Search This Blog

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Air Force One - Command 89th Military Airlift Wing-Presidential Transport (2020)

                                                

      Air Force One AF-1 (1944-2020) 
                                                                                                                                                                    
 89th Military Airlift Wing Insignia

Type of Activity
Presidential Transport
Location
Location
Worldwide
Date of Activity
1944 to Present
Coordinates
38°53'51.2"N 77°02'20.9"W

The mission of Presidential air transport began in 1944 is to provide air transport for the president of the United States. Today's 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 aircraft that would transport the President initially was identified by its tail number but in order to prevent confusion with air traffic controllers the aircraft would eventually become known as Air Force One. The Presidential Airlift Group (PAG) actually fly the aircraft.
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.

 VC-54, nicknamed the "Sacred Cow,"

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.       

VC-118, nicknamed the "Independence,”

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.  

VC-121E, nicknamed "Columbine III"

 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."                                                                     

VC-137C with the tail number 26000.

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 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.


SAM 27000 is a specially configured Boeing 707-353B 
with the Air Force designation C-137C.

 The Sam 26000 aircraft, shown above along with SAM 27000 are the most Iconic presidential aircraft to date. Both C-137C's were  part of a fleet of aircraft maintained by the Military Airlift Command 89th Military Airlift Wing, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

When the president is aboard either aircraft, or any other Air Force aircraft, the radio call sign "Air Force One" is used for all communications and air traffic control identification purposes.

Principal differences between the C-137C and the standard Boeing 707 aircraft are the electronic and communications equipment carried by the presidential aircraft, and its interior configuration and furnishings. Passenger cabins are partitioned into several sections: a communications center, the presidential quarters, and a staff/office compartment. There is limited seating for passengers, including members of the news media.                                     

Originally painted red the Kennedys had the aircraft redesigned
 into the iconic blue it is today

 In May 1963, on a trip to Moscow with a U.S. delegation, aircraft SAM 26000 set 14 speed records, including the Washington to Moscow record of 8 hours, 38 minutes, 42 seconds.

This was the same  aircraft  in  which President John F. Kennedy flew  to  Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22, 1963, and in which his body was returned to Washington, D.C., following his assassination.

                                   JFK arrives in Houston on Nov,21 1963  

LBJ becomes President  aboard SAM 26000  

 Lyndon B. Johnson was  sworn into office as the 36th president of the United States on board the aircraft at Love Field  in Dallas the same  day.  This  aircraft  was  also used to return President Johnson's  body  to Texas following a State funeral in Washington, D.C., Jan. 24, 1973.                        

LBJ Visits Vietnam in 1965 unannounced

President Richard M. Nixon used aircraft SAM 26000 extensively during the first four years of his administration.

SAM 26000 at El Toro MCAS while visiting  San Clemente 

My first experience in working with SAM 2600 was while I was assigned to San Clemente in 1970 our detachment worked all of the arrivals and departures at El Toro MCAS,  We plugged in the ramp phone and  the other circuits into the nose of SAM 2600 for the onboard telephones to connect the aircraft to the San Clemente switchboard.  When the President departed, we disconnected all of the phones. 

President arrives in China on The Spirit of 76

His most widely  heralded trips included the around-the-world trip in July 1969, to the Peoples Republic of China in February 1972, which I was a part and to the  Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in May· of that same year.

Aircraft SAM 27000 has established its own history and reputation. This aircraft was accepted by the Air Force on Aug. 4, 1972 and was placed into service after nearly 200 hours of service testing and evaluation. It was first used by President Nixon on Feb. 8, 1973.

 President Gerald R. Ford first used aircraft SAM 27000 on Aug. 19, 1974, when he flew from Andrews Air Force Base to Chicago to address the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention. He later traveled overseas on a 7-day State visit to the Far East and visited Tokyo and Osaka, Japan,  Seoul, Korea, and Vladivostok, Russia.

President Ford arrives in Chicago Note: The state-of-the-art Ramp Phone 

Also, in May 1975, he made his first trip to Europe, visiting Belgium, Spain, Austria, and Italy. In July and August 1975, President Ford returned to Europe to visit the Federal Republic of Germany, Poland, Finland, Hungary, and Yugoslavia. He flew to France in November 1975; and to the Peoples Republic of China, Indonesia, and the Philippines in December 1975.

President Ford enroute to Europe 1975

President Jimmy Carter made his first trip aboard aircraft SAM 27000 on March 16, 1977, when he visited three states, including New York where he addressed the United Nations General Assembly. His first overseas trip was made to England and Switzerland in May 1977.

 President and Mrs Carter deplane from SAM 27000

 In December 1977 and January 1978, President Carter flew to Poland, Iran, India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, France, and Belgium. He flew to Venezuela, Brazil, Nigeria and Liberia in March 1978; Panama in June 1978; the Federal Republic of Germany in July 1978; Israel in March 1979; Austria, Japan, and Korea in June 1979; and Italy, Yugoslavia, Spain, and Portugal in June 1980. 

Presidents Carter and Ford enroute to Egypt 1981

 On Feb. 19, 1981, President Ronald W. Reagan first flew in aircraft SAM 27000 for a  brief trip to Santa Barbara, Calif. He returned to Andrews Air Force Base, Md., on Feb. 22, 1981. In March 1981, President Reagan flew to Canada

President Reagan enroute to Reykjavík, Iceland to meet with 
Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev 

Ronald Reagan was SAM 27000's most frequent flyer, flying longer and farther than all the other presidents who flew on it, traveling more than 675,000 miles aboard it. Reagan used Air Force One to travel to all parts of the world to pursue his ambitious diplomatic goals, taking three trips to Asia, six to Europe, and twelve trips to foreign places in the Western Hemisphere. Reagan flew to three of his four summit meetings with Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev aboard SAM 27000: Geneva, Reykjavík, and Moscow (one was held in Washington, D.C.).

President Reagan visits the Communications Center

The Reagans' last flight aboard the plane was on January 20, 1989, when the now-former President and First Lady flew back to California. 

SAM 27000 at the Reagan Library 

The Presidential Aircraft SAM 27000 with the Air Force designation C-137C. was officially retired in  2001 and has been on display at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library since 2005.

 The Cockpit of SAM 27000 USAF VC-137C            

Communications Operator using Kleinschmidt terminal

Present day presidential air transport fleet consists of two specially configured Boeing 747-200 B'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.

VC-25A -- tail number 28000 interior layout

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 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, President George W. Bush traveled to Emma E. Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, Florida, where he received news that two planes had flown into the North and South Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City.  President Bush was rushed back to the airport where he flew to Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. While enroute from Florida to Louisiana, the pilots were told there was a plane approaching.  Fearing the unknown plane was hijacked, Air Force One altered its course; but ultimately, decided to continue on to Barksdale. (The second plane turned out to be harmless.) The President went from Barksdale Air Force Base to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska; however, he insisted on returning home to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. Many of the important decisions made that day were made on board Air Force One. The aircrew safely returned the President and staff members back to Washington, D.C. despite increased threats. President Bush is pictured below visiting Ground Zero on September 14, 2001


President Bush is reviewing the damage at Ground Zero on September 14, 2001

                              President Bush on SAM 2800 visits the World Trade Center South Tower in New York City

On Thanksgiving Day 2003, President George W Bush was scheduled to celebrate the holiday quietly on his ranch in Crawford, Texas instead the President and his National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice, secretly flew on Air Force One (SAM 28000) from Texas to Andrews Air Force Base, where they picked up aides, military and Secret Service personnel, a few reporters, and changed to a twin version of Air Force One (Sam 29000).

SAM 29000 arriving at Baghdad International Airport 

President Bush serving Turkey dinner to the Troops

President Bush spent two and a half hours in Iraq visiting with the troops and other dignitaries. Take-off from Baghdad International Airport was just as dangerous. Everyone on the plane was told to keep the lights out and maintain telephone silence. Once Air Force One had climbed to a safe altitude, reporters on board were free to file reports about the trip.

President Obama in the cockpit of SAM 2800 

President's office on Air Force One 

SAM 28000 and SAM 29000 continued to transport President Obama his family and staff throughout his term in office.  President Obama made a total of 445 times that he has flown aboard the familiar, eye-catching blue and white U.S. government airplane with the presidential insignia emblazoned on the side. 

The 2018 North Korea–United States Singapore Summit was a summit meeting between North Chairman Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump, held at the Capella hotelSentosaSingapore, on June 12, 2018. It was the first-ever meeting between leaders of North Korea and the United States. President Trump shakes hands with Kim Jong Un  at the President Trump and Kim Jong Un at the DMZ in 2019

Singapore Summit 2018

President Donald Trump met again with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, in Panmunjom, South Korea, on June 30, 2019. President Trump made history by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to step onto North Korean soil when he crossed over the DMZ after sharing a symbolic handshake with Kim.

 President Trump made history by becoming the first sitting U.S. president to step onto North Korean soil  

President Donald Trump's visit to see the fireworks at Mount Rushmore on July 3, 2020 was his second visit to South Dakota since becoming president in 2016. Trump is the 16th president to visit South Dakota.                                            

Air Force One making a fly by at Mt. Rushmore

TThe VC-25A continues the unique mission of presidential travel, upholding the proud tradition and distinction of being known as "Air Force One." 



No comments:

Post a Comment