Being US president involves a great deal of travel, both within the United States and around the world. And because America's president serves not only as a Nation's Head of State, but also as Commander in Chief, he has many special travel needs.
Compiled by The Express Team
Has the President ever visited your community? If so, he arrived
with the help of several members of the Armed Forces who, under the direction of
the White House Military Office, helped to make the journey a safe one.
The name Air Force One does not belong to any specific aircraft, but instead it
is the radio call sign used when the president is aboard any United States Air
Force plane.
Currently, the Air Force provides two Boeing 747-200Bs for presidential use,
both adapted to meet the President's unique needs and to make him as safe and
comfortable as possible during flight.
So that the President can fulfill his duties as Commander in Chief, the
airplanes have state-of-the-art communications equipment on board, including
secure voice terminals and cryptographic equipment for writing and deciphering
classified messages.
More than 238 miles of electrical wiring (1,260,000 feet) wind through each
craft -- more than twice the wiring found on an ordinary 747!
The 4,000 square feet of floor space inside Air Force One provide room for a
presidential stateroom, an executive dressing room and shower, a conference/
dining room, two fully equipped kitchens, a presidential office, a medical
treatment room, secretarial offices, six lavatories, and 84 telephones.
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.
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.
The first presidential airplane was used by Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Nicknamed
"The Flying Hotel," it was a Boeing 314 Clipper, the largest aircraft of its
time, boasting a wingspan of 152 feet.
The first presidential jet aircraft, a Boeing 707, was presented to the
Smithsonian Institution after its retirement in 1972. Our two most recent
Presidents -- George Bush and Bill Clinton -- have flown on Boeing 747s.
In September 1957, Dwight D. Eisen-hower began presidential helicopter travel
when he flew from his vacation home in Newport, Rhode Island, to Naval Air
Station Quonset Point. Today, the United States Marine Corps provides helicopter
transportation for the President and the Vice President, as well as for Cabinet
members and foreign dignitaries.
Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) also serves the President during overseas
visits and has operated in more than 32 foreign countries. Presidential
helicopters have landed at such distant places as England's Windsor Castle,
Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Bolivar Square in Bogota, Colombia, and the
Demilitarized Zone of South Korea.
Like Air Force One, Marine One is a radio call sign used when the President is
aboard a Marine Corps helicopter. The helicopter used most often is the Sikorsky
VH-3D, a special helicopter designed for presidential flights.
With a cruise speed of 110 knots (131 mph) and a range of 450 nautical miles, it
is a versatile and reliable means of transportation for the Commander in Chief.
Before every departure, Marine One is carefully checked, and the Presidential
Seal is placed on the side of the aircraft.
Air Force One is a Boeing 747-200B aircraft that was extensively modified to
meet presidential requirements. The original paint scheme was designed at the
request of President John F. Kennedy, who wanted the airplane to reflect the
spirit of the national character.
He also directed that the words "United States of America" appear prominently on
the fuselage, and that the U.S. flag be painted on the vertical stabilizer.
Boeing delivered two uniquely modified Boeing 747-200 Air Force One presidential
aircraft in 1990. The airplanes replaced the Boeing 707-320 airframe that had
served the nation's chief executives for nearly 30 years.
U.S. presidents have flown on Boeing aircraft since 1943, when President
Franklin D. Roosevelt flew to Casablanca aboard a Boeing model 314 Clipper.
In 1962, U.S. presidents were provided modern jet transportation with the
introduction of the Boeing model 707-320B, which was to become known by the
radio call sign used when the president is aboard: Air Force One. In all, seven
presidents were served by the 707-320B.
Today, the chief executive flies aboard a modified 747-200B, the newest and
largest presidential airplane. The 747 is ideally suited to support the travel
requirements of the president.
The 747s were built at the Boeing Everett, Wash., facility, then flown to the
company's Wichita, Kan., facility for configuration as Air Force One.
The aircraft were extensively modified to meet presidential requirements. The
flying "Oval Office" has 4,000 square feet of interior floor space, which
features a conference/dining room, quarters for the president and the first
lady, and an office area for senior staff members. Another office can be
converted into a medical facility when required. There are work and rest areas
for the presidential staff, media representatives and Air Force crews; two
galleys are each capable of providing food for 50 people.
Lower lobes of the aircraft were modified to accommodate the airplane's
self-contained air stairs and interior stairways that lead to the main deck.
The lower lobes also feature unique storage to accommodate substantial amounts
of food (up to 2,000 meals) and mission-related equipment. In addition, this
area contains an automated self-contained cargo loader and additional
electronics equipment.