The History of Air Force One

We often hear the designation Air Force One and associate it with the famous blue and white Boeing 747s used for ferrying the US president. The truth is, many aircraft have held the designation of Air Force One over the years, and in this video, we will explore the history of Air Force One aircraft.

To begin, we must go back to the interwar period. In the 1920s, air travel became increasingly popular. It was safer and more efficient than the decade before. Many leaders, celebrities, and ordinary people began using commercial airliners to travel throughout Europe.

However, in America, it was a different story. Teddy Roosevelt was the first US president to use air travel. Ironically, it happened after he left office. In 1910, he flew around a St. Louis airfield during a carnival. It would take another 13 years before a US president used an airplane to travel while in office. Franklin D. Roosevelt would receive the first presidential airliner in 1933. The first aircraft was an amphibious Douglas Dolphin. It would be operated by the US Navy and would have four passenger compartments as well as a sleeping section. However, at this point the presidential airliner simply had the designation of RD-2.

During the war - in 1943 - a second aircraft was also used; a Boeing 315 Clipper, however this wasn’t commonly used. During the same year, the US Army Air Force considered building a special presidential aircraft. The decision to alter an airplane and submit it to the Secret Service was motivated by a need for faster presidential travel as well as a potentially safer voyage than on the sea or ground. The aircraft chosen was the C-87, a civilian counterpart of the B-24. After a brief inspection, the aircraft's somewhat perilous service record became clear, as did the fact that it appeared to be a threatening bomber, provoking any enemy aircraft that happened to be flying nearby. The Secret Service completely refused to use it. The already modified aircraft would be used to fly high ranking officials around, but that was it.

However, the concept of a separate presidential aircraft was convincing. In early 1945, the Secret Service chose to customize a C-54 Skymaster for presidential usage. Roosevelt used it only once before his death, but it was a successful design. It was a significantly more accommodating aircraft, with a radiotelephone, a larger passenger space, and a sleeping compartment. This would be called the 'Sacred Cow'.

In 1947, history would be made in the C-54, which was now designated VC-54 for presidential use. While on the airplane, Harry S Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947, which established the United States Air Force as we know it today. That same year, the VC-54 was replaced by an even larger aircraft, the C-118. It could carry up to 24 passengers and had additional compartments for presidential use. Nonetheless, at this juncture, the presidential aircraft flew without an official callsign.

The idea of giving presidential aircraft a distinctive callsign had been discussed since the end of World War 2. The military correctly understood that, while air travel was safer in many ways, it also created additional risks. What if the airplane entered restricted airspace or collided with another aircraft? There had to be a callsign that was globally recognised. Up to this point, each aircraft has been assigned a separate callsign, which didn't help much.

President Eisenhower decided to enhance the presidential fleet of aircraft. He bought two Aero Commanders and two C-1-21 Constellations. This truly updated the US president's fleet, surpassing everything that came before it. Then, in 1954, a C-1-21 carrying Eisenhower and an Eastern Airlines flight had the same call numbers in the same airspace. This confusion highlighted the importance of assigning a unique callsign to the president's aircraft, one that would be universally identifiable regardless of the specific aircraft.

Thus, in 1954, the official designation 'Air Force One' was chosen. This designation would apply to whichever airplane the president was currently aboard. This name became iconic, which was part of the goal, because it allowed everyone to quickly identify which aircraft was carrying the president and act accordingly.

AIRFORCE ONE AIRCRAFT

By the late 1950s, it was decided to take presidential air travel seriously, which meant allocating more money to the president's aircraft. This came largely in response to the revelation that Soviet premier Khrushchev was now flying around on the new Tupolev Tu-114 - a sleek turboprop airliner.

The Americans did have a similar potential option; the brand new Boeing 707. The 707, which is now perhaps the most iconic airliner design in history, was innovative at the time. The bold decision to convert some for presidential use was made, and three were purchased. These upgraded aircraft would be assigned the special callsigns SAM (standing for Special Air Mission) 970, 971, and 972.

Richard Nixon, then Vice President, flew to Russia in July 1959, marking the first time a White House official used this innovative new airliner. Clearly, this was to show off the new aircraft. Then, in December of that year, Eisenhower became the first president to fly in a jet airplane, traveling to Germany. Eisenhower flew 35000 kilometers across numerous nations in 19 days, a feat that would have taken roughly twice as long in the older C-121.

In 1962, SAM 970, 971, and 972 were assigned to Air Force Two, the designation given to the Vice President's aircraft. For the next two decades, all three would serve in different capacities, with SAM 971 transporting the Americans rescued from the Iran hostage situation in 1981.

These three would be replaced by the VC-137C, often known as SAM 26000, a far more elegant design. This was similarly based on the Boeing, but significantly upgraded. JFK would be the first president to witness the aircraft in service. Before it was finished, he recruited designer Raymond Loewy at the request of his wife Jacky to help design a few aspects of the aircraft to make it look spectacular, including designing the livery. Loewy had stated that the previous aircraft livery made it appear too much like a military plane, and that the new aircraft should reflect America, not just the military.

His proposed design would include a watery blue combined with a darker steel blue associated with the president. Inspired by the Declaration of Independence, text reading 'United States of America' was written on both sides, with a big, coloured US flag emblazoned on the tail plane. The design was streamlined, intended to appear modern, bright, and cheerful, rather than martial. It worked, and the initial colour scheme and overall design have since been used on additional presidential aircraft.

VC-137C would arrive in 1962, and Kennedy would deploy it throughout the country. It would continue to serve until 1998. Many events became linked with this airplane, but the most significant occurred in 1963. The airplane provided a memorable background for Kennedy when he walked off the plane for the last time in Dallas, not long before his assassination. Then, just hours later, the infamous photo of Lyndon Johnson assuming the presidency was taken inside the aircraft as it flew to Washington, carrying JFK's body.

AFTER JFK

In the years that followed, Lyndon B. Johnson used the aircraft to travel to South Vietnam, and Richard Nixon used it to create history in 1972, becoming the first US president to visit the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China.

That same year, SAM 26000 would be replaced by a newer VC-137C. It would be assigned the call sign SAM 27000. This modern aircraft would operate for several decades before being scrapped in 2001.

The most well-known Air Force One design would appear in the 1980s. Under President Reagan, a request for proposal was issued for a larger aircraft with more than two engines and a range of more than 9000 km. The choice was between the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 and the Boeing 747. Reagan decided to purchase two 747s, and First Lady Nancy Reagan designed the aircraft's interiors.

The designs were completed by 1986, and the aircraft flew in 1987, carrying the name VC-25A. Issues with the aircraft delayed their formal launch until 1990, therefore Reagan never flew on it as president. George Bush Sr. would be the first.

The impressive new Air Force One was by far the most capable airliner the president had yet had access to. It could fly 12600 kilometers and could carry up to 70 passengers. It also had many large compartments. The top floor contains a variety of communication compartments. The second floor is for passengers, and the lower floor is primarily for cargo. The second floor includes multiple office spaces, meeting rooms, a private suite for the president and their family, a conference room, a medical space, and general space for journalists or other passengers. The Secret Service also have their own spaces for securing the aircraft, including a port-side corridor which connects much of the aircraft.

Different quarters are set up for each type of passenger, media, Secret Service, Air Force security, senior staff, and guests. Generally, the seating and quarters are assigned based on importance. Secret Service will be closer to the front, while media and such are further to the back of the aircraft. The president’s quarters are at the front of the aircraft. The general rule given is that one can wander aft from their assigned quarters, but not forward.

Technically the VC-25A was far improved over the standard Boeing 747. To protect from nuclear detonations, electronics are heavily shielded to protect from electromagnet interference. It also features a variety of countermeasures, including ECM, chaff, and flares, and other classified tech. Realistically, these would not be employed during an Air Force One flight, rather they were added by the Air Force, who - in the case of a nuclear strike - may use the aircraft as an aerial command centre, similar to the US Navy’s E-6 Mercury or Air Force’s E-4 Nightwatch.

From this point onward, it was commonplace for Air Force One to not be flying alone. Usually, the president will be flying behind a line of transports, carrying the specialised motorcade vehicles, or other equipment if necessary, like the presidential helicopter and Secret Service equipment.

FUTURE AIRCRAFT

Today, the old VC-25A is showing its age. Over 30 years old and running on dated GE-CF6 engines, it was revealed that the upkeep of the airframe was costing more than it would cost to simply buy a new aircraft.

In 2015, it was announced that a new Air Force One aircraft would be purchased. This aircraft would likely be a Boeing 747-8. It would be modified for presidential use, and designated VC-25B. The aircraft picked was an already finished Boeing 747, which had been ordered by Russian airline company Transaero before it had gone bankrupt. Boeing had stored the aircraft by placing it in the Mojave Desert to prevent corrosion.

The new VC-25B is currently undergoing modifications. Initially intended for delivery by 2024, the White House has predicted that it will be pushed back a further 3 years, arriving some time in 2027.

The story of Air Force One is a testament to the evolving needs and challenges of presidential travel, reflecting technological advancements, security considerations, and the symbolic power of the office. From its humble beginnings with modified military aircraft to the iconic Boeing 747s of today, Air Force One has become much more than just a mode of transportation—it's a flying symbol of American leadership. As we look to the future, the next generation of Air Force One will continue this legacy, ensuring the President of the United States, and team, remain connected and secure, no matter where in the world they need to be.