Air Force One

Photo credit: Pexels

We are two days away from the long-anticipated 2024 election. And considering November is National Aviation History Month, I thought this would be a good opportunity to feature Air Force One.

The first Air Force One was a Douglas C-54 Skymaster, in 1944. Referred to as “The Sacred Cow” the VC-54C was equipped with a radiotelephone, a sleeping area, and a retractable elevator to assist President Roosevelt in his wheelchair. The VC-54C flew only flew Roosevelt on one trip - to the Yalta Conference in February 1945, but was used another 2 years by President Truman.

Other aircraft designated as Air Force One have included Lockheed Constellations; Boeing 707s, introduced in the 1960s and 1970s; and the current modified Boeing 747s.

On a few notable occasions, other world leaders such as Leonid Brezhnev and Queen Elizabeth II, have traveled with presidents on Air Force One.

Air Force One was used to transport the body of slain President John F. Kennedy from Dallas back to Washington. Lyndon Johnson took the oath of office aboard Air Force One.

To learn more about Air Force One, check out these links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_One

https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-grounds/air-force-one/