizing the VC-25 fleet and take delivery of the first replacement aircraft in 2019 with Initial Operational Capability (IOC) expected by 2023.

On January 28, 2015, the Air Force announced that it will award the contract to build the next Air Force One to Boeing . The contract was not competed because Boeing's 747-8 is the only aircraft made in the U.S. that, when fully missionized, meets the necessary capabilities established to execute the presidential support mission. Background: Presidential air transport began in 1944 when the C-54 "Sacred Cow" entered service for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This aircraft was followed by a DC-6 (Liftmaster) nicknamed "Independence," which transported President Harry S. Truman in the years from 1947 to 1953. President Dwight D. Eisenhower traveled aboard the VC-121A "Columbine II" and VC-121E "Columbine III," both modified Lockheed Constellation aircraft. While the call sign Air Force One was first used in the 1950s, President John F. Kennedy's VC-137C, a modified Boeing 707-320B, was the first aircraft to be popularly known as Air Force One.

The VC-137C with tail number 26000 was purchased in 1962 specifically for use as Air Force One. This aircraft is widely regarded as the most historically significant presidential aircraft. Tail number 26000 is the aircraft that carried President Kennedy to Dallas on November 22, 1963, and returned his body to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland following his assassination. President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn into office as the 36th President of the United States onboard the aircraft at Dallas Love Field. In 1972, President Richard M. Nixon made historic visits to the People's Republic of China and the former Soviet Union aboard tail number 26000. According to the Air Force, tail number 26000 was retired in May 1998. It is now on display at the U.S. Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. In all, seven presidents were served by the VC-137C.

Tail number 27000, another Boeing 707, replaced Tail 26000 and was used to fly Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter to Cairo, Egypt on October 19, 1981, to represent the United States at the funeral of President Anwar El Sadat. Armament/Weapons: None. Mission/Role: The mission of the two VC-25 Air Force One aircraft is to provide air transport for the President of the United States. FY 2015 DoD Program: This program funds modifications for the two VC-25 aircraft. The design service life is 30 years, with an average of approximately 5 years remaining. These on-going modifications are to extend that service life. Service bulletins and low cost modifications are necessary for continuing Federal Aviation Administration certification while improving flight safety, reliability, and maintainability. Funds in the amount of $1.1 million have been provided for modifications and spare parts. In addition, RDT&E funds in the amount of $11.0 million are provided for the development of the Presidential Aircraft Replacement (PAR) platform (based on the Boeing 747-8).

FY 2016 DoD Program: This program funds modifications for the two VC-25s to extend the aircrafts' service life. Funds in the amount of $98.5 million have been allocated for modifications and spare parts. In addition, RDT&E funds in the amount of $102.6 million are provided for the development of the PAR platform (based on the Boeing 747-8). Air Force One (VC-25) in Detroit - YouTube Air Force One (VC-25) in Detroit Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Dec 13, 2012 This video is of VC-25- Air Force One and the Presidential motorcade. President Barack Obama visited Detroit Metro Airport on December 10, 2012. During his visit he spent time at one of the local engine assembly plants, and gave a speech on "Right to Work".

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. General Information

Question: USAF Boeing VC-25 is also known as what when Barack Obama is on board?
Answer: Air Force One