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| OBAMA NA FAMILIA YAKE WAKISHUKA KUTOKA KWENYE AIRFORCE ONE |
VC-25A SAM 28000 Air Force One
 | Air Force One
Air Force One is the designation of any airplane that serves the President of the
United States government. The same planes are used by the vice-president but are
called Air Force Two when he is aboard. The presidential fleet consists of two
customized Boeing 747-200B aircraft (military designation VC-25A)
called SAM 28000 and 29000.
The name Air Force One was established after an incident in 1953, when Eastern
Airlines flight 8610 crossed paths with the president's plane, then called
Air Force 8610, although the Air Force One name was not made official until 1962.
Technical information from I Love Air Force One.
HistoryGuess Where II and Sacred Cow
The first aircraft configured for presidential use was a C-87A (Liberator Express)
called Guess Where II, but concerns about the C-87 safety record relegated it to
use by senior members of the White House staff, including First Lady Eleanor
Roosevelt on her goodwill tour of Latin America.
In its place, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (VC-54C) was configured for the president
and nicknamed Sacred Cow. It had a sleeping area, radio telephone, and an elevator
to raise President Franklin Roosevelt into it in his wheelchair (but FDR
used the plane only once). This airplane is now housed at the National Museum of the
United States Air Force.
Independence
In 1947, President Truman replaced the Sacred Cow with a Douglas DC-6
Liftmaster (VC-118) named Independence after his hometown. Its nose was
painted to look like a bald eagle. Its aft fuselage was converted into a stateroom.
And the main cabin could seat 24 passengers or could be made up into
12 sleeper berths. This airplane is now housed at the National Museum of the
United States Air Force.
Columbine II and III and Aero Commanders
In addition to the Independence, Eisenhower used two Lockheed C-121 Super
Constellations (VC-121E) called Columbine II and Columbine III and two small Aero
Commanders.
Special Air Mission 970, 971, and 972
In 1958, Eisenhower added three additional aircraft into the executive branch service.
These were Boeing 707 (VC-137) aircraft designated SAM 970, 971, and 972.
These were the first presidential jet aircraft.
Special Air Mission 26000 and 27000
During the Kennedy administration, SAM 26000, a Boeing 707 (VC-137)
went into presidential service. Influential industrial designer Raymond
Loewy designed the new livery (the exterior color scheme) and the interiors.
President Johnson took the oath of office on board SAM 26000, and the
airplane continued to serve presidents up to Bill Clinton until 1998. It was
replaced as the primary executive aircraft in 1972 by SAM 27000, another VC-137,
which served until 2001. This airplane is now housed at the Ronald Reagan Presidentia
l Library and Museum.
Special Air Mission 28000 and 29000
In 1990, the two Boeing 747 (VC-25A) aircraft used today were delivered (having
been ordered by Ronald Reagan). The same livery was used, but the interiors were
selected by Mrs. Reagan.
A new Air Force One is scheduled to go into service in 2017. The likely candidates
are a Boeing 747-8 and a Boeing 787.
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747-based SAM 28000 and 29000 (1990 - present)
3D model of VC-25A Air Force One (Peter Sharkey)
3D model of VC-25A crew deck (Peter Sharkey)
3D model of VC-25A Air Force One (Peter Sharkey)
VC-25A Air Force One (How Stuff Works)
VC-25A staff room, looking back down corridor outside conference room (White House)
VC-25A senior staff room (White House)
VC-25A corridor outside conference room (White House)
VC-25A president's office (White House)
VC-25A president's office (White House)
VC-25A president's office (George Bush Library)
VC-25A president's office (George Bush Library)
VC-25A state room (George Bush Library)
VC-25A state room (George Bush Library)
VC-25A corridor (George Bush Library)
VC-25A conference room (George Bush Library)
707-based SAM 26000 and 27000 (1962 - 1998 and 1972 - 2001)
VC-137 SAM 26000 (Wikipedia)
VC-137 president's office (Ronald Reagan Library)
VC-137 president's office (Ronald Reagan Library)
VC-137 cabin (Ronald Reagan Library)
VC-137 communications room (Ronald Reagan Library)
VC-137 conference room (Ronald Reagan Library)
VC-137 ward room (Life)
