History of Air Force One in Timeline

Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign for any U.S. Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. It's commonly used to refer to the specifically modified VC-25 aircraft, which serves as the primary presidential transport. While the term usually denotes the VC-25, technically, any Air Force plane the President is aboard uses the Air Force One call sign.

October 1910: Theodore Roosevelt flies in an aircraft

On 11 October 1910, Theodore Roosevelt became the first US president to fly in an aircraft, an early Wright Flyer from Kinloch Field near St. Louis, Missouri, although he was no longer in office at the time.

1933: First aircraft for presidential travel obtained

In 1933, the first aircraft obtained specifically for presidential travel was a Douglas Dolphin amphibian, designated RD-2 by the US Navy, which was modified with luxury upholstery.

1939: Douglas Dolphin in service as a presidential transport

From 1939, the Douglas Dolphin amphibian remained in service as a presidential transport.

1943: Roosevelt travels to Casablanca Conference on Dixie Clipper

In 1943, Roosevelt traveled to the Casablanca Conference in Morocco on the Dixie Clipper, a Pan Am-crewed Boeing 314 flying boat, on a flight that covered 5,500 miles.

1943: Conversion of C-87A transport for presidential use

In 1943, a C-87A transport was modified to carry President Franklin D. Roosevelt on international trips, but the Secret Service refused to approve it due to safety concerns.

March 1944: Eleanor Roosevelt goodwill tour

In March 1944, Eleanor Roosevelt flew on the C-87, named Guess Where II, on a goodwill tour of several Latin American countries.

1944: First purpose-built presidential aircraft

In 1944, a C-54 Skymaster was converted into the first purpose-built presidential aircraft, named the Sacred Cow.

February 1945: Roosevelt travels to Yalta Conference

In February 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt used the converted C-54 Skymaster, dubbed the Sacred Cow, to travel to the Yalta Conference.

February 1945: VC-54C flies Roosevelt to Yalta Conference

In February 1945, the reconfigured Douglas C-54 Skymaster, designated VC-54C and nicknamed the Sacred Cow, flew President Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference.

1945: C-87 scrapped

The C-87, which had been considered for presidential transport, was scrapped in 1945.

1947: Truman signs National Security Act aboard VC-54C

In 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947 aboard the VC-54C. He later replaced it with a modified C-118 Liftmaster named the Independence.

1954: Air Force One call sign incident

In 1954, an incident involving a commercial flight (Eastern Air Lines 8610) and Air Force 8610 (carrying President Eisenhower) led to the establishment of the "Air Force One" designation.

July 1959: Nixon's visit to Russia on a VC-137A

In July 1959, then-Vice President Richard Nixon first used a VC-137A on his visit to Russia for the Kitchen Debates.

December 1959: Eisenhower's 'Flight to Peace' on SAM 970

In December 1959, President Eisenhower became the first president to fly via jet airplane when he used SAM 970 for his "Flight to Peace" goodwill tour, visiting 11 Asian nations.

1959: VC-137B SAM 970 used as Air Force One

From 1959, VC-137B SAM 970 was used as Air Force One.

1961: Jacqueline Kennedy recommends Raymond Loewy for VC-137C design

In 1961, on the recommendation of his wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, President John F. Kennedy contacted Raymond Loewy to design new livery and interiors for the VC-137C.

October 1962: Delivery of SAM 26000

In October 1962, the modified long-range Boeing VC-137C Stratoliner SAM 26000, featuring livery designed by Loewy, was delivered and became an important element of the Kennedy administration's brand.

1962: SAM 26000 enters service

SAM 26000 entered service in 1962.

1962: Introduction of SAM 26000 with livery by Raymond Loewy

Since the introduction of SAM 26000 in 1962, the primary presidential aircraft has carried the distinctive livery designed by Raymond Loewy.

1962: Official designation of Air Force One

The designation "Air Force One" became official in 1962, after being used informally for some time.

1962: VC-137B SAM 970 used as Air Force One until 1962

VC-137B SAM 970 was used as Air Force One until 1962.

November 1963: Kennedy's assassination and Johnson takes oath on SAM 26000

On 22 November 1963, SAM 26000 carried President Kennedy to Dallas, Texas, where he was later assassinated. Vice President Lyndon Johnson took the oath of office aboard SAM 26000 before departing to Washington, D.C.

February 1972: Nixon's visit to China on SAM 26000

In February 1972, SAM 26000 served President Nixon on his historic visit to the People's Republic of China, a first for an American president.

December 1972: SAM 27000 replaces SAM 26000

In December 1972, SAM 26000 was replaced by another VC-137C, Special Air Mission 27000, but SAM 26000 remained as a backup until it was retired in 1998.

January 1973: SAM 26000 transports Johnson's body home

In January 1973, SAM 26000 took President Johnson's body home to Texas after his state funeral in Washington.

December 1973: Nixon flies on United DC-10 as commercial passenger

On 26 December 1973, President Richard Nixon and his family flew as commercial passengers on a United DC-10 from Washington Dulles to Los Angeles International Airport to conserve fuel. This civilian flight was given the call sign Executive One.

1973: Nixon invites Brezhnev on Air Force One

In 1973, President Nixon invited Soviet general secretary Leonid Brezhnev to fly with him to California from Washington, D.C. on Air Force One.

June 1974: Syrian fighter jets intercept Air Force One

In June 1974, while President Nixon was en route to Syria, Syrian fighter jets intercepted Air Force One without prior notification, leading to evasive action by the crew.

1981: SAM 971 returns Americans held during the Iran hostage crisis

SAM 971 is best remembered for returning the Americans held during the Iran hostage crisis in 1981.

1983: Reagan and Queen Elizabeth II tour US West Coast on Air Force One

In 1983, President Reagan and Queen Elizabeth II toured the U.S. West Coast aboard Air Force One.

1985: Request for proposal issued for new presidential aircraft

In 1985, during Ronald Reagan's presidency, the USAF issued a request for proposal for two wide-body aircraft to replace the aging VC-137 variants, leading to the order of two Boeing 747s.

1990: Loewy's VC-137C livery adapted for VC-25A

In 1990, Loewy's VC-137C livery was adapted for the larger VC-25A when it entered service.

1990: Presidential fleet consists of two Boeing VC-25As

Since 1990, the presidential fleet has consisted of two highly customized Boeing 747-200B (VC-25A) aircraft.

October 1996: SAM 972 Scrapped

SAM 972 was scrapped in October 1996.

1996: Air Force buys four C-32s

In 1996, the Air Force bought four C-32s to fly the president to airports whose runways were too small to accommodate the larger VC-25, or as emergency backup.

1996: VC-137B SAM 970 in presidential fleet until 1996

VC-137B SAM 970, used from 1959 to 1962 as Air Force One, was in the presidential fleet until 1996.

1997: Air Force One feature film released

In 1997, a fictionalized version of Air Force One was depicted in the feature film Air Force One, with a cabin built to scale based on CNN footage.

1998: SAM 26000 retired

SAM 26000 was finally retired in 1998.

1998: Retirement of SAM 26000

SAM 26000 was retired in 1998, after serving Presidents Kennedy to Clinton.

1998: President flies aboard Air Force C-32

Since 1998, the president has occasionally flown aboard an Air Force C-32, a narrow-body jet based on the Boeing 757 airliner.

November 1999: Clinton flies C-20C with Air Force One call sign

In November 1999, President Bill Clinton flew from Ankara, Turkey, to Cengiz Topel Naval Air Station outside Izmit, Turkey, aboard a marked C-20C (Gulfstream III) using the call sign Air Force One, escorted by three F-16s.

March 2000: Clinton flies to Pakistan aboard unmarked Gulfstream III

On 8 March 2000, President Clinton flew to Pakistan aboard an unmarked Gulfstream III, while another aircraft with the call sign Air Force One flew on the same route a few minutes later, a diversion reported by US press outlets.

September 2001: Bush interrupted during 9/11 attacks

On 11 September 2001, George W. Bush was interrupted while at an elementary school in Sarasota, Florida, after the South Tower of the World Trade Center was hit. He took off on a VC-25 from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.

May 2003: George W. Bush flies in S-3B Viking with 'Navy One' call sign

In May 2003, President George W. Bush flew in the co-pilot seat of a Sea Control Squadron Thirty-Five (VS-35) S-3B Viking from Naval Air Station North Island, California, to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, where he delivered his "Mission Accomplished" speech. During the flight, the aircraft used the call sign of "Navy One" for the first time. The aircraft is now on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida.

January 2009: George W. Bush leaves office

When President George W. Bush left office in January 2009, he flew to Texas in a VC-25 that used call sign SAM 28000.

April 2009: VC-25 circles New York City for photo-op

On 27 April 2009, a low-flying VC-25 circled New York City for a photo-op and training exercise, alarming many New Yorkers.

2009: Obama visits play production in New York

In 2009, Barack Obama used the Gulfstream C-37 variant on a personal trip to visit the production of August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone in New York.

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2011: VC-9C on display at Air Mobility Command Museum

Since 2011, a VC-9C has been at the Air Mobility Command Museum in Dover, Delaware.

January 2015: Air Force announces Boeing 747-8 as next presidential aircraft

On 28 January 2015, the Air Force announced that the Boeing 747-8 would be the next presidential aircraft to replace the VC-25As.

December 2016: Boeing on contract for preliminary development

In December 2016, Boeing was contracted for preliminary development worth $170 million for the new presidential aircraft.

2017: Air Force contracts to purchase Transaero 747-8 aircraft

In 2017, to cut costs, the Air Force contracted to purchase two completed but undelivered Transaero 747-8 intercontinental aircraft from Boeing.

September 2020: US Air Force contracts for supersonic aircraft development

In September 2020, the US Air Force announced several contracts signed with aircraft manufacturers to begin development of a supersonic aircraft that could function as Air Force One, including contracts with Exosonic, Hermeus, and Boom.

January 2021: Trump flies to Mar-a-Lago on Air Force One

President Donald Trump flew to his Mar-a-Lago estate aboard Air Force One on the final day of his first presidency in January 2021.

March 2023: Classic Air Force One design made public

In March 2023, the new "patriotic color scheme" was scrapped due to delays and rising costs, and a modernized version of the classic Air Force One design was made public.

2023: Biden's Ukraine visit with C-32 using SAM060 call sign

During Joe Biden's 2023 visit to Ukraine, the Air Force One call sign was not used for the C-32 aircraft he flew to Poland; instead, the call sign SAM060 was used to increase secrecy.

2023: Biden travels to Ukraine via Poland using C-32

In 2023, President Biden traveled to Ukraine via Poland using the C-32 to avoid the publicity of the VC-25.

2023: 2023 estimated value of the 2016 Boeing contract

In December 2016, Boeing was on contract for preliminary development worth $170 million (~$212 million in 2023).

May 21, 2025: Trump administration accepts Boeing 747-8 as gift

On May 21, 2025, the Trump administration accepted a Boeing 747-8 as a gift from the royal family of Qatar, valued at US$400 million, with plans to use it as the new Air Force One. However, the gift could be in violation of the Emoluments Clause and would require extensive modifications after 2028.

2026: Expected service entry of VC-25Bs

The USAF has ordered two Boeing 747-8s to serve as the next presidential aircraft, designated VC-25Bs and expected to enter service no earlier than 2026.