Air Force One is quite possibly the most recognizable aircraft of all time, having transported every president of the United States since Dwight D. Eisenhower. Though each president has several aircraft at his disposal, the call sign “Air Force One” represents one of several specially equipped jet airliners maintained by the Air Force for use by the president of the United States, designated “Air Force One” when carrying the president.
Though presidents before him had taken flights in exclusive presidential aircraft, President Eisenhower was the first to fly in “Air Force One.” Air Force One has made an impact not only on presidential travel, but on popular culture, as well, making its mark on Hollywood films, popular sneakers, and more. Beginning with Lockheed’s Constellation airliner, transitioning to Boeing’s 707, then 747, Air Force One is an aircraft that most everybody is familiar with… certainly in the U.S.
Air Force One Aircraft
Lockheed Constellation
The first aircraft dubbed “Air Force One” was President Eisenhower’s Columbine II, a four-propeller-driven Lockheed VC-121A-LO Constellation. The Air Force One call sign was created after a 1953 incident during which Columbine II (known at the time as Air Force 8610) carrying President Eisenhower, entered the same airspace as a commercial airline flight using the same call sign (Flight 8610). The name stuck, and has been used ever since.
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General characteristics
- Crew: 5
- Capacity: 44 Passengers (Passenger configuration)
- Length: 95 ft 2 in (29.007 m)
- Wingspan: 123 ft (37.49 m)
- Height: 22 ft 5 in (6.8326 m)
- Wing area: 1,650 sq ft (153.29 sq m)
- Empty weight: 61,325 lbs (27,816.6 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 107,000 lbs (48,534.4 kg)
- Powerplant: 4 × Wright R-3350-75 radial engines, 2,500 bhp (1,866 kW) each
- Propellers: 4 propellor, 1 per engine
Performance
- Maximum speed: 334 mph (537.52 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 324 mph (521.43 km/h)
- Service ceiling: 24,442 ft (7,450 m)
Boeing 707
In 1958, the Air Force introduced three Boeing 707s into their fleet, serving as Eisenhower’s and JFK’s Air Force Ones, before JFK took to the skies in an updated, modified long-range 707, known as Special Air Mission (SAM) 26000. President Reagan was the last to use a 707 as his primary Air Force One, though SAM 27000 continued to fly on occasion before being formally decommissioned after taking President George W. Bush from San Antonio to Waco in 2001.
General characteristics
- Crew: 17
- Capacity: 46 Passengers
- Length: 152 ft 11 in (46.61 m)
- Wingspan: 145 ft 9 in (44.42 m)
- Height: 42 ft 5 in (12.93 m)
- Wing area: 3010 ft² (279.63 m²)
- Empty weight: 98,466 lb (44,663 kg)
- Loaded weight: 297,000 lb (135,000 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 327,000 lb (148,325 kg)
- Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney TF-33-PW-102 turbofan engines , 18,000 lbf (80 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 627 mph (1009 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 600 mph (966 km/h)
- Range: 7,610 mi (12,247 km)
- Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,200 m)
Boeing 747
During Reagan’s presidency, Boeing began manufacturing the presidential version of its 747, for which First Lady Nancy Reagan designed the interior. To this day, the Boeing 747 continues to fly as Air Force One, though the Air Force Material Command has hinted toward implementing the “next generation of Presidential airplane” in 2017.
General characteristics
- Crew: 26: 2 pilots, flight engineer, navigator, and cabin crew
- Capacity: 76 passengers
- Length: 231 ft 10 in (70.6 m)
- Wingspan: 195 ft 8 in (59.6 m)
- Height: 63 ft 5 in (19.3 m)
- Max. takeoff weight: 833,000 lb (375,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 4 × General Electric CF6-80C2B1 turbofans, 56,700 lbf (250 kN) each
- Zero fuel weight: 526,500 lb (238,800 kg)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 630 mph (1,015 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 575 mph (925 km/h)
- Range: 7,800 mi (13,000 km)
- Service ceiling: 45,100 ft (13,700 m)