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History of US presidents' Air Force One aircraft

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History of US presidents' Air Force One aircraft
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Douglas C-54 Skymaster | Wikipedia

Air Force One is the term used to describe any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. The designation was officially adopted in 1954 following an incident involving a converted Lockheed Constellation that shared a flight number with a commercial airline while carrying President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Since then, several aircraft have been modified to serve as Air Force One, each equipped with advanced technology and security features.

The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was one of the first aircraft designated for presidential use. President Franklin D. Roosevelt flew on this plane, known as the Sacred Cow, to attend the Yalta Conference in February 1945. The Skymaster included special modifications such as a sleeping area and a battery-powered elevator for Roosevelt's wheelchair.

Following Roosevelt, President Harry S. Truman utilized the Douglas VC-118A Liftmaster until 1953. Nicknamed Independence after Truman's hometown, this aircraft featured unique interior designs and was notable for being used when Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 onboard.

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President Eisenhower expanded the presidential fleet by adding four new planes, including two Lockheed C-121 Constellations known as Columbine II and III. Columbine II became historically significant as it was the first to officially use the Air Force One call sign.

As Eisenhower's presidency concluded, Boeing 707 jets were introduced into service. Three Boeing 707-120s were initially acquired but soon replaced by specially-built VC-137C models, starting with SAM 26000 in 1962 under President John F. Kennedy's administration.

The most recent iterations of Air Force One are two heavily customized Boeing VC-25A jumbo jets ordered during Ronald Reagan’s presidency and delivered in 1990 under George H.W. Bush's administration. These aircraft include advanced communication systems and specialized facilities designed to support presidential duties while airborne.

Organizations Included in this History
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