A couple of days ago, I talked about the first “Air Force One.” When I re-read it, I realized that some of it may have been a little misleading and maybe I should clear it up a bit.
I probably shouldn’t have assumed that everyone knew that the term “Air Force One” isn’t tied to any particular aircraft — Air Force One can describe any Air Force aircraft carrying the President. It is a term used to refer to specific planes equipped to transport the Commander-in-Chief.
Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign for a United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. The ‘Air Force One’ call sign was created in 1953, after President Eisenhower’s Lockheed Constellation, named Columbine II, entered the same airspace as an Eastern Airlines commercial flight using the same flight number.
For completeness, I should have included a few other “facts” while I was on the subject of presidential airplanes. Eisenhower chalked up another “first” when he became the first president to use a jet aircraft, when a Boeing 707 was added to the Air Force’s fleet in 1958. President John F. Kennedy, in 1962, became the first president to fly in a jet specifically built for presidential use — a modified Boeing 707.
In 1990 President George H. W. Bush took possession of the first 747 Air Force One. This airplane is one of the most recognizable symbols of the office of the President. The paint scheme includes the words “United States of America,” the American flag, and Seal of the President of the United States.
The current Air Force One is capable of midair refueling, giving it unlimited range. Its onboard electronics are hardened to protect against an electromagnetic pulse and it’s fully loaded with advanced secure communications equipment. All this allows the aircraft to function as a mobile command center. Inside, there is 4,000 square feet of floor space on three levels — that includes an extensive suite for the President that contains a large office, lavatory and conference room. It also contains a medical suite that can function as an operating room. A doctor is always on board.
A “new” Air Force One is currently under contract… it’ll be hard to improve on the current model, but I’m sure it will be impressive….
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