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Formally, '''Air Force One''' is an [[air traffic control]] callsign that indicates an aircraft that is carrying the [[President of the United States of  America]]. In common practice, the name is associated with a [[United States Air Force]] [[VC-25A]] aircraft, one of two, with tail number either 28000 or 29000. The VC-25 is a highly customized [[Boeing 747]] wide-body transport, with executive working, sleeping, and dining facilities; press and staff seating; and the full range of secure communications needed to support the President in his role in the [[National Command Authority]].
'''Air Force One''' is the term used to identify any aeroplane on which the President of the United States is flying. It is an official call sign used by air traffic control.


The [[National Emergency Airborne Command Post]] (NEACP) is also associated with Presidential missions, but these are [[E-4B]] aircraft, also modified Boeing 747s but modified to be flying command posts for the National Command Authority and its military staff.
Air Force One started out as a propeller flown craft and evolved into a jet that can easily transport the president, his staff, and needed personnel at a moments notice. The current Air Force One has an unlimited flying range as it can be re-fueled in midair. Below is a brief history of Air Force One and how it became a presidential symbol of power.


By the formal definition, as long as the President were aboard, any Air Force aircraft would be Air Force One, just as the executive transport helicopter carrying the President, operated by [[United States Marine Corps]] helicopter squadron HMX-1, has the call sign "Marine One". Aircraft belonging to the other services, in this specific role, would be "Navy One" or the equivalent.
[[Franklin Roosevelt]] was the first president to fly Air Force One (designated VC-54A) when he flew to the Yalta Conference aboard a Douglas C-54 Skymaster which was built for presidential use. The Skymaster had a conference room, state room and bathroom and featured a bullet-proof picture window. To accommodate Roosevelt, who used a wheel chair, there was an elevator added to help him enter and exit the plane. Affectionately known as "the Sacred Cow" by journalists the Skymaster was used once by Roosevelt who died in 1945. In 1947, the Spymaster was moved to other flying duties and was retired from service in 1961. The Skymaster was a propeller driven airplane.


An aircraft carrying the Vice President of the United States, without the President, would be "Air Force Two", "Marine Two", or the equivalent. There are no other personal call signs, although senior officials' aircraft might have a "special missions" call sign assigned. It should be noted that certain aircraft carrying senior military officers on a command and control mission may have an unclassified code name, such as LOOKING GLASS for the airborne command post of the [[Strategic Air Command]]. That same aircraft usually had a classified, per-mission call sign.
During the President [[Harry Truman]]'s administration a modified Douglas C-118 Liftmaster was selected as Air Force One. The Liftmaster was a military version of the civilian DC-6 airplane and was named Independence to honor Truman's hometown of Independence, Missouri. The Independence featured a pressurized cabin, 24 passenger seats, and the president's quarters had a reclining swivel chair with a full-sized sofa bed. The C-118 Liftmaster, another propeller driven airplane, remained in service until 1953.


To show the difference between mission and aircraft identifier, when [[Richard Nixon]] left the [[White House]] for the last time, but before [[Gerald Ford]] was sworn in as his successor, Nixon went from the White House to [[Andrews Air Force Base]] via helicopter Marine One. He boarded a jet transport from the Presidential unit and took off for his California home, still under the call sign Air Force One. When Ford was sworn in, however, the aircraft reverted to its "tail number" N26000 call sign, but still was designated as a "special missions" flight.
In 1962, the Air Force One entered the jet age when a [[Boeing 707]] was used to fly President [[John F. Kennedy|John Kennedy]] on his presidential trips. It was at this time Air Force One was painted its familiar blue-and-white design created by Raymond Loewy. This same Boeing 707 was the location where Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president of the United States after President John Kennedy was assassinated.
 
In 1972, a replica 707 with the tail number 27000 was added to the Air Force One fleet. The 27000 was used as a back-up craft and was the one used to fly President [[Richard Nixon]] after he resigned from office in 1974. Since 1972 two Air Force One jets have been used to fly the president or vice president. The call sign used when the president is on board is Air Force One.
 
As of 2024, two Air Force One jets, both [[Boeing 747]]-200B series, carry the tail codes 20000 and 29000 respectively. The [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] designation for the aircraft is VC-25A. Aboard Air Force One the president has access to an on board medical suite and a doctor available, if needed. Air Force One has two galleys that can feed up to 100 people, and 4,000 feet of space aboard the jet. Quarters are available for traveling guests, Secret Service and the press.
 
You can visit the [[Ronald Reagan |Reagan Library]] located in Simi Valley, California where you can see the Air Force One President Reagan used during his presidency.
 
In service Air Force One jets are maintained and operated by the Presidential Airlift Group which is  part of the White House Military Office. President Roosevelt established the office in 1944 to help support and maintain presidential air craft.
==References==
{{reflist}}
<br>Brittanica https://www.britannica.com/topic/Air-Force-One</br>
The Grounds Air Force One: The President's Office In the Sky: https://web.archive.org/web/20220706062848/https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-grounds/air-force-one/
<br>How Air Force One Works: https://people.howstuffworks.com/air-force-one6.htm</br>
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum Air Force One Pavilion: https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/permanent-exhibits/air-force-one-pavilion
 
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Air Force One is the term used to identify any aeroplane on which the President of the United States is flying. It is an official call sign used by air traffic control.

Air Force One started out as a propeller flown craft and evolved into a jet that can easily transport the president, his staff, and needed personnel at a moments notice. The current Air Force One has an unlimited flying range as it can be re-fueled in midair. Below is a brief history of Air Force One and how it became a presidential symbol of power.

Franklin Roosevelt was the first president to fly Air Force One (designated VC-54A) when he flew to the Yalta Conference aboard a Douglas C-54 Skymaster which was built for presidential use. The Skymaster had a conference room, state room and bathroom and featured a bullet-proof picture window. To accommodate Roosevelt, who used a wheel chair, there was an elevator added to help him enter and exit the plane. Affectionately known as "the Sacred Cow" by journalists the Skymaster was used once by Roosevelt who died in 1945. In 1947, the Spymaster was moved to other flying duties and was retired from service in 1961. The Skymaster was a propeller driven airplane.

During the President Harry Truman's administration a modified Douglas C-118 Liftmaster was selected as Air Force One. The Liftmaster was a military version of the civilian DC-6 airplane and was named Independence to honor Truman's hometown of Independence, Missouri. The Independence featured a pressurized cabin, 24 passenger seats, and the president's quarters had a reclining swivel chair with a full-sized sofa bed. The C-118 Liftmaster, another propeller driven airplane, remained in service until 1953.

In 1962, the Air Force One entered the jet age when a Boeing 707 was used to fly President John Kennedy on his presidential trips. It was at this time Air Force One was painted its familiar blue-and-white design created by Raymond Loewy. This same Boeing 707 was the location where Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as president of the United States after President John Kennedy was assassinated.

In 1972, a replica 707 with the tail number 27000 was added to the Air Force One fleet. The 27000 was used as a back-up craft and was the one used to fly President Richard Nixon after he resigned from office in 1974. Since 1972 two Air Force One jets have been used to fly the president or vice president. The call sign used when the president is on board is Air Force One.

As of 2024, two Air Force One jets, both Boeing 747-200B series, carry the tail codes 20000 and 29000 respectively. The Air Force designation for the aircraft is VC-25A. Aboard Air Force One the president has access to an on board medical suite and a doctor available, if needed. Air Force One has two galleys that can feed up to 100 people, and 4,000 feet of space aboard the jet. Quarters are available for traveling guests, Secret Service and the press.

You can visit the Reagan Library located in Simi Valley, California where you can see the Air Force One President Reagan used during his presidency.

In service Air Force One jets are maintained and operated by the Presidential Airlift Group which is part of the White House Military Office. President Roosevelt established the office in 1944 to help support and maintain presidential air craft.

References


Brittanica https://www.britannica.com/topic/Air-Force-One
The Grounds Air Force One: The President's Office In the Sky: https://web.archive.org/web/20220706062848/https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-grounds/air-force-one/
How Air Force One Works: https://people.howstuffworks.com/air-force-one6.htm
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum Air Force One Pavilion: https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/permanent-exhibits/air-force-one-pavilion

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